New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-02
N. Y.CENTRAL'S BIG JOB.
Installation of Electric System Er-
planned by Engineers.

party OF newspaper men were guests OF the
New York Central yesterday on tour OF IN
spection OF the work done and being done on It's
S6OOO0O 900 terminal and change in the motive
power from steam to electricity.
This work was started August II. 1903.
and the start on the homestretch." as one of
the officials explained IT, was begun yesterday.
But 1t is a long stretch. however. and the finish
mark is still four years of. The trip began at
the new Lexington avenue terminal. out Of
which all the electric trains are run. Among
those in the party were J. F. Fatrlamb. genera.
passenger agent: c. F Smith. general super
intendent; ]. D. Kelly. chief electrical engineer
II A Curry. assistant electrical engineer, Azel
Ames signal engineer: Francis BOardman. cleo
trcaI engineer; J. F. Root assistant advertising
manager and J. c. Hammond press representa-
tive F. NJ Baker and Henry n. Rockwell. mem
bers OF the State Railroad Commission, boarded
the train at Wakefield and made the return trip
with the party.
Since Monday local electric trains have been
in operation on the Harlem division far
Wakefield In time this service will be extended
TO North White Plains. which is TO be the end
Of the first electric zone on that division Elec-
trio locals on the main line and Yoakers locals
are being operated far as HighbHdge. This
electric zone Will in time be extended 10 Croton-
The opening up Of what is known as the East
Yard through which the electric trains reaCl
the Lexington avenue terminal. has been the
occasion for the installation on the Central OF
the new and improved electric signal system.
BY this system. which operates the switches. it
will be impossible for switch 10 be thrown
while train is passing over II Such an occur
renee has often been the cause of railroad wrecks
The electric system viii ultimately replace the
pneumatic system in the main yard. Seven OF
the Croton local trains a day far
as Highbridge. with the new 1OO-ton electric
locomotives. which have 300 horsepower
Coming down from Wakefield. which the
end of the outward run. stop was made TO
inspect the signal system. the sub-power sta
tion-one of fOur-at 5Oth street and of the
electric locomotives
In spite OF the storm army OF men were
workiu= on the excavations made necessary by
the terminal work In all seven thousand men
are employ ed this work. which includes the
removal of 1.5O0OOO cubic yards of rock and
/ Ou&OGD cubic yards OF earth. Two hundred
carloads OF rock being removed each day
The space being cleared Is eight blocks long and
four blocks wide Twenty-Five miles OF tracks
will be laid in this terminal space.
In spite Of all this work i2l3 trains. 66O OF
them passenger trains. are being moved in and
out of the yards every day. Seventy electric
trains and two hundred electric cars now in
service. and more are being added daily. Two
new J.UOO-horsepOwer turbines are now being
installed in the Port Morris pOwerhOuse
The next move in the reconstruction of the
terminal following the opening Of the temporary
Lexington avenue station. will be the removal
of the annex to the Grand Central station. on
new building The last move will be the tearing
down OF the main station to make room for the
new building. The greatest stress n present is
being laid on improving the service in the yards.