Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Latrobe Bulletin
March 15, 1899
Travel Through Latrobe
Something About The Number Of Trains That Pass Here Daily
Latrobe has 27 different passenger trains daily. Seventeen of these are on the main line of the P. R.R., four on the Unity branch and six on the Ligonier Valley. The number of freight trains numbers between 140 and 150 daily and in round numbers it may be said that almost 200 passenger and freight trains pass through Latrobe every 24 hours.
The freight trains are made up of from 30 to 45 cars, although some have fifty cars, owing to light tonnage. When these trains are made up, at least 10 cars equipped with air brakes are placed next to the engine, which gives the engineer practical control, although there is a crew of three brakemen always on duty. On account of the steep grades, freight trains eastward have two engines from Wall to Derry, one to Conemaugh, and two or three thence to Gallitzin, the extra engines or helpers being calledsnappers, in railroad parlance.
The rules relating to speed prescribes that passenger trains may run 50 miles an hour, and freight trains, 25, or faster when necessary.
Although the New York and Chicago limited is a fast train, its speed is eclipsed by the Pittsburg Flyer,which runs to New York in ten hours, and from Pittsburg to Greensburg in 18 minutes.
On several stretches of straight track in this country these trains strike a mile-a-minute rate of speed. For instance, what is pronounced fast track are the stretches from the tunnel west of Greensburg to Wall, and eastward from Donohoe to Bradenville.
Yet these swift trains are almost outdone by some of the freights that go thundering along at 50 miles an hour and making, on the pieces of fast track referred to, 13 miles in 15 minutes.