The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Train Going North at Noon Will Pass Through Some
 Entirely New Territory
S3,OOO,OOO IS COST OF
 THREE YEARS WORK
Double Track From Athens to Calera Enables Line to Handle Greatly Increased Tonnage Over
 Reduced Grades

After three years the Louisville and
 Nashville double track between Birming-
 ham and Athens Ala. and the new single
 line north from the latter point to Nash vile will, today, be opened for through
 traffic
 The first train to proceed through the entire line of new construction will De train No. 2, leaving at noon today. On that train are expected to be several of
 ficials of the company to look over tho
 work they have accomplished. The op
 erations today will be through the new
 tunnel at Blount Springs. which has de.
 layed this opening until today, and
 through the entire new territory. The
 Louisville and Nashville has been using
 strips of the new track between here
 and Athens for sometime, end from time to time during the past year or more the company has opened for traffic few
 miles here and there. However, the whole job is now complete and the line will be used this afternoon for the first time.
 Begun Many Years Ago 1t Is stated the work has cost the Louisville and Nashville at least N5ooo.- ooo. It was started several years ago. but actual work on the physical con struction started only about three years ago. The line was surveyed by John Howe Peyton, at present president of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis
 railroad, who was at that time assistant
 to Milton II. smith. president of the Louisville and Nashville. The line will give the Louisville and Nashville a double | track service greater in extent than any other southern line, and has been the | dream of Milton II. smith, the president. for many years. He secured the money for the work during a very dull financial | season, and has pursued the task through some rather troublesome times
 The line in effect reduces grades on | the Louisville and Nashville very strie- | ingly. The work will enable the line to handle far greater amount of ton | mage to each train by reason of the elimi- | nation of the curves and grades and the upbuilding of the other operating necersi- | ties. In addition to this increased eff ficiency the Louisville and Nashville has secured some of the heaviest type locomo- | tlves in this section of America to pull heavy trains. With the new engines and with the new track, 1t is stated that n l freight on the Louisville and Nashville | can handle as much tonnage per trip aB an ordinary freight can at this time han I dle in three trips. It Is stated with every | assurance that no line in this section
 has gone so straight for economical han- ding of freight at a greater initial out
 lay than the Louisville and Nashville. Athens to Calera
 | By completing this line the Louisville and Nashville now serves this district with double track main line from Ath.
 ems to Calera. With this line the Louis vile and Nashville completes two or its biggest jobs affecting Birmingham. It's l first big work here lately was the Boyles shop and yards. and then the double
 track. The removal of the yards and
 machine plants from the heart of the city and their segregation at Boyles ana
 the subsequent improvement below Eight
 eenth street have been marked evidences | of progressiveness on the part of ths l Louisville and Nashville as shown here | lately.
 | With this task complete those who pro- | fess to know the Louisville and Nash | ville officials are inclined to think that they will rest uneasy until work Is started | on the double tracking of the line from here to the coast. That line will not be directly from here to Montgomery. ~t | will very likely go through an entirely
 new section of this state. hitting many | new places, passing others well known | and ending at the coast.
 The opening today of the Louisville
 and Nashville double track is admittedly
 a great achievement for that line and of material worth to Birmingham and this | section of the state.