Evening journal., 1912-06-01
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Conversation That Gave
America Its First Four
Track Railroad
By Holland.
By Holland.

Il suppose that at this time almost
every one looks upon the increase of
the capital stock of the New York
Central Railroad from forty millions
to eighty millions, which was done
by a single stroke of Commodore
Vanderbilts pen, as the chief incident
OF his career as the creator of the
great Vanderbilt railway SYSTEM said
the late Charles Finney Cox to me at
a time when he was discussing the
character and record OF Commodore
Vanderbilt
Mr.. Cox was for many years associ-
ated with the Vanderbilts, having
first come into executive relations
with the New York Central system
when Comodore Vanderbilt was still
in complete and exclusive control of
It. For many years Mr.. Cox was the
treasurer Of that part of the Wander
bilt systaga which comprised the rail-
roads running westerly from Buffalo.
There was, however," continued
Mr.. Cox, IAN incident associated with
the Commodore's building up of the
vanderbilt system which attracted far
more attention at the time. and which
first brought the Vanderbilt system
into very great prominence as a trunk
line, than did the doubling of the
capital stock at the personal and au-
tocratic command of the commodore.
That was the four tracking of the New
York Central system from Albany to
Buffalo
AT the time this was done there
were only few railroads in the
United States which were double
tracked. The Pennsylvania railroad
had double tracked part OF its sys-
TEN, but not any part west OF Pitts
burgh. The New Haven railroad had
double tracked its line from New
York to Springfield, Mass. Shortly af-
ter the Commodore came into pos
session of the New York Central and
Hudson River railroad he caused the
line TO be double tracked. IL has al
ways been presumed that the four
tracking of the New York Central
from Albany TO Buffalo was also due
entirely to the Commodore's initiative
The work was spoken Of many times
by railroad men all over the United
States as the best demonstration OF
his constructive ability as a railroad
manager.
1T was not Commodore Wander
hilt however bit James Tillinghast
who was responsible for the four
tracking Of the New York Central.
Commodore Vanderbilt found Till
inghsst in charge as superintendent Of
portion Of the old New York Central
the western division which termi-
mated at BuffalofI In an hours conver-
sation with Tillinghast the Commo-
dOre who was a wonderful reader of
mems minds and ability offered TO put
him in charge Of the entire system
from Albany to Buffalo That was
about 1868.
-Four or FIVE years later the Com
modore sent for Tillinghast one day
and said to aim James. we are get
ting more tonnage than we can han
ole economically Our freight trains
are delayed Our terminals are con
gosted with freight
" Well, Commodore, I am doing the
best can to move the freight ovel
the roads, said Tillinghast
" No. said the Commodore. 'yot
can do better You can show me how
we can handle all the freight Offered
to us expeditiously and economically.
" Yes. can show you how Mr.
Tillinghast replied, but don't dare
to-.
why not7 What are you sfraic
Off
I am afraid OF the cost. It'll cos
you lot of money. but II you are will
ing TO spend the money you can han
die the freight
Well what is your plan. James
the Commodore asked.
Lay down two additional track
between Albany and Buffalo
What Four track the New Yorl
Central for three hundred miles?
Commodore, if you will four tracl
the New York Central between AL
bany and Buffalo, l will guarantee e
move all the freight offered, and al
Of the increase Of freight offered with
In the next twenty years, rapidly AM
economically
For a few moments Commodor
Vanderbilt seemed to be turning owe
the proposition in his mind. Then h
said as quietly as though he wer
ordering a little siding to be built
Go ahead. James, four track the NeN
York Central Never mind what
costs. ] will attend to that
"ln that way the first four-tracke
railroad in the United States wa
suggested to Commodore Vanderbilt
and in that briet conversation the ide
which cost many millions was accept
ed by him Within few years tn
four tracks fully Justified the predic
tion made by Tiilinghast, and som
years later other trunk lines-th
Pennsylvania and the New Haven
followed the example set by the Ne'
York Central
Copyright 1912. by f. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved.)