The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-13
FRENCH RAILWAYS
AMUSE YANKEES
Regard Them as Toys Until They
Take Ride.
RENDER EXCELLENT SERVICE
Coaches and Freight Cars Are Small
and Light but They Get Speed Out
Of Them-Women "Brakemen" Are
Found to Be Very EfHcIent-Freneh
Roadbeds Are Always Kept In Good
Order.

Roadbeds Are Always Kept In Good
Order.
French trains look funny to Ameri-
can soldiers. Using these as models,
the toy makers made their strings Of
play cars for them when they were
youngsters. And the Americans are
prone to look upon them still as toys
until they get aboard and travel across
the country with the speed Of an Amer
lean express train, or, arriving at the
front, note with what thoroughness and
dispatch these "toy" trains running
right to the edge Of mo Mans Land"
keep them supplied with their bacon
and canned Willie"
Take the French passenger coach,
for instance. Mounted on its four
wheels, which are not solid like
American car wheels, but have spokes
In them, 1t does not look very COM
modious, but when you come to count
the number Of persons 1t hauls and
the service 1t gives your apprecia-
ton is likely to increase materially.
The ordinary French coach is divided
into six compartments, each compart-
ment seating ten persons. That's 60
persons to car. The average Ameri-
can car seats 60 persons. But it takes
two French coaches to occupy the
space of an American car. In that
way the carrying capacity is doubled.
The fact that the cars are much light
err and that there are few heavy grades
on the French lines permits much long
er trains.
Freight Cars Are Similar.
1t is true that the French local
trains do not have the accommoda-
lions of the American lines. When
you get into an apartment you have
to stay there until, at least, the next
station. But most Of the journeys are
short. Few persons travel far.
The French freight cars are built
on the same general principles. The
average load is ten tons. Being light
they are easily shifted around in the
yards. Virtually all the switching is
done by hitching horse to the car
and "spotting" 1t where it is wanted.
All yards have a small turntable
where the cars may be turned and
shunted to other tracks. All the
larger yards are equipped with an
electric carrier. The car is pushed on
the carriage and then carried by
means of an underground trolley
right across the yards and deposited
on any track.
Both freight and passenger cars
are constructed with the idea Of
serving the maximum of people with
the minimum of cost in rates. The
ten-ton shipper can compete with the
rival who ships thousands Of tons.
Passenger rates are in the same ratio.
A soldier, for instance, can travel 60
kilometers (371a miles) for 100 francs |
(32 cents).
Roadbeds Are Well Kept.
French roadbeds are kept In good
and the through trains make
good time. The French, not being
In such hurry as the Americans, do
not believe in grade If cut or
fill can overcome it. They will bore
a tunnel through a hill rather than
make q curve around it. The sides Of
the cuts are frequently paved with
stones to prevent slides. The straight
tracks, together, with the fact that
here are no grade crossings in France,
permit speed. French engineers never
blow their whistles except in the sta
lions, and the machines" as they call
their locomotives, are not equipped
with warning bells.
One Of the things that have inter-
,sted Americans not little In con-
lectiOn with operation Of French rail-
ways are the women brakemen. French
freight trains don't use air brakes, and
hey don't have cab00ses on the tail
end of the train. The train crew gen.
orally consists Of man conductor and
:wo women brakemen. The women
wear black uniforms with the initials
If the railroad embroidered in the
.ollar of the coat while cumbersome
;kirts have been superseded by balloon
;tyle knee trousers. They ride in the
'crummies," as the dog houses" on
french freight cars are called. Old
conductors say the women make sur
good "brakemen."