The Washington times., 1912-07-01
ELECTRIC SERVICE
!. TO BLUEM0NT, Va,
{ IS OPENED TODAY
Cars Make Fast Time At
/ Less Than Steam Rail-
way Fare.

Electric trains were run for the first
tlme today from Washington to Blue
mont, Va, over the tracks OF the Great
Falls and Old Dominion line and the
old Bluemont branch Of the Southern
Railway.
The service was inaugurated on regu-
par schedule at o'clock this morning.
from 3Sth and M streets northwest,
straight through to Bluemort. There
were no special Inauguration ceremon'
les. Most OF the officials of the new
system were, on hand to speed the fist
train, and they accounted for the lack
OF ceremony by stating that their sole
aim was to give better service.
Six Trains Daily.
The new schedule provides for six
trains daily each way fron- Washing
ton to nluemont. The new service has
brought reduction in rates. Tickets
over the new line will be trcm Clifton.
two miles beyond Rosslyn, to Blue
mont, and from Bluemont to Clifton.
All passengers are carried as far de-
Clifton on free transfer from the
Capital Traction lines at Thirty Nth
and NJ streets to Clifton. The fare from
that point is $130 one way. or $1.95 O
round trip. This is considerably less
than the rates Of the Southern on the
old steam road.
The transfer, good as far as Clifton,
Us the only transfer given, that will
carry passenger beyond the District
line, the limit OF the legal fare zone.
Agent of System Named.
]. v. Davis, for six years with the
Southern railway. was today appoint
ed general freight and passenger agent
of the new system. He began his new
duties today. Mr.. Davis was formerly
chief rate clerk of the Southern rail-
way. His new position Is in the nature
of a promotion and carries consider
able increase in salary.
So far as the schedule Of the new
line is concerned, the name of the town
Of Torreyson, has been s; changed Ito to
where the double track spur from the
old line of the Great Falls and Old Do
minion line connects with the tracks OF
the old Bluemont branch of the South
ern railway. The line has been electri-
fled from this junction through to Blue
mont. The electric system has not yet
been put in from the junction to Alex
andria.
For the present, at least, all freight
traffic will be handled by steam train.
Where will be no change in freight rates
from those in vogue under the Southern
railway.
SlVeS kappa SeIVlCe.
! The company operating the new sys-
tenn is officially known as the Old Do
,minion and Washington Railway Com
ypany. with offices at 1917 II street north.
west. The new line gives more rapid
service than was afforded by the steam
line. The time between Washington and
Bluemont by electric train Is but two
hours and a half. A schedule of two
express trains day each way Is be-
ing arranged for through passengers
who wish a quicker service.
Electric trains of the heavy interur-
ban type will be made up. to acommo-
date the traffic. Provision has beer
made for two car trains for the pres
ent.
A train load of officials went out ovel
the new line yesterday. They are con
fident that the new line will develoI
one Of the richest sections of northern
Virginia.
Route of Line.
The present route is from Thirty
sixth and M streets northwest to Do
minion Heights, near Cherrydale. ovel
the tracks of the Great Falls and Ole
Dominion thence over the new double
track spur to Bluemont Junction. neaI
Torreyson, and then over the old South
ern railway track8 to Bluemont
An elevated crossing Is to be con
tracks Of the Washington and virginii
lines near Tracey Station. This cross
ing has been in dispute between thu
two lines for several months.
The agreement for an overhead cross
ing to be constructed by the Old Do
minion was reached following the re
port of e. ID. Myers, a Richmond en-
gineer. who was appointed by the Stat,
railway commission to examine the sit
uation as an arbiter. Engineer Myer
reported that a grade crossing woult
be extremely dangerous, and recon
mended an overhead construction. Thi
will cost $4,000.
The Washington-Virginia tracks will
be depressed five feet and the Oh
Dominion run over a trestle. The ex
pense of this work will be paid by tn
Old Dominion. For the present, Il
tracks will cross at the grade, the Oh
Dominion giving 100000 indemnit
bond.