Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
Replacing Track Crossing
Was Difficult Work

~ HE activities of the street railway
companies in placing the new
crossing tracks at the corner of
14th and II streets have necessitated a
very difficult piece of work. which was
handled with considerable ability and
without much interference with tramc.
When 1t became evident that the cross
ing of the Metropolitan and 14th street
lines must be renewed. after having been
in use ever since the lines were electri-
fed. over twelve years ago. 1t was real
lied that the work must be done without
interrupting the service on either line.
The old crossing was In a very solid
framework of steel ties, channels and
angles. which were set solidly into con-
crete and to which the rails were bolted.
The first work after opening the street
was to remove the concrete bed to allow
the replacing of the framework. This in
Itself was a tedious job. because the solid
concrete had to be bull-pointed out by
hand with chiselS and SledgeS. What
with the constant interruptions and the
difficult nature Of the work, II required
over ten days for an army of men to
take out the concrete.
All this time the cars were running as
usual As the. concrete was taken out
the tracks were solidly lacked up with
heavy wooden beams and the framew ork
braced In such manner as to permit the
heavy rolling stock to cross safely. Every
now and then one of the Metropolitan
cars making the turn into II street would
not have momentum enough to get over
the cutoff at the crossing, and the con-
sequent stalling would tie up the service
of both lines for few minutes. How
ever there were never any serious delays
from this or any other cause.
Removing the Framework.
When the framework was entirely ex-
posed the task Of removing 1t doomed
large. 1t was decided to saw the steel
rails In such q manner as to permit 1t to
be removed In sections Then for some
days the workmen could be seen patiently
saving away at the thick pieces of steel
that seemed to defy all their efforts. Ii
was difficult. after watching the men
drawing their thin saws back and forth
across the rails. to observe any progress.
But in the course of whole days opera
lions 1t could be noticed that the tenacity
and toughness OF the metal had sue
cumbed to the persistency of the work
men and the countless minute scratches
of the saw. In this way in very few
days the crossing was in sections, as the
passengers of the cars that bumped their
way over the open joints were well aware.
In the night. when the interval between
cars was greatest and the Interruptions
accordingly fewer. the rails were quickly
unbolted, the sections Of the frame
work that had been sawed apart
were lifted out and the new frame
work was Immediately set up. Be
fore the cars began to run on the day
schedule the new crossing was suffi-
GENTLY rigid to permit them to cross
without the slightest hesitancy. 1t was
wedged up solidly with beams and fold
ing wedges and jacks while another OPP
Grafton equally delicate was completed.
The concrete bed which holds the
framework had to be laid and allowed
to set, at the same time allowing the
rails to maintain their original level sur
face. This was accomplished by lamp
Ing the concrete beneath the bottom
members of the framework between the
beams supporting it, and allowing these
small temporary pieces to set. and after
ward support the framework in their turn
while the rest of the bed was tamped.
Then nothing remained to be done ex-
cept to repave the street. This will be
done soon. so that the passengers who
will subsequently ride over the crossing
by thousands every day will perceive no
surface indication Of the immense
amount Of work that has been necessary
to insure the smoothness with which the
two car lines cross each other.