Grading Wide Areas.—In loading gravel for ballasting, or in widening a cut for the purpose of grading yard, shop or station grounds, the usual manner of doing the work is shown in [Figs. 29] to [34]. After the first cut has been made by one of the methods already described the steam shovel is started in at A, [Fig. 29], for the second cut. After its completion the first side track becomes available for the storage of empty and loaded cars as in [Fig. 30], greatly increasing the convenience of handling the cars and preventing delays by interferences between the strings of empty and loaded cars, then the latter cannot be taken away promptly on account of passing or shortly expected trains on the main line. After the completion of the third cut, another side track is available for cars, [Fig. 31], the loaded cars are then placed on the first inside track and the empty ones on the second. The former are taken away by the road crew, and on their return placed on track No. 2. The pit crew set their loaded cars on track No. 1 for the road crew, and get their empties from track No. 2. The pit track in the rear of the steam shovel is used as a repair track for cars.
Fig. 28.
Fig. 29.
Fig. 30.