The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-03-10
improvements at WiIliams's
Siding Finished by Hol-
brook Corporation
MATERIAL EXCAVATED
FROM VERNON STREET
Other Improvements on Vermont Valley
Road Include Block Signal-Efficient
ed in 1851
Especial to The Reformer.)
WESTMINSTER STATION.


WESTMINSTER STATION.
March 10.
Tire work on the Vermont Valley
railroad at Williams : siding, done un-
der contract by the Holbrook, Cabot &
Rollins corporation, was completed a
short time ago. At this particular
point there is clay bank extending
from the bluF above to the bottom of
the river below, which has proved very
trcacherOus when saturated at times of
high water and has been the cause of
much anxiety, trouble and expense to
the raiirOad officials.
Expensive Repair Work
Durin. the heavy floods of last
spring a portion of this embankment
and track was washed awav To rem
edy iEIs condition and guard against
future washout at this point the com
rany filled into the river approximate
II l.oco feet, rip-rapping such portions
Of the sloIe as was necessary. In con-
nection with this work the company
used a2DO cubic yards of rock, 800
cubic yards OF earth. and $500 cubic
yards OF Iip-rap, or 1,500 carloads,
which were taken from the operations
I DH ' tfi4bt street. anu near the pro-
posed station at Brattleboro and trans
ported IN cars and dumped into the
river automatically by a lever being
turnel by the engineer of the train
after the air pipes of the loaded cars
had been connected with the engine.
This work was completed after three
months labor by a large force of men
at an approximate cost of $4,000. 1t
is the intention of the company to
make changes in the line at this point,
but owing to the conditions at this
time Of year and in order to get the
benefit Of any settling that may occur,
due 10 high water this spring. this
work has been deferred.
Other improvements
4 few years ago the company had
the block signals installed to prevent
collisions. on each side of the double
track from Bellows Falls to Putney.
and on the single track to Brattleboro.
at cost of $3.50 a signal. There are
Is of these signals on the Vermont
line. In the base OF each signal tower
there il l0-horse power motor oper-
Iated by wet-eell batteries The signal
lamps are turned and filed daily by a
section man and inspected daily by two
men at section.
These are only two of the many ex-
lpenditures on this short line of rail
road, but they 20 to show the cost of
keeping a railroad in running order.
When one considers that every item
Of expense has risen. wages have risen
on account of the high cost of living,
and material and fuel are constantly
climbing in prices, and taxes and inter
est rates climb, the question comes:
Nhv should not railroads have the
right 10 raise their rates alsol
Efficient Service.
The writer has often thought of the
efficient transportation service which
the public receives from this line of
railroad. which is one of the biggest
elements in efficient business. There
are two through freight trains from
Ethe far North and West running
south; also two through freight trains
from the extreme South running north
and west daily: and 10 special freight
trains running each way daily. all
carrying a heavy tonnage There are
five northbouRd and westbound passen
: ger trains and five southbound passen-
ger trains daily, with two extra White
l Mountain trains daily during the sum
7 mer season
5 We are further benefited by having
ilNe maiiS put oil daily, two from the
south and three from the north.
If we were deprived of this excellent
train service we would then appreciate
is value and be more free with our
expressions of gratitude to those who
have carried the burden of maintain
ing and keeping this road in operation
50 many years.
Road Opened in 1851.
The Vermont Valley road was first
open TO business in 1851. Many of its
2 promoters and charter members were
! citizens Of Westminster and Bellows
q Falls. Following are the names of the
: incorporators: Larkin G. Mead, John
+ kimbali, Eleary Albee, John Nav, Will
Z liam Henry, Asa Witherall, ir., viii
a liam j. Hall, James H. Williams and
Joseph Goodhue. The first superin-
; fegdent of the road was c. r. Chand-
c lcr The first clerk and treasurer was
the late James Ii. Williams. This of
flee has remained in the Williams fam
/ lly 10 the present time. John II. Viii
/ iiams of Walpole now holds this Office
e The Vermont Valley railroad, hav-
e ing traffic agreement with the Con
o necticut River railroad. has been oper-
s ated by the Boston & Maine railroad