Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25
BY JOSEPH A. FOX.

Ths railroads Of the country have
reached the definite conclusion that
the use OF motorized equipment has
become a permanent and highly i'm.
portant factor in transportation ana
one which must inevitably be taken
into consideration when their future
development IL studied.
This. in brief. is the underlying rea-
son for the action OF the American
Railway Association in laying plans
recently announced. for the formation
Of a motor transport division. whlch
viii formally be brought into exist
ence at a meeting in chicago IN Jan
uary.
the great systems Of the United
states. but also extends into Canada.
cuba and Mexico, and from the ma
ings of the division, which viii under
take n thorough study OF the many
ramifications OF operation OF motorized
eouipment in coordination with steam
lines. In expected to come definite poll
cies which will in great measure shape
the conduct of this phase OF transpor'
tation in the four countries.
10 Months Study.
Actual steps to set up this new
bra nch of the association comes a1teE
ia months study, eliminating In a
movement that had It's start In Au'
gust, 1926. AT that time representa-
tiyes Of approximately 90 rain INES
either operating motor equipment OF
interested In this new departure. got
together for the purpose OF proviaihs
a means for the interchange or views
ON this subject and organized what IN
q.
port Conference.
since that time motorized equip.
ment actually has been placed In oper'
alton on about so systems. which EN-
ploy these conveyances either for aux
iliary service along their main lines
or over independent routes where they
are valuable as feeders.
Primarily, where motor service In In
vogue. Il Ia used for passenger traffic
and. of course, mail and baggage.
To what extent II will be branched
out to take In generally freight also. IL
considered problematical by those well
advised. One branch OF the associa-
ton will, however, study this very
question from every angle.
There will be two other similar ave.
nues of research pursued also. One or
these will deal with the application OF
the motor bus for use by steam rail-
ways as passenger carriers and the
other the application OF the rail
motor car. particularly on lines where
t.acic liz not sufficient TO warrant. op.
Grafton Of passenger trains.
A Recent Addition.
The rail motor car-~as the name
| implies, a form Of conveyance adapted
| for use on rails~~is II comparatively
recent addition 10 transportation. ana
| Is operated either by gas or electric
jty. II In now reported To be finding
| favor In many sections OF the coun'
| try, since the New York. New Haven
h Hartford pioneered In It's usage as
| n postwar measure.
| incidentally. the rail motor car has
proven II lifesaver. according To A, T.
Russell. n vice president OF tho New
Haven. who In head OF tho New Eng
land Transportation Co. the operat
Ing concern for the New liaVenn mo
torized lines. and who IL temporary
chairman of the general committee
| which will organize tha new motor
| tra nsport division OF tho American
Railway Association.
The conditions which brought about
their use on his road he says, have
been parplicied on other lines where
they have been brought into service
and when here recently. no outlined
these az illustrative Of II situation
that has brought them more and
more into general use.
| Private car ownership and inde
pendent bus operation had grown "a
such an extent after tho war that tbs
| New Haven. due To operating costs
ana iessened trafiie could no longer
compete with the two In southern
| New England. Mr., Russell explained
| Under tho circumstances. the road dc
cided 10 give tho rail motor cars T.
trynut, with results that arc described
an highly satisfactory.
| Vital Auxiliary.
Not only have they served as able
substitutes for the regular paasenger
trains on lines which. II IN said. would
| otherwise have faced aba ndonnent
hut they also have fllled an importa nj
position az auAiliarios for the regular
train service,
ON main lines these cars have been
afternoon with n private view, Miss
Hammond IL apendina the Winter Ia
New York. studying at the Master In