Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-09
TRAIN FERRY AIDS
IN WINNING STRIFE
Boats Carry Cars Between Brit
ain and France Across
Channel.
HELPS DURING SPRING CRISIS
Big Guns and Materials Hurried
From Factory TO Front
Without Hitch.
HELPS DURING SPRING CRISIS

LONDON. Feb. s.-Among the many
engineering leafs which have had
Their Snlre in winning the war for
me me allies one OF The most interesting
mas been the train ferry service be-
tween England and France. The
Schcme was approved by the Cabinet
in January of last year. and has been
in operation only about eight mon tbs.
put during that time the ferry ms
carried across the channel 1885 ten
ton raiiway wagons Or their cqulva-
rent III linear measurements. and 2.1-
'33 tons o. gross dead weight
Win the signing of the armis,ice
DC diminished. For some time it will
ne required 70 assist in carrying food
anu maternal for the army OF occupa-
tlon, and Ii will be used in the re-
well as for transporting locomotives
tractors. etc. to the repair base. which
IS situated near the terminal at Rich
borough.
1t is hardly necessary to explain
ma; train ferry IS substitute for u
orl n,i,. or aun nif, as means OF con,
by water The iirst essential is that
inc, ,hese railway systems should be OF
cies brought over by the ferry may
travel on either system.
TRAIN FERRY PROVIDED
WITH SPECIAL. TRACKS
This essential is stumbling block
in the way o: such a form OF com
munication between England and Ire
land. Fortunately the difficulty did
not arise in the case OF the English
and French systems.
The principal features Of the train
Terry are vessels OF special design
provided with railway tracks on deck
on which the vehicles stand during
the voyage; adjustable bridges or
aprons at each berth. by means of
which the vehicles are run from the
versa, and port facilities. railway con
nections and sidings at each terminal.
The operations Gonset simply of
shunting the loaded railway vehicles
from the railway sidings at the port
Of departure across the Adjustable
bridge onto the rails on the deck OF
with the bridge. and the reverse pro-
cess of shunting the vehicles on at
the port Of arrival
REGULAR SERVICE Is
MAIN1AINED EASILY
The principal advantage OF the sys-
tenn is that any breaking bulk or
handling OF cargo. such as ordinarily
;akees place: is avoided. just as it would
a as i oF'dss or tunnel were avail avail
4 regular service has been main
ORANGE since the ferry was nrst estab-
lished. and has proved OF the grea est
cles as railway wagons. locomotives.
tanks, guns and machinery. we'll
as a;. the ordinary class OF cargoes car
taken over by the ferry, can be for
warded 10 their destination without
the delay. OF unloading the ship and
hu;tins the cargo into other wagons
The service is. Of course. lab to the
interrnption OF fog and bad eathcr
10 the same extent as other shipping
but in other respects it has been able
TO maintain it's regularity.
FORWARDED BIG GUNS
TO TROOPS IN FRANCE
The service was OF special utility in
forwarding urgent repiacements OF
guns. tanks. etc, during the last Ger
man offensive, when the rapidly of
transit proved invaluable. II would be
hardly an cNaggeration to say that
this alone has more than justified the
whole outlay. When to this is added
the saving OF crane power and more
especially. man power. the advanta gees
are still more apparent. 1t should also
be borne in mind that In accordance
with the general procedure weights
have only been recorded in deadweight
tons but as the greater part OF the
carsoes has been OF a bulky nature.
the shipping space saved. as judged
in measurement tons. is probably three
or four times greater than is shown
by the weight records-a point which
every shipping man will understand.