Evening star., 1925-04-15
RAILROAD ADOPTS
GASOLINE HANDCAR
Pennsy to Get More Efficient
Service-RoadS Ready
for Tourist Rush.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispat tch to The Star.


NEW YORK, April 15.-The route
from section hand to railroad presi-
dent Travelled by many transporta-
ton executives has not been closed,
but ii probably will not much longer
be routed via the handcar. The
PENNSYLVANIA lines, for example, are
contemplating replacement of all old
style handcars, which have been the
mode of transporting track crews for
generations, with gasoline motor cars.
The road intends to motortZe all
forces engaged in maintenance and
repair of rights of way.
Over 900 of the new vehicles now
are in use and 1t is said the economy
and efficiency attained have allowed
the withdrawal of over 1900 of the
hand-operated cars. Track gangs in
the past have varied from 6 to Is
men under charge of a foreman. 1t
has been found that on most stretches
of road the mileage covered by section
gangs, telegraph and signal main
tenance gangs and bridge inspectors
has been greatly increased.
More Work Accomplished.
The use of the new equipment has
enabled the employment of larger
gangs required by the increasing
weight and bulk of the materials used
in track construction and repair.
These gangs are carried to the point
indicated by track inspectors more
quickly, and 1t has been shown that
they arrive in physical condition to
do more and better work than If they
were forced to furnish their own mo-
tive power.
The change, however, has required
development of a new type of vehicle
which can readily be removed from
the track and replaced to avoid the
frequent trains on sections OF the
road under heavy traffic. So far the
change has resulted in the reduction
of the number OF sections by 215.
This adaptation of the gasoline
motor is a natural development of the
increased popularity of the motor
truck. Up to 1910 only $4,000 motor
trucks had been manufactured by the
entire gasoline motor industry.
Truck Output Amazing.
Over 1850, 900 have been made since
that time. and the present production
of trucks is about $4,000 a year. 1t is
estimated that / ,450 different lines OF
business are now utilizing them.
| Thirty-three railroads now are using
them as part of their shipping service,
and score Of other carriers are pre-
pairing to put such vehicles into oper-
alton shortly. There are about 500
gasoline rail motor coaches in opera
ton in this country. and such equip
ment is being constantly increased
| Twenty-four other roads are contem-
plating using them within the year.
Ready for Tourist Rush.
The railroads are preparing for a
| terrific rush Of tourists to the great
| national parks this Summer A total
nf I -st tal H. ,,-I-
in 1924, according to Stephen T.
| Mather, director of the parks. This
was an increase Of about II per cent
compared with 1923. and the traffic
this season is expected to exceed
| 1.500, 900 passengers. A huge number
Of these will see the wonders of the
national Fairgrounds from busses, and
bus fleets are being increased as rapid.
| ly as manufacturers can turn out the
| units ordered.
Bus Fleets Serve Parks.
One manufacturer alone has sup
piled 315 buses for the Yellowstone
| including the vehicles for carrying
passengers, baggage and hotel sup
plies. A new bus fleet will be il
operation in Zion National Park il
Utah. running from the railroad a.
Cedar City to Cedar Brakes, Bryc,
Canyon and Zion Park. Rock Noun
tain Park in Colorado has increased
bus fleets, as has Yosemite Park IL
| California. the Grand Canyon, Rainier
| National Park in Washington, Pike.
Peak and Glacier National Park.
Canada Is buying American truck!
for the tourist traffic around Banff
Lake Louise, Lake Windemere anC
other points in the Canadian Rockies
and practically all the parks are add
ing trucks for carrying supplies ant
baggage.