Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-10
Motor Transport Train.
Coast To Coast Journey De
layed At ThurmOnt.

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The motor transport train which lef
Washington on Monday of this week got
as far as Frederick, Md, on the frs
day. They remained at Frederick ovel
night, camping on the Fair Grounds
Early Tuesday morning the journey
was resumed, and the main body of trans
portscame to Thurmont about 8. 80 o'clock
The small cars and all but three of the
heavy trucks proceeded without mishar
until the overhead bridge of the Western
Mary land railroad bridge was reached.
Here the truck carrying the blacksmith
shop got stuck, the heavy bridge girders
being too low, and portion of the top
was torn from the truck in its efforts to
proceed.
This truck was backed out. The ma
chine truck followed. and the two were
detoured by the w. M. depot and thence
through by Mr.. Vincent O'Toele's resi-
dence to the State Road. Near the Thur
mont Garage small stream crosses the
road, heavy iron pipe carrying the
water over the road. The first truck
CROSSED safely, and the second got across
but as the rear wheels left the pipe, the
truck was given swing and came near
upsetting.
Considerable time was consumed in
getting the heavy car on the road, two
trucks being required to pull it out.
Another truck was in waiting to get
across the stream. In his efforts to keep
the truck in the straight path, the driver
got little too far to the left and the
left wheels went down the soft bank,
the truck stopping straddle the pipe and
stream. An effort was made to pull the
truck with the one that had just been
pulled out, but the pull could not be made.
Orders were given to overtake the out
fit that had gone ahead and bring back a
tractor to do the pulling and otherwise
assist the truck to get on solid ground.
All three of the trucks that had to
make the detour had fiat tops and were
from four to six inches higher than those
with bow tops, the latter clearing the
railroad by at least six inches.
The delay here gave large number of
people splendid opportunity to view the
trucks and troops. The train was re-
ported to be three miles long, and it is
when stretched out as it was here Tues
day of the cars being at Emmits-
burg and others at Thurmont. In all it
is stated there are about sixty cars, and
we would say that is about correct.
This is said to be the largest motor
transport train in the history of any
army. The trip from Washington to San
Francisco will be made over the Lincoln
Highway, and will take at least 60 days.
The trip is being made under special
orders from the War Department, and
for the double purpose of giving a dem
onstration of national preparedness and
of showing the need of ma tional highways.
Those interested in the Lincoln Highway
have had much to do with bringing it
about.
All equipment needed to support the
soldiers who will manipulate the trucks
will be carried on the train although the
War Camp Community Service is making
arrangements for recreation for the SOL
diers in the communities in which they
will spend their evenings. The schedule
calls for all average speed of rs miles a
day, so that not much grass will grow
under the wheels of the trucks.
No train of it's size has ever been as
sembled before. 1t is greater even than
any of the trains used during the war
on the Western front.