Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-21
ERAthR0ADN leMSR
NEW SYSTEM TO BE
USED BY P. R. R.
Will Do Away With Old Time
Way of Handling Small
Shipments of Freight

Plans which are now being work
ed out in final detail and will short
ly be put into actual operation will
effect complete change in the
methods of receiving. loading and
forwarding less than carload freight
OF all descriptions upon all portions
of the Pennsylvania railroad lines
east of Pittsburgh.
The new arrangements will con-
stitute probably the most far-reach-
ing improvement that has ever been
attempted, on large scale, in
freight transportation practices.
The present custom of receiving
less than carload freight indiscrim-
inately. at all stations, at any time
of the day. for all destinations, which
has been followed since the early
days of railroading. will be abolished.
In its place there will be substitut-
ed a carefully devised plan whereby
the acceptance and loading of freight
in less than carload lots will be con-
Quoted according to a regularly es-
tablished system, and such freight
will be automatically concentrated
into full loads at the point of ship
ment.
The two most important features
of the new plan for handling less
than carload freight are:
l. The inauguration of shipping
days-or substantially sailing dates
ON which cars will depart from
various points of origin to specified
destinations; freight will be accept
ed on the proper shipping days,
only, and the cars will sail as
specified.
2. The destination of particular
stations at which freight will be ex-
clusively received for specified desti-
nations; freight for such points will
be accepted at the stations named,
only.
New Plan the Result of Long Study
The new plan represents the re-
suits of prolonged investigation,
traffic officers of the Pennsylvania
railroad, for the purpose of de-
termining the best practical means of
obtaining increased efficiency and
dispatch in the handling of less than
carload freight.
The primary purposes for the
adoption of the new method are
fourfold:
First. Elimination of the delay in
cident to the rehandling of freight,
under the present methods of con-
solidating small shipments into full
carloads at transfer stations.
This will give the shipper quicker
service than is possible under the
old method.
Second. Conservation of car supply
by effecting better average loading
than is possible under the transfer
system.
This will increase the cars avail
able for commercial freight, as well
as government supplies.
Third. Reduction in the number of
car and train movements required to
transport a given volume of freight
This will increase the capacity of
the whole railroad plant, and will
release trackage and locomotives
for the movements of troops. govern
ment supplies and commercial
freight.
Fourth. Improvement in the reg
ularity of the freight service by
systemizing and simplifying opera
ton.
This will result from the elimina-
ton of a large proportion of the
complicated rehandling of freight,
which is now unavoidable, with the
attendant liability to damage.
1t is the belief of the management
of the railroad that the proposed
change will increase the efficiency
promptness and regularity of the
freight service and therefore will
commend itself to shippers as facilit-
ating the conduct of their business.