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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tunga>Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>December 31,
1909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=4>NOTHING UNUSUAL IN HUNDRED CAR
TRAINS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>Eighty-five Cars the Average Load on the Lower End of
the Pocahontas Division</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left> Assistant Grand Chief Harley, of the B.
of L. E., of Cleveland, Ohio, said last night that there is nothing unusual in
the long trains which are being hauled over the Virginian. He said that he
has seen many trains with over 100 cars and was going to explain that
eighty-five cars was an average load when Engineers John Mastin and T. F. Weaver
spoke up and said that the Norfolk and Western has many times hauled over 100
cars on the lower end of the Pocahontas division. Eighty-five cars, said
these gentlemen, is an average load for the Williamson end of the
division.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> The Virginian Railway does not haul such
heavy cars as does the Norfolk and Western, their cars being much smaller than
the big Pennsylvania and Norfolk and Western battleships which are hauled on the
local road.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> As far as railroad men are concerned the only
objection that they could have to the long trains would be a violation of the
safety appliance law. Nowadays, though, the railroads equip their engines
with double pumps and on this account are able to take care of longer
trains. The greatest danger from long trains is the possibility of their
breaking on curves, thereby making it possible for a smash-up in the train by
the cars coming together. As this is expensive to the railroads there is
no danger of their hauling too long trains. It is the general opinion that
the Virginian is testing the heavy type of engines which they are using and if
they find that they are able to satisfactorily carry the loads given them they
will be continued without objection.</DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left>[<EM>Here is another instance of the use of "battleship" in
reference to large N&W coal cars of that time period.</EM>]</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=6 face=Script>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>