p. 175 | NEWS OF RAILWAYS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1900

NEWS OF RAILWAYS.

The Grand Trunk Railway shops at Point St. Charles have been one of the busiest parts of this great railway system during the year 1899. Full time has been the rule, and a large number of engines and cars have been turned out, as well as repairs having been made on hundreds of cars. In the car shops the following rolling stock has been built, and put in operation, during 1899: Two magnificent composite cafe-parlor cars, composed of drawing room, seating twelve persons, a dining room to accommodate the same number, buffet and smoking rooms, with large and commodious separate toilet rooms for ladies and gentlemen. Those cars are part of the fast day expresses running between Montreal and Toronto, and since their inauguration have been much appreciated. Luncheon is served in the dining compartment any time during the day, thus obviating the necessity of passengers leaving train for refreshments while en route between the two cities, and enabling the Grand Trunk to save a considerable amount of time in the run, the distance now being made in a little over eight hours.

Several first-class modern coaches of the 800 series were built, and are running over different parts of the system. These coaches have been praised by all who have seen or traveled in them, and they are the finest first-class cars on the continent, being made without regard to cost, and with every detail throughout for the comfort and ease of the traveling public. In addition to these, two composite second-class and baggage cars were also built and added to the rolling stock.

Other cars turned out of the Montreal shops were 230 box, 200 flat, 153 coal,—all of a capacity of 30,000 tons,—and 50 cinder cars.

On the middle division two of the latest and most approved dining cars replaced those of a more ancient pattern, and these cars are the admiration of the most fastidious. They are beautifully fitted throughout, and the interior decorations are of handsome designs, without any gaudy effect. Meals are served on these cars a la carte.

Among the repairs that have been done in the Point St. Charles shops the following are of interest: 916 passenger cars and 4,572 freight cars; 3,240 freight cars were equipped with M. C. B. automatic couplers and Westinghouse air brakes. All the new passenger equipment is fitted with Pullman wide vestibules, standard company's platforms and buffing arrangements. They are also complete with all the latest conveniences and safety appliances known to modern ingenuity.

From the motive power shops situated at Point St. Charles, the following engines were built and placed in service: six ten-wheel large passenger locomotives, six eight-wheel large mogul locomotives for hauling freight, and ten locomotives of smaller type. In addition to these the Grand Trunk purchased from the Baldwin Company Locomotive Works ten compound consolidation freight engines, which are now in operation on the different divisions of the system.

At the present time the motive power shops are in the throes of a busy season, and hundreds of men are to be seen working on the 24 large mogul locomotives, which are now in course of construction.

The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada has adopted the new Miller cushion truck brake, for use on its passenger rolling stock. The improved appliance will be attached to through trains service stock at once. The Grand Trunk Railway is the first system in America to take up the patent, which is said to materially facilitate the easy running of fast express trains.