15
 

Important improvements

There was acquired a one-half interest in two extensions initially constructed by The
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company known as the Hominy Creek Subdivision of the
Nicholas, Fayette and Greenbrier Railroad Company the stock of which is owned in equal
proportions by this Company and the C. & O., the two extensions having been constructed
for the purpose of serving new bituminous coal developments in Nicholas and Greenbrier
Counties, West Virginia. In addition to other adjacent coal lands, these extensions will
facilitate the development of the coal property of the New Gauley Coal Corp. in which
the Toledo and Ohio Central Railway Company and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co.,
have a substantial interest and the mining operations will produce coal needed to meet
the market requirements of this Company's system.

Work was commenced on the construction of an extension of the Toledo and Ohio
Central Railway, leased by this Company, to serve a new mine operation of the Muskingum
Coal Company near Tropic, Ohio.

An extension was authorized to be constructed from the Harco Branch of the C. C. C. &
St. L. Ry., leased by this Company, for the purpose of serving a proposed development of
the Blue Bird Coal Company in SaUne County, 111.

Application was filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission for certificate of
public convenience and necessity authorizing an extension of the Lake Erie, Alliance and
Wheeling R. R., leased by this Company, to serve initially a proposed coal operation of the
Waco Collieries, Inc., near Hopedale, Ohio, with a view to subsequently making a further
extension to serve the proposed operation of the Jefferson Coal Co., in which this Company
has a financial interest.

A modern coaling plant with auxiliary ash handling and sand storage facilities, together
with a new 120 ft. turntable, was constructed at Collinwood, Ohio, to replace inadequate
facilities and permit the handling of longer and heavier power.

Two old open deck double track bridges carrying the main line across Cattaraugus
Creek at Irving, N. Y., were replaced with solid floor steel structures.

Five timber trestles, including an old draw span carrying the main line across Sandusky
Bay near Danbury, Ohio, were replaced with solid floor steel structures including a new lift
span.

A number of grade crossing elimination projects were carried out, most important of
which were the construction of bridges to carry the main line tracks and the junction yards
branch tracks over the new Detroit Industrial Expressway near Dearborn, Mich., and the
structure to carry main line tracks over Middle Belt Road near Inkster, Mich. These
projects were carried out principally with State and Federal funds.

A three-story modern crew dormitory and Y. M. C. A. building was constructed for
engine crews and yard forces at East Syracuse, N. Y., to replace inadequate facilities.

Servicing facilities were constructed at Buffalo, Syracuse, and Harmon, N. Y., to pro¬
vide for the experimental operation of new Diesel passenger locomotives, and at Dewitt,
West Albany, N. Y., and Weehawken, N. J., for the new Diesel freight locomotives.

Work was commenced on relocating about a mile section of the main line westerly of
Canastota, N. Y., to improve the alignment and grades and remove bridge structures no
longer required, formerly carrying the tracks over the Erie Canal.

Work was commenced on the restoration of the sky-ceiling of the main concourse of
the Grand Central Terminal, New York, N. Y.