The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-10-09

~Se.O L
isn't being carried to the skies on
f1owery beds of ease" it is marvelously
like it.
The rolling stock consists Of
four locomotives and as many cars.
The cars each seat fifty passengers,
with sides and ends made as nearly of
all glass as possible, SO that the
wonderful view may not be obstructed,
and the seats so arranged that the
occupants have level sitting at all
angels. The locomotive pushes the
car in ascending and precedes it when
descending, thus giving perfect con-
troll over the car. The locomotive is
not coupled. The cars are fitted with
separate pinion brakes, which can be
operated at either end, and they can
be let down the mountain If necessary
independent of the locomotive. The
latter is provided with every safety
appliance known-Steam brakes, hand
brakes, and water brakes. The road
bed, which is from fifteen to twenty
feet in width, is cut from or built up
on solid rock. There is no trestle
work and only four small iron bridges,
To prevent the moving or sliding of
the track LAG anchors are inbedded in
to the solid rock or masonry at dis
tances of from 200 to 400 feet apart,
according to the grade. The rails are Of
the common T pattern, laid to the
standard gauge The rails support the
weight and guide the train only, all
the pushing force being exerted upon
the rack rails In the center OF the
track. These rack rails are made OF
the best Bessemer steel, the teeth
having been cut by machines espe-
cially constructed for the purpose.
They are 80 inches long and vary in
weight from 21 to 81 pounds, the
heaviest ones being used on the sleeper
grades. These rails-which are set
side by side, are so important a part
OF the construction that the contract
called for each tooth to be made with
In, the fftieth of an inch of the specti-
ed size. The rack rails are laid so as
to break joints, and the teeth are also
staggered, thus giving the two double
cog-wheels of the locomotive practi-
callv an even bearing at all times.
The maximum grade is 25 per cent,
rise f25 feet in every hundred, and
the sharpest curves, ii extended would
cut complete circle within radius
Of $50 feet. There are three watering
stations on the route for use OF
the locomotives. The water is
broughtto the tanks in pipes from the
melting snow on the summit. The
locomotives carry the water in small
tanks on each side of the boiler in
front of the cab. The bob-tail tender
is just large enough to carry the coal.
1t takes an hour and half to make
the ascent and the same length Of time
to come down-nine miles in ninety
minutes, or a mile every ten minutes.
The car has jerlly motion because
Of the slipping of the cogs-but you
don't mind it-too busy rubberneck-
ing.
Hundreds reach the summit Of Pixies
Peak every season on foot. Some. to
save the SIS, but most people-women
as well as men-to say they did the
trick. a few take saddle horses or
straddle the Rocky mountain canaries
as the burrCs are called. AS the
train ascends and descends the noun
TAFT groupes of tourists and scatter
ing pedestrians, with cameras, climb
ing stocks and clad in heavy foot-gear,
are passed every mile. The fine road
bed Of the cog-wheel route makes a
safe though tiresome climb. There
is a Hhalf way" house and about it
Clustered other buildings and cottages.
where the tourist may find accomo-
dations. You are asked to remain
over night at the summit as we'll
but after you have let go fifteen cents
for small cup Of coffee, the same
amount for a sandwich or piece of
pie you think OF next winters coal.
bills and conclude not to take advant-
age OF the cog-wheel railroads stop
over privileges. More or less habita-
tion is seen all the way up the mount
ain. from the summer camps just above
the stationat Manltou almost to the
summit.
Nature does not afford in all the
world more grandlY beautiful sight
than snow-capped mountain seen
from a distance. But awe-inspiring
as these mountains are and sight
that never tlres one must make the
ascent of one to appreciate it's tres.
mendous proportions. If Pixies Peak
was set out by itself ona perfect plain
it would represent a mass of earthand
rock, stunted pine and running
streams, ten miles across its base and
a mile and a half in height. In making
the ascent it seems as ii one would