The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-01
Road Now Completing Last
Is Miles on Double-track
System Between Indianap-
oils and Richmond.
WORK COSTING ROAD
100000 PER MILE
twenty-five Street, Highway
and Railway Crossings Are
Eliminated - Big Project
Begun in June, 1909.

The Pennsylvania railroad is now
completing 25.9 miles of second heavy
track work on the Indianapolis div s.
ion between Richmond and Indianap o.
lis, after over a years work in which
nearly a thousand men We're employ
ed, costing the company over 100000
per mile. The double tracking between
Richmond and Indianapolis was auth
Orized in June, 1909, with orders to
relieve the worst places first. The
work was started Immediately be-
tween Richmond and Dublin a dis
tance of 17.6 mile and from Dunrieth
to Knightstown distance of S3
miles.
East of Richmond the traffic be-
tween Pittsburg and St. Louis is divid-
ed between two lines. while all this
traffic passes over one line west of
Richmond. AS result of this density
of traffice west of this point is much
greater than east of it. With the
present business the train movements
between Richmond and indianapolis
average about fifty train daily, 20 be-
ing scheduled passenger trains, some
of which often run in more than one
section. In addition to this dense
traffic the grades are heavy, and in
one or two places there is a sharp cur
vature. Previous to the beginning of
this work there was but 6la miles of
second track between Richmond and
indianapolis which is a distance of
6S miles, and this was through the ter
minals.
Began Work In 1909.
The work was started the first of
August 1909, under the direction of w.
G.. Cushing. chief engineer of main
tenance of way. by the division forces,
i. II. Watts, division engineer and G.
II. Barry assistant. The plans were
prepared by s. b. Robertson, superin-
tendent of the Erie & Ashtabula divis-
ion.
The heaviest construction work in
these two sections is caused by the re-
duction In the ruling grade and the
elimination of grade crossing wherev-
er possible. This was formerly IL
per cent and has been lowered 7 per
cent With the completion of the
work the maximum will be reduced to
8 per cent momentum, this maximum
existing in stretches not yet rebuilt,
and the present tonnage rating 1850
tons will be greatly increased. In
many localities per cent grade might
not be considered low but in view of
the fact that this line crosses the Ohio
river drainage low down at right an
gles and that the securing of this
grade required the moving of the
earth work averaging over 1900
yards per mile. ii was not considered
an economy to lower the grade furth-
Ier.
Over the part of the road recon
structed the grade line of 21.3 miles
was changed. The longest single
change was made at Knightsttown
where the grade of the old line was re-
vised for over six miles.
One Of Largest Fills
One of the largest fills in the double
tracking work was at Cambridge City.
The new tracks are &c feet above the
old ones. This fill has been dubbed
of the residents of Cambridge City.
The greatest depression was at Jack
son HILL which was always a source
of trouble to the heavy trains going
west. The track at this point was low
cred 90 feet and 100000 yards of
earth was removed from this one
point. Cambridge City also has the dis
tinction of having the longest ruling
grade at the present time being a.56
miles in length
During the entire course OF construc-
ton the business of the road at no
time was delayed. Wherever the grade
was changed to any extent the new
line was built for double track on an
offset far enough removed from the
old one to enable the new work to be
done without any interference with
the traffic. the old line being abandon
ed when the new one was put in SER
Sice.
1t is estimated that over 1,S50.000
yards of earth was moved. The work
Is done by the contractors who are us
ing donkey engines with the small
dirt cars. and steam shovels. All the
embankments are being built with
36-foot crown and base of As feet
is provided in all the large cuts allow
ing for n 6-foot ditch on each side. In
every case the banks are leveled and
sodded so that they make very good
appearance.
Avoid Grade Crossings
The Pennsylvania is to be compli-
mented for it's great success in elimi-
mating grade crossings. The new line
is elevated above the streets in