The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-02

type, built for hauling heavy freight
trains.
PA locomotive of the type in use
three decades ago.
"a steel framed passenger coach Of
the latest type.
A wood framed passenger coach
used in the seventies.
5-A new style freight car, such as Is
used for the shipment of automobiles
and the like.
6-An old fashioned box car.
"A flat car for exhibition purposes,
showing old and new. style switches,
couplers, brakes, etc. On this car there
also will be shown a section of dirt
track with 81 pound rail alongside of a
section of rock ballasted track with 80
pound rail.
party of officials and experts win
accompany the train and give lectures
about the old style of railroading as
contrasted with the new. The train,
with it's little sewing machine engine of
the early eighties and its monster
Mallet of today. will illustrate the lee
ture in such fashion that it can be un-
derstood by any one.
The train will be equipped at the To-
peka shops. 1t will run in main line
territory, the schedule to be announced
later.
This demonstration train is a part of
the general policy established year
ago by E. P. Ripley, president of the
Santa Fe, to bring about better un
derstanding between the company and
its patrons. Mr.. Ripley took the public
into his confidence, as it were, and be-
gan to tell about the inside workings OF
the railroad business.
The Harmony speciaI' was the first
big stunt pulled off. Officials went be-
fore the commercial clubs of the cities
and towns and told the Santa Fe's side
of the railroad question. Some poll
ticians who were runnig for office at
the time said it was a political
scheme but the people who attended
the meetings knew it was business, not
politics. The harmony special' kept
on running after the election same as
before, and meetings now have been
held In most of the states through
which the lines Of the Santa Fe run
Schools and societies of various kinds
have become interested in the study of
the railroad question, and every week
officials are called upon to deliver ad-
dresses on some phase of the subject
Employees of the Santa Fe entered
heartily into the new work, and regular
meetings now are held to discuss plans
for improving the service. At one of
these experience" meetings the man
who operates a truck at the freight
house feels as free to give his views as
does the superintendent.
Ripley Approves New Policy.
President Ripley believes that the
new policy is bringing good results.
People with whom the Santa Fe does
business appreciated the efforts of the
OFFICIALS to get better acquainted, and
let it be known that they were willing
to hear the Santa Fe's side of the ques-
ton at issue. Sentiment has been
changing ever since the new policy
went into effect President Ripley saws
that the feeling now between the Santa
Fe and its patrons generally is fine.
The trouble is confined largely to those
who do little or no business with the
road.
The demonstration train to show the
old and the new in railroading will be
educational, and parents will be asked
to take their children to see it. An ex-
hibft of this character was made at
the Chicago Worlds Fair. but
nothing like it has ever before been at
tempted outside of a show building
The Santa F'e's exhibit will be taken to
your door, if you live ON the main line
and shown without money and without
rrice 1t will be bigger exhibit, and a
better one, than that which attracted
attention at the Chicago exposition.
How many people do you extend tc
attend the show?" a reporter asked :
Santa Fe official yesterday.
Law, 1 haven'tany idea," the officia'
replied. "How many do you guess will
attend?''
The reporter guessed a million
The demonstration train will run or
the main line only, because the brancl
line track is not heavy enough to carr,
the weight of the monster Mallet.
additional Railroad News Page 81