Should you visit Frenchtown, New Jersey, you would see the line of the old Belvidere
and Delaware, now part of the vast Penn Central Railroad, and affectionately referred to as the
Bel Del. This railroad wanders up the New Jersey side of the Delaware River from Trenton to
Phillipsburg and on to Manunka Chunk. Even to the uninitiated eye, it presents a picture of a
dying enterprise. The sight of small rusty rails and tall grass among weathered ties encourages a
feeling of compassion. But such a feeling is uncalled for. Although no signs are evident of
exacting maintenance on the Bel Del, its absence indicates sound management because of the
little traffic on the line. Only folly could induce the railroad's officials to expend a great deal of
effort and cash on maintenance not warranted by traffic density.
Look at another single-track line: the Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGW)
trackage leading westward out of Denver. You don't need years of maintenance-of-way
experience to see that, although the line is single track, considerable effort has been directed at
putting and keeping it in excellent physical condition. It makes the Bel Del back in the Delaware
Valley seem old-fashioned: that picturesque trackage inspires thoughts of times past and yet is a
part of a modern, sensible operation. But here on the D&RGW, no such inconsistency is
apparent. The fine roadbed complements the 6,000-horsepower diesel-electrics roaring up the
eastward slope of the Rockies to Moffat Tunnel with their ladings of coastbound freight. The
importance and volume of the traffic would make stingy maintenance effort economic suicide for
the railroad.
To find an example that violates the principle of track maintenance in proportion to
traffic is difficult. This fact is evidence that railroads don't ignore so sound a principle. Today's
division engineers and track supervisors know how to keep their railroad safe and economically
geared to the existing or anticipated level of traffic. They have knowledge, a proper appreciation
for track, and an understanding of what a rail can and cannot do. Using the words of a dean of
railway engineers: "They know how to do well with one dollar what any bungler can accomplish,
after a fashion, with two." It is the work of these division engineers and track supervisors with
which you are to become familiar.
1.3.
EFFECT OF GRADE ON RAILROAD LOCATION
The bulk of railroad locating has been done. In some cases, the location was wisely
chosen; in others, the choice was poorly made. The locating engineers had to solve numerous
economic and technical problems. However you may look at it, good or bad, the
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