Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26

| in grade are made necessary largely by
| the natural contour of the country and
serve to permit an easy overhead crossing
of the connections between the Washing
| ton and the Metropolitan branches over the
equipment tracks, which are constructed On
| the same grade as the coach yard, south
| west of they, but which will have heavier
grades northsOf it. Heavier grades on all
| the different groups of tracks would have
| been preferable from a construction stand
point, as about 2,250,O00 cubic yards of
earth will have to be removed to bring the
| space assigned as passenger coach stor-
age yard to the proper grade To give an
| idea of the magnitude of this work about
seventy-five acres of ground will be occu-
pied for this branch of the business and
very considerable area of ground will have
to be removed to depth of eighty-two
feet.
The passenger coach yard will be so ar
| ranged as to conveniently accommodate at
| least 600 cars. Much attention was also
given to the arrangement of the round
house and shops and they will be thor
oughly complete. The engine house Will
be constructed in two sections, each hav-
| ing twenty-five stalls and a turn table. The
coaling plant will consist of storage bins
with measuring devices and located be-
tween the ash pits and the round house.
There will be a treStle incline approach to
the storage bins, where coal will be de-
lvered direct from drop-bottom cars. AT
the ash pits the track will be sufficiently &C.
pressed to permit loading the cars by
apron, the top of the car being below the
bottom of the engine pit. The track ar
rangement will be such that access to both
turn-t tables can be had from both sides of
the coal wharf and from both turn tables
to the storage yard. The shops will pro-
vide facilities for making light repairs to
the engines and cars. All necessary plat
forms and tracks will also be installed in
this yard.
Approach From South.
The southern approach to the station will
be through a tunnel under LIST street from
New Jersey avenue and D street southeast
to the basement Of the station. 1t will be
built for a double-track line and consist of
two single-track tunnels, built side by side
and separated by a wall four feet thick.
Each tunnel will have a width of sixteen
feet and a height of seventeen feet from
top of rail to soffit the arch. The center
wall is being constructed with openings or
passageways located at distances of 100
feet SO as to provide. refuge inches for en-
ployes and means of communication from
one tunnel to the other. The side walls and
launches of the tunnel are being construct
ed of concrete, the arches of brick and the
center wall of stone The top of the tunnel
will be covered with four layers of water
proof felt, thoroughly coated with water
proof compound, which will be protected by
a one-inch layer of cement In the cut-and-
cover portion and a layer of brick in the
drift portion Cutters will be formed along
the top, on each side, filled with broken
stone. Drain pipes, connecting with these
cutters and leading to subgrade, will be
built in the side walls at distances of fifty
feet. The Pennsylvania railroad is con-
structing the tunnel.
Substantial bridges will carry the tracks
of the north and west approach to the ter
minal over the streets. The shortest bridge
will carry ten tracks, divided into two
groups of five each. Considerable attention
has also been given to the question OF
drainage. Cutters are being constructed in
the backs of all street bridge abutments,
with spouts running down at intervals and
to be connected with sewers in the streets
below. For the purpose of constructing the
approaches to the station Massachusetts
avenue was made the dividing line, the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad taking charge or
all work north, except the Pennsylvania
railroad connection between winthrop
Heights and Magruder, and the Fennsy!-
vania railroad taking charge of all work
south The very closest attention IS being
given to the most minute details, with the
view of making this union station and ter
minals complete and substantial in modern
construction, ornate in style, thoroughly
convenient and comfortable in all OF its
appointments and one of the best In the
country.