Show LONGER TRAINS TRINS ON DS When the young people along the Union Tactful railroad have bave nothing else elee to do they count th the number ot or cars in IL a a train and on ona ona o of ot them saw II a atrain a rec recent nt day one train comIng coining down dO Weber Cell can on made tip u of or cars CUR Long trains are being bring operate operated on all railroads according to the th Railway Age which gives these thes statistics statistical The average number o ot of dare cars ars per train in 1920 was waS In 1921 Ss lB 4 In 1922 38 5 and In Jn 1923 39 9 In the first Hire fit months ot of 1924 It was 40 4 as compared with 38 5 In the tha the corresponding months month of ot last ear car the being b 1 19 cars ears per train This may not seem Important but let us consider Its Ita effect upon certain operating ex cx- cx o of the If It If In the first lut fh e ti months ol ot th the i ear they had handled bandied only the same Bame number bOmber ot or cars per train u as uIn asIn a In the first tint th the ilie e months ot or 1923 they would have have- had to have hav run freight trains miles more than th actually did to handle handl the business The interstate corn com merce comm compiles certain unit costs o ot of operation which in elude dude locomotive repairs wages o or of and trainmen fuel for tor train locomotives engine house ex- ex expenses expenses and other locomotive and traIn expenses Although the average aT- aT number o or of cars care per train first five lv ass as greater than in the months of or 1923 these unit costs per traIn mile mUe were less totalling 1 85 S In the first five months of or 1923 an and only 1 1 66 68 In Ia 1924 Therefore It i 13 reasonable to conclude de that every ever train tram mile saved involved Ii a a Saving or of at ut least 1 66 and that In conso- conso quenco quence the saving ot or train miles amounted directly Ii In money to over 18 or at atthe atthe a the rate of about a 3 ear ar If It we carry the comparison back ten sears to becomes much I more striking st In 1914 the aver aver- average age number of or cars ears In each freight ht train as w as 23 83 or 74 7 4 less lees than In la the th first the th e months ot of 1924 It the Oi II ally aya in the first five rive months o or of 1924 1024 had averaged only ocly 33 cars per pel train the number or of o freight trains train run one mileto mile to handle the business would have hate been 48 million greater greatel than It was and the costs mention mention- mentioned ed would have aggregated 80 roil roil- lion hon dollars more than they did or 01 at the rate of or million dollars a ear ear more Those who eho bo are not familiar ith the development and operation of railways might Inquire 1 hy by It if In- In Increase in crease create in the average number ot of ol cars moved per train has hai such i a great effect upon operating e- e it has not been accomplished accomplish accomplish- ed ad more rapidly The answer la is lathat Ii that it requires so many Improve Improve- Improvements improvements ments in physical ph facilities and In methods that it can b be accomplished only gradually An Ai Increase In the number of ot cars In Ina Ii a II train gives the o more men tons to pull In order that locomotives lives tives may pull larger tonnage 11 I is Ie necessary to pi larger and more powerful locomotives or to re- re reduce re reduce reduce duce track g or both Hea Healer ler ier locomotives require stronger tracks and bridges longer turn turntables larger engine etc Inthe in be length ot of trains require Increases ip III the passing ard tracks racks The longer and heavier trains are the stronger cars must be built In order to prevent trains from pull pull- pullIng pulling ing log apart Now the provision ot of heavier and more powerful loco loco- locomotives loco loco- locomotives locomotives motives the reduction ot or grades the lengthening of or passing and tracks and the provision of ot strong stronger er cars all require capital expendi expendi- expenditures expenditures expenditures I tures and therefore th before these Improvements can be made th rall as must be able abe to t raise and Invest adequate amounts of ot new capital lore Furthermore attar after better ph ph- ph Ical s- s sIca Ica Icat facilities have been pros pro I It Is nece necessary sary to make mak Improve Improvements monte ments in operating methods methods In or- or order or- or order or order der to utilize the Improved cd phys phys phys- physical ical teal facilities facUlties to the best advanI advantage advantage advantage tage The problem of ot so to astern astern- bling I bling cars and making up and moving ing lug trains as to secure tho the maci- maci maxi maximum mum train load while at the ha same time maintaining and the average miles that freight cars care are moved dally daily Is one of ot great complexity and difficulty and con con- constantly con constantly taxes tues the efficiency of the transportation department of ot esery ery |