J. Foster Cromwell, M. Am. Soc. C. E.—It occurs to me that the use of
this turn-table being simply to turn the engine during transit, while
the train waits, and, moreover, as the service is a special one on a
spur line, it would have been better to obtain an engine capable of
running in either direction and not requiring to be turned, rather than
resort to a turn-table in the main track which contains an element of
danger as well as of delay to the traffic. The device, however, is an
ingenious one to meet the peculiar conditions of line; and if experience
with it proves satisfactory, there are other problems on a larger scale
relating to change of direction in mountain location that it may help to
solve.
C. W. Gibbs, M. Am. Soc. C. E.—If a special engine had been procured, as
Mr. Crowell suggests, it would have been at an extra expense, owing to
the limited number wanted; and even with a special design, it might have
been difficult for any engine to have backed its load over so steep a
grade and such sharp curves without more danger than was suggested there
might be at the turn-table. The delay to traffic amounts to nothing, for
there are no competing lines, nor do I expect there ever will be. The
turn-table has now been in actual operation every day since June, 1889,
and no accident has ever occurred.
[Illustration: PLATE XXII.
TRANS. AM. SOC. CIV. ENG’RS.
VOL. XXIII. N^o. 450.
GIBBS ON
SILVERTON RAILROAD.
SKETCH
SHOWING ALIGNMENT
OF
SILVERTON RAILROAD,
AT
CORKSCREW.
C.W. GIBBS, Chief Engineer.]
AUDITOR’S STATEMENT
EARNINGS AND EXPENSES, SILVERTON RAILROAD
YEARS 1889, 1890 AND 1891
1889
Gross earnings from Frt. Psngr. Exp. Etc. $ 80,881.66
Operating and all other expenses 34,285.04
46,596.62
Interest on first mortgage bonds 1 year 25,500.00
21,096.62
1890
Gross earnings from Frt. Psngr. Exp. Etc. $105,673.39
Operating and all other expenses 51,127.22
54,546.17
Interest on first mortgage bonds 1 year 25,500.00
29,046.17
1891
Gross earnings from Frt. Psngr. Exp. Etc. $121,611.38
Operating and all other expenses 57,548.37
64,063.01
Interest on first mortgage bonds 1 year 25,500.00
38,563.01
Length of line 17 miles
Length of side tracks 8 miles
25 miles
Floating debt Nil
Bonded debt $425,000.00