The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-09
Use Of Screw Spikes on the
Rock Island Lines.
Experiments on Bits Of Track
Through Kansas.
LABOR COSTS MUCH
Rock Island Has Mechanical
Device Now in Use.
labor COSTS MUCH
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

Experiments thus far with screw
spikes on the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific railway have been promising.
especially where they have been used
on sharp curves, with tie plates, as
substitute for double drive spiking and
the use of rail braces, says the Rail
way Review. The standard tie for
about one-third of the c. r. & P.
railway system, including the direct
line from Chicago to Enid, Okla, and
through Kansas, is q creoSoted red oak
tie. this timber being obtained prin-
cipally in Missouri and treated In
plant at Kansas City. These creo-
soted ties have been used In renewals
several years, and to such as are
now in the track or are oe1ng ialo ~. IN
renewals, under 100-pound rails, tie
plates and screws are being applied as
far west as Rock Island, ILL.,, dis
lance of 1S1 miles from Chicago. In
addition to this all main tracks over
this territory that have rails lighter
than IS pounds per yard are being re-
laid with 1OO-pound rails, and with
such screw spikes are applied at the
Joints, with whatever kind or tie TIM
Der. The standard joint splice IS the
Continuous pattern, the screw spike
being driven through the horizontal
leg. with a beveled clip to obtain an
even bearing for the head OF the spike
on the sloping top of the leg or the
joint bar This road has, therefore,
taken I'D the use of screw spikes quite
extensively, and as soon as one round
of renewals has been made on the
stretch of main line between Rock
Island and Chicago, the 1OO-pound
rails on that much of the system VIII
be fastened entirely with screw spikes.
In the various experiments which
have been made with these spikes on
this road it has been found that
the cost of applying them with hand
labor, that is, with hand augers
and box wrenches, has been excessive,
and so the adaptation of power to the
boring of the holes and the driving of
the spikes has been sought. This con-
sists of a four-wheel car carrying
gasoline engine and an electric gener-
stor for operating electric drills and
wrenches. 1t is nine feet long with
wheel base 100 inches In length, and
the wheels, which are 80 inches In
diameter, have wooden centers, SO that
it is insulated against interference
with the block signal circuits. The
prime mover is four-cylinder gaso-
line engine of 35 horse power of the
water-cooled type, with throttle gov
ernor and high tension ignition. 1t is
direct-connected to a compound
It drives at speed of HOO r. p. m.
The engine and generator frame is in
Independent of the truck frame. The
weight of the car is 5000 pounds, and
TO set II OH ana Oh Tie TRACK d AlBnI
turn-table is carried, this device being
similar to turntables that are COM
monty in use with section gangs for
handling loaded hand cars and push
cars.
The car is self-propeIling, being
equipped with standard type automo-
bile transmission. with three speeds
ahead and one in reverse. The car is
capable of pulling several loaded push
cars at a speed of about 27 m. p. h.,
H.. hIVf Nv
leasing the governor the car can go
about As m. p. h. The car is also
equipped with an electric emery wheel
for grinding bits and other tools.