The Exi5ress System is universally in use in the United States for the forwarding of small parcels and packages. This service is performed by " express companies " controlled by or affiliated with the railway manage ment. The express companics call for the goods, transport them by fast trains, and deliver them to their respective owners at the points of destina tion. The business of these companies is of enormous proportions, and where packages of moderate dimensions and of considerable value are to be transported by rail, and especially where a prompt delivery is desirable, they are forwarded by express rather than by the slower freight service.
the terminal stations and at intermediate stations (say ten or twenty miles apart) are round-houses, or buildings for the recep tion and housing of the reserved engines. The location of these houses is chosen with the view of providing as promptly as possible ample motive power where it will be most needed. The main-track connection is made either by turntables (the most common method; fi/. 3r, jig. t), by transfer tables (.,6/. 2S, fig. 14), or by switches. The ground-plan of these houses varies aceording to the mode of transfer adopted. Where turntables are used, as is the almost universal practice in the United States, the plan may be circular, semicircular, horseshoe-shaped, or polygonal (fig. 9a). The tracks radiate from the turntable placed at the centre (fig. 9b). When the transfer-table is employed, the building has a rectangular form; the stands for the engines are placed side by side, and are eonnected with the main tracks by means of the shifting-tracks. This form of construction is less eostly than the other, and has certain advantages in respect to operation where a large number of engines are assembled. In all cases proper pro vision is made by means of fireproof ash-pits for drawing the fires of the
e les.
for supplying the engines with water are established along the line of the road at frequent intervals, and invariably in 'connec tion with the engine-houses. The source of supply is a convenient spring or an adjacent watercourse. On the upper floor are two iron or wooden cisterns, and on the ground-floor are the heating apparatus and the pump, communicating with the tanks by tubes, to maintain a circulation of the water. The pump may be actuated by steam-power or by a windmill. Figure to represents a water-station as commonly arranged. The loco motive-tender is filled directly from the reservoir by a hose-pipe con nection controlled by a suitable valve and hinged or jointed in such a manner that it may be raised out of the way or lowered, as may be neces sary, or more elaborate fixtures for the same purpose are provided (jigs.
12).
the protection of the rolling-stock from unnecessary exposure to the weather, car-sheds are provided at all main stations, under which the passenger-cars are housed when they are not in service.
Reibair-sho.ps.—The constant wear and tear to which the rolling-stock is subjected renders it neeessary to provide facilities for the repair and reno vation of engines and ears. Upon roads of considerable length and heavy traffie, a number of these are required. These establishments should be supplied with a eomplete plant for working in metals and wood. This will embrace general machine-shops, examining- or inspection-shops, depart ments for founding, forging, wheelwrig-hting, etc., brass-founding; and cop persinithing, woodworking department—embracing cabinet-working and upholstering and paint-shop—storage for lumber and other material and for stock of interchangeable parts, offices, etc.