The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-03-22

As fast as each one of these was constructed
these mighty men in the railroad world went
out and tested them for themselves. They
did not get lot Of employees to walk up
and down them and have scientists make
elaborate calculations as to the exact
amount of potential energy expended, but
each by actual experience tried to excel the
other in becoming ramp specialist.
OFFICIALS AS RAMP EXPERTS.
Among them are men of every physical
type that is to be found in the average run
of railway passengers. Some are tall, some
short, some fat and some lean. Some are
young and some are past middle age. Grips,
dress suit cases and all sorts Of hand bag
gage were provided. These pieces were
packed and weighted to the maximum that
they would be in the hands of any traveller
trying to compress the most travelling
eQuipage into the smallest space. One after
another, over and over again, these men of
the committees would pick up grip or dress
suit case and walk from one end of the ramp
to the other as though they were hurrying
from their trains to catch a street car.
Then they would walk back again as If they
were hurrying TO make their train. Then
they would try it with two heavily loaded
experiment they would dictate to the accom-
panying secretary full report Of Just how
their moving rapidly up and down these
slopes impressed and affected them. Other
records were kept as to the length OF the
inclined ways, the time it took to traverse
them and the weight carried by each of
the committee. Then women were called
upon to aid in the experiments. The Cen
trail employs considerable number in var
ious capacities. Typical women were selected
and asked to make the same tests. There
were tall and short, fat and lean among
them also, and they too carried hand bag
gage of varying weights, They were asked
to give absolutely frank impressions of their
experiences. These were recorded with the
utmost care.
It was by these absolutely practical tests
that the best gradient Of these inclined ways
was ascertained and decided upon. 1t was
found that a rise of feet in 100 was
hardly noticeable to anyone carrying heavy
hand baggage, and this grade was fixed upon
as the maximum that should be used. OF
course, the percentage of the grade Is con-
trolled somewhat by the physical require
ments OF the building-the space available
and so on. Whenever possible the grades
are only or per cent
-
TO HANDLE 10000 PASSENGERS AN HOUR.
In this way the problem was solved
When the new Grand Central Terminal is
completed q passenger can get on a train
at the lowest level and reach the street out
side without mounting q single step. The
present Grand Central accommodates sc, 900
passengers a day; the new Grand Central
can take care of 10000 In an hour, which
is fully twice the carrying capacity of Pad
dington Station. London, which is supposed
to be the largest station in the world in
point Of passenger traffic handled. The new
Grand Central could not do this easily and
safely II It were not for these systems OF
ramps. They are so arranged that the
crowds OF people going to suburban or to
through trains never come In contact with
each other or with those coming from trains.
The line OF the ramps Is always a straight
line. The crowd moves all In one direction.