Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-16
CONDITION OF THREE
MORE MAINE RAILROADS

NHOAsG MAINE NAlLftOADS
Report was made Wednesday to the
Public Utilities Commission of the phys,.
cal condition of three more of our Maine
railroads. the Maine Central, the Calais
Street Railway and the waterville, Fair.
field & Oakland, the reports being by
Chief Inspector William NJ Brown of the
commissions staff. as follows:
Maine Central Railroad.
This road passes through all the yarie-
ties of country we have
THE grades and curves vary with the
country. in the more level sections being
light, while in rougher country they are
sharper.
THE cuts and fills are generally in good
condition, and the cuts are well ditched.
On the very oldest parts Of the road
there are some narrow entertainments,
which do not permit OF sufficient ballast
at the end of ties.
The track alignment and surface are
good. The rails, frogs, switches and
track appliances are in good condition.
The right of way Is generally we'll
cleared. with the exception Of old ties
not having been burned
THE bridges and buildings are in good
condition. The station buildings are well
painted and are kept neat and clean.
Trains are governed by time table
rights and special train orders, and are
protected by double arm automatic cleo
trio block semaphores between the fol-
lowing points: Portland Falmouth line
to Fanceboro; Royal Junction to Water
vile: Leeds Junction to Livermore Falls;
brunswick to Lewiston Qower station):
Brunswick to Bath; woolwich to Rock
land; Bangor to Mt. Desert Ferry. The
equipment has been given careful atten-
ton and is in good condition
The following improvements have been
made during the past year:
Seven thousand five hundred and sew
enty tons Of new S5-pound steel rails
have been laid. as we'll as As tons new go
pound steel, four tons, new 75-pound steel
and one and one-half tons Of new 10
pound steel. There has also been 3432
miles of track relaid ssith So pound relay
rails. 2.37 miles of 75-bound relay, 81 miles
of 70-pound steel relay rails. 5.5 miles IF
6'-pound steel relay, rails. There have
been 3Sl,7S6 ties pat under the tracks
924s switch ties used and 4l73 bridge ties.
There have been 1916 feet of new
siding built and 625S feet of old siding
taken up. and 1927 miles OF track have
been reballasted with 1926 Yards OF
cinders and AHA yards of gravel. There
has been erected. 323, 1853 feet OF woven wire
fence and 800 feet Of board fence. There
nave been built two double track plate
sirder bridges. and five single track plate
sirder bridges. and three plate girder
bridges have been strengthened There
have been built zoos cubic yards of gran
lite and concrete masonry for yariou,
purposes. Culverts have been rebuilt
with cast iron pipe as follows: Two 49,
inch. II 24-inch, seven 3O-inch. 10 3S.incb
and one 4S-inch
lhere have been built II frame build
inss for various purposes ranging in
size from Is feet by 20 feet to 70 feet by
80 feet. There has been lost bv fire on.
water TANK one coal shed at Waterville,
~ by ll4o. and two small frame buildings.
Ihere has been erected one crossing gate.
and one illuminated sign and bell.
The locomotive erecting shop at Wat
erville has been rebuilt, enlarged and
equipped with 35-ton travelling crane.
The stationary boiler plant at the Water
VILE engine house has been eauipped
with automatic stokers. A plant has
been installed at the Bangor enigma
house for washing the exterior Of .Ieeomo.
tlves and tenders. A hoist has been in
stalled in the Bangor passenger ward TO
handle car wheels
There have been purchased two new
SIX wheel locomotive switches eouipped
with super-heaters, weight 1865, 900 pounds
and two new locomotive tenders. com
plete. Five locomotives have been re-
built with new boilers. Three passenger
locomotives have been equipped with
and 10 locomotives eouip.
ped with electric headlights Thirty new
steel underframe flat cars Of 20 tons
have been purchased. Six hun
dred box cars have been equipped with
steel center stills. Authority has been
given to equip 100 box cars with stee, nm
derframes.
Emergency electric lighting system.
have been installed on the steamers
Moosehead and RangeIey.."
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