Handbook of Railroad Construction; For the use of American engineers. / Containing the necessary rules, tables, and formulæ for the location, construction, equipment, and management of railroads, as built in the United States.

by George L. Vose

A load of 500 tons, upon a 30 feet grade, requires a traction of	11,500 lbs.
Upon a 50 feet grade,	15,500 lbs.
Upon an 83 feet grade,	22,500 lbs.
Upon a 45 feet grade,	14,500 lbs.
To move the above load from Boston to Worcester we should require	2 engines,
From Worcester to Springfield,	3 engines,
From Springfield to Pittsfield,	5 engines,
From Pittsfield to Albany,	3 engines,

And the products of the number of engines by the lengths of the corresponding divisions, are

Boston to Worcester,	44	×	2	=	88
Worcester to Springfield,	54½	×	3	=	163½
Springfield to Pittsfield,	52	×	5	=	260
Pittsfield to Albany,	49½	×	3	=	148½
					660

Suppose that by making the engines on the several sections strong in proportion to the resistance of those sections, one engine is capable of taking the whole load over all of the grades. The mileage becomes as follows:—

Boston to Worcester,	44	× 1 =	44
Worcester to Springfield,	54½	× 1 =	54½
Springfield to Pittsfield,	52	× 1 =	52
Pittsfield to Albany,	49½	× 1 =	49½
			200	miles.
The mileage before was			660	miles,
And the saving therefore			400	miles.

or about 70 per cent. of the first mileage.

359. From a recent report of the New York and Erie Railroad it appears that the same power will draw

28 tons on the Western division,

80 tons on the Susquehanna division,

85 tons on the Delaware division,