68 POWER DISTRIBUTION FOR ELECTRIC RAILROADS. 
on IV. The load factor of II is hardly better than .3 
while that of Iis nearly .6. Consequently we have far 
less latitude in planning the conductors for this branch 
than in case of the main line, being always confronted by a 
high maximum to be taken care of. The load factor how- 
ever does not fully represent the precautions that have to 
be taken. It shows, to be sure, the normal maxima, but it 
does not include the effect of shifting load. 
This is really a very serious matter in making the 
plans for a conducting system and the probabilities of the 
case need to be carefully weighed. A base ball park, for 
instance, located far out on a branch line means trouble un- 
A a B 
e e e e e = e e 
  
F16G. 46. 
less it be taken into account. It means that now and then, 
not only all the regular cars on the line, but all the extras 
that can be spared, will be massed at or near the distant end 
of the branch and brought in heavily loaded and all to- 
gether. It isthe same effect that would be obtained from 
a steep grade, except that it is only occasional. The amount 
of such an extra load may be sufficient to double the ordi- 
nary maximum load and that in the most disadvantageous 
place, i. e., at the end of the line. From what has been said 
it is sufficiently evident that laying out the conductors for 
a large system is more a matter of acute judgment than of 
exact theory. 
* The reason for this is that there are no data suffi- 
clent to justify a general theory based upon them. The