Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-04-27
b. & O. TO EI.ECTRrFY ROAD.

That the Baltimore ami Ohio Rail-
read COMPANY contemplate the electro
hcation of its mountain division be-
tween Grafton and Cumberland, is the
report that has been current in Fair.
mont since the address there on Tues
day by President Daniel Willard Of
that company and since rumors reach
ed ta'rmont during the past week that
the West Penn Company which oper-
ates power franchise in Preston, Tay.
Tor and other counties along the di.
vision is making preliminary plan, TO
furnish the electricity for the operation
OF the Baltimore and Ohio trains when
the motors take the places of the steam
locomotives.
President Willard touched but brief
iy on the subject, but he spoke in
manner which convinced those who
know him best TO believe that he vas
giving the matter his serious atten-
ton. He was discussing the getting to
the markets Of Fairmont coal, after
the return OF prosperity, and said that
MS company would be called upon TO
perform this feat and it would be done
satisfactorily, il "the mountain divis-
ION had TO be electrified, or the Fair
mont-Connellsville division double
tracked"
Recently the West Penn company,
which operates power lines and rail-
roads throughout Western Pennsylvan-
Ia, lnaugurated an extensive sale OF its
stock. II went about the matter so
seriously that its employees took a
hand in the matter, and it is said that
nearly S3,000,oOO OF the stock has
been sold. 1t is said that one of the
strong arguments offered by It's off.
cials as reason for the need Of the
funds derived from the sale Of new
stock was, that they would be need
ed to extend the power lines TO
railroad in West Virginia that was soon
to be electrified. An investigation OF
this rumor brought forth the informa-
ton that the West Penn people had
been keeping close tab on the Ralti-
more and Ohio and it's mountain d.
vision plan, and il is said that there
have been some encouragements for
the West Penn to begin to make prelim-
mary arrangements for this giant task.
The electrification of mountain divis-
ions is no new thing in railroading.
The st. Paul and other western roads
have done il successfully, and the Nor
folk and Western has its mountain d.
vision operating with motors. In the
case Of the road in southern West Vir-
gina, the system is said to be an ideal
one; that one motor will take loaded
train OF 10 cars up the grades, with
the steam locomotive thrown in.
Getting coal from Grafton to Keyser
has always been serious problem to
the Baltimore and Ohio operating de-
partment. The grades Of Tunnclton
and Cranberry are stiff and even With
the three tracks up the latter, il is
costly proposition to operate with
steam. When in the city Mr.. Willard
told his hearers that his company had
purchased number Of mallet engines,
the largest and best in the freight ser
vice OF the nation today, for the Fair
mont-Keyesr runs. However. tests
made by other systems show that the
use Of electricity has proven the bet L.
ter means Of power than that Of steam
in their cases, and will doubtless do
so for the Baltimore and Ohio il the
cost of installation at this time is not
prohibitiye