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New Marine Railway for River $C Original Features of Design and Construction—Side Haul Type—Car- riages Move at Uniform Speed—Solid Foundation—Sturdy Mechanism ness of design characterize the modern Neville Island marine railway officially opened by the Dravo Contracting Co. Jan. 15 at its Neville Island plant and yards, located on the Ohio river eight miles below Pitts- burgh, before an audience of more than 200 invited guests. Representa- tive of the progress and expansion taking place in inland river transpor- tation and transportation facilities this railway incorporates the latest developments in this type of equip- ment and fills an important post in offering adequate service for upkeep and repair to craft in the Pittsburgh and upper Ohio river harbors. It was designed with the greatest possible care after a thorough investigation of several installations in the United States, Holland and Germany, none of which was found adequate in all re- spects. The railway will handle vessels with maximum length of 315 feet and draft of 10 feet. Capacity of each of the 12 carriages is 300 tons, giving total hoisting capacity of 3600 tons. Car- riages are 46 feet long, weigh 30 tons each, are spaced 23 feet between centers and each is driven by a 25- horsepower electric motor. A central system of electric control handles the operation of the 12 carriages and is so arranged that any number of car- riages may be operated simultaneous- ly from one master switch. The con- trol room is conveniently located to provide the operator a clear view of the ways. Each hauling winch consists of a four reduction spur gear unit mounted on a structural steel base, the motor speed being reduced to 0.94 revo- lutions per minute at the sprocket, or equivalent chain speed of 5 feet per Fo of manipulation and sturdi- El. 672.257 By W/. G. Gude minute for maximum loads. The movement of empty carriages, with or without light loads at the rate of 10 SEERA EER RIED H SHR SPH PME REET A TNE NENTS Neville Island Marine Railway Maximum length vessel, feet............... 315 Maximum draft vessel, feet.............00. 10 Carriages Num bere e ec hes cee ee ees a a 12 Length, feetecci eo wih ee 46 Weight €achtons..5 cae ee ee ee Spacing between centers, feet.............2- Z3 Capacity each; tons. ..s.. <a a ee 300 Total capacity; tontess 656g es 3600 Tracks Gage rail centers, feet ae Length above pool; feety5 62> ee as 235 Length below. pool, feets.c 3. os ce ee 160 Slope; inches perfoots.< 1526 te 1% Depth of water over lower end, ft........... Chains Weight per foot, pounds... 4235... re 90 Total weight each-chain, tonsvcdes hon 6 oases L7 Winches Motors—each, horsepower...........2e000- Sprockets and pinions—forged integral with shafts. Control—full magnetic from remote station with single operator able to move any number or simultaneously any combination of carriages. Hauling Speed Heavy. loads, feet per minies: oc. is casa ee ce 5 Light loads; feet per minws.4 cic ie acces 10 Constant Speed Maintained by magnetic clutches on each winch connecting same to line shaft. Whirler Capacity: 30 tons at 30 foot radius; 15 tons at 60 foot radius; 10 tons at 80 foot radius. eneth of boom, feetsec.: bic. cv ead 80 Diameter of roller circle, feet.............. 17 Rudder Pits Three (3) supplied to permit dropping rudders 12 feet below bottom of hull. Concrete Construction Track beams of reinforced concrete—9 feet wide by 3% feet deep—18 inch steel beams under rails below pool and 8 inch beams above pool. Pavement above pool 12 inches thick with flat steps at 8 foot centers for blocking—below pool sloping pavement 10 inches thick. feet per minute, is provided by a suitable speed change unit. Each winch is provided with a magnetic brake and as a further safety meas- ure, a mechanical brake. The ear- riages run sufficiently into and under the water to accommodate loaded boats of draft as high as nine or ten feet. Important features in the design of the Dravo railway are the ability to haul out the carriages at a. uniform speed that prevents undue stresses or strains on either the hauling mechan- ism or the vessel; the conveniences offered for blocking up the vessel; and the sturdiness of foundations and mechanism. The foundation for the tracks is unusually substantial. The area between the carriage tracks is noteworthy because, instead of the usual type of step construction, it is made of alternate flats and slopes, the flats providing landings for the block- ing under the vessels and the slopes facilitating the movement of men under the hulls or on any part of the ways. Pits have been provided at both the upper and downstream ends of the marine ways and at various locations to aid in the removal or installation of rudders or propellers. The main hauling chains are of the flat bar and pin type, made of high manganese high carbon steel and de signed for a working stress of 40 tons at a speed of 5 feet per minute. The back haul line consists of %-inch steel rope. The machinery house enclosing the hauling winches extends complete- ly across the upper end of the ways with its walls serving as a foundation to carry a gantry whirler equipped with an 80-foot boom. This crane is used to assist in repair work and for the purpose of placing blocking under the vessels being docked. FI. 727.10 : Carriage and Hauling Mechanism of New Marine Railway, Dravo Contracting Co. Yard, Neville Island, Ohio River MARINE REVIEwW—February, 1931 29