Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1916 — TRAINS PLAY “LEAP FROG" [ARTICLE]

TRAINS PLAY “LEAP FROG"

Engineers’ Ingenuity Solved Problem of Relieving Congestion of Traffio on City's Elevated Lines. To relieve the swelling traffic on the elevated lines in New York city trains are now made to play “leap frog” by an ingenious method of track laying. A horizontal view of the completed structure would bear a strange resemblance to the roller coaster railroads so much in evidence in nearly all of America’s amusement parks. Nearing a station the express trains for which the new track is being designed, rise swiftly on an incline, so that they play at a modified, mechanical game of leap frog. Under the raised tracks, or “humps,” as they are technically known, the local stations are situated. The reason for the “leap frogging” is obvious. There are three tracks in service already on the elevated lines, but the third track could not be used for express service unless the trains crossed over and on the local tracks to take on and discharge passengers. This would involve delay and a serious possibility of accident. The stations selected for the express stops are either re-enforced or renewed, and the. middle track is raised about 12 feet The loading platforms for the “extra elevated” express tracks are built over the existing local tracks, which are left unchanged. The length of the “hump” is determined by the grade of the present local tracks at that particular section, as the grade of the express tracks never exceeds three per cent. The new platforms are about 350 feet long.

It is expected that the cost of operation of the express trains will be somewhat decreased, as the headway which they get on the incline will carry them some distance before power need be applied. Trains will also be able to stop quickly and smoothly because of the upward incline as they enter the station.