The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-31
DOUBLE TRACKING
IN The ROCKIES

One Of the most important pieces of
railway construction ever undertaken
in this country has just been finished
by the Great Northern Railway which
double tracked fourteen miles Of lis
main line from Java to Summit,
Mont, at the very crest Of the CONT
mental divide, in the heart Of the
Rocky Mountains. This work which
cost $1,5O0.000 was begun Oct. /, 1909
During the two years It took to do
this work there were as many as 1900
men on the job at ane time and never
were less than 500 engaged.
Not only has a double track been
built, but the old line practically was
rebuilt in order to reduce curvatures
and improve the grades. A striking
illustration of the reduction of curv-
atures is shown by the fact that in
taking out the curves in the old line
the new track has crossed the former
route fifty eight times In the four
teen miles OF const cucticn.
The contract called for 100000
yards of grading ami 100000 yards of
ballasting. Two large cement tunnels
were made between Welding and High
gate, besides these numerous cement
culverts were built which are large
enough for the smaller sized locomo-
tives to pass through.
The old grade was raised from one
to six feet. making an even grade of
1.S from Java to Summit. Four heavy
curves were eliminated within a dis
lance of one mile, near Fielding. West
of the town Of Skyland there Is a cliff
of rocks extending 500 feet back from
| the tracks, of such formation that
had 1t been blasted /. would have re-
suited In a slide that would tie up
| traffic for several weeks. In order to
| overcome any danger from this huge,
| threatening tower OK rocks a mann
moth cement retaining wall was built.
| The Great Northerns yards at Java,
| Fielding and Summit were changed
completely as the result Of this new
construction work and at Highgate
and Skyland the side tracks were ex-
| tended 800 feet. New depots were
| built at Java. Fielding and SumrnIt
| and water tanks OF the most modern
| type were built at Summit and Field
| ing. The bases Of these tanks stand
| thirty feet from the ground and are
/ located fifty feet from the tracks, tho
water being piped underground to
/ stand pipes near the tracks. There
are two Of these tanks in eacn Of the
| towns named
Two miles east of Java it was found
necessary to cut 1000 feet through
solid rock fifty feet high. This was
an expensive piece of work. Besides,
| the river channel which followed the
road bed, had to be changedAin sew
/ eraI places to protect the grading.
| In this construction work the tri-
/ angular tie. patent Of James J. Hill.
| chairman OF the Great Northern rail-
way, was used. Ninety pound rails,
| with C5oldie tie plates and Walhaupter
Joints, were laid. one-inch bolts and
six inch spikes being used. This ma
| terial. experts declare. makes the
track the strongest west OF the Mis-
souri, river. @. d. Eddy Of st. Paul
was the chief engineer in charge 81
4 the work. Division Roadrnaster J. Gar
rity and his assistant f. A, Larson
superintend the track laying. with
/ Division superintendent w. n. Smith
overseeing the undertaking
This double tracking liz Of great i'm
/ portance to traffic over the great d.
vide Of the Rocky Mountains. It saves
four hours in the time OF east bound
| bound trains. while the improved grad
ing enables passenger trains to make
better time over what was previously
the most dangerous and sIowest piece
OF track on the division.
1t Ii not the intention 81 the Great
4 Northern railway to stop with the
completion of this work The com
4 pany's engineers already have plans
to continue the double track from Java