Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-09
Steam Cars on Passenger Railways.
From the PHILADELPHIA Gazette


Some time ago we described in full a newly
invented city passenger car, constructed at the
works of Messrs. Murphy Il Allison, and pro-
PEELED by steam, substitute for the use of
horses on the railways of the city. Yesterday
we enjoyed the pleasure of a trial trim in this
car from the depot OF the Fifth and Sixth street
company In henSlngton to the station of the
same company in Frankford, with a number of
gentlemen connected with the various railway
lines OF the city, representatives, of the press
etc. The road traversed is a very rough one.
built cheapy of cast iron rails, which are short
er than those of wrought iron used in the city
streets, and as the material is less durable the
joints are well worn, and the travelling good for
dyspeptlcs. There are also some sharp curves
and steep grades, which are calculated to test
the powers of a locomotive. But with all these
difficulties the car made her trip in 30 minutes,
agalnst ID usually taken by the horse cars 1t
was really agreeable travelling too, for the car
was heated by steam pipes SO that il was as
comfortable inside as in parior There is no
escape OF smoke, as the engine consumes only
anthracite, and uses up her own gas. Nor Is
there escape steam, that being carefully pro-
voeo nst- Thus, when the locomotive is
In full head of steam, there is no putting or
blowing, no wheeling to be heard outside. and
IN fact, nothing to frighten q horse On tie
road, all sorts Of vehicles were encountered,
drawn by every description of horse, from the
thoroug b bred to the common draue horse.
1n.y "eie Pdsseu dt tne ordinary pace and
withoutstopping, but none of them took fright.
And this Sc ties clearly enough that the steamer
will not frighten horses
Inc time was somewhat faster than that
made by the ordinary horse cars but not 80
much so as could have been accomplished
This locomotive will travel at the rate of thir-
teen miles per hour, which exceeds that al
lowed by statute. 1t can be made of any re-
quired power, to suit the road On the Darby
line 1t would have to be of considerable trac-
tion to overcome the long and heavy grades.
and the sane may be said of the Ridge Avenue
and Germantown lines. 1t is to be tried on
the Darby road shortly. On the Frankford
route, Notwithstanding the sharp curves and
heaVy grades, 1t is competent to make twenty
three miles per hour. Tuesday it rounded
every curve with the utmost ease, stopped with
the same facility as the ordinary cars at the
signai, and mounted the most difficult hill
wltn the same speed as the common horse cars
Inc engine has been tried with several cars
attached, and draws them easily. a fact of verv
considerable Importance on railroads. as veil
as on city lines on extraordinary occasions
This, il must be understood, is one of the fea
lures of the invention, that by the increased
power it enables the company TO transport a
more commodious car.
AS regards the danger of explosion, there is
none whatever. The state Of water in the
boiler is always visible to both the engineer
and the passengers. by an unfailing index; and
at every return to the station the whole appa-
rstus is Of course freshly examined. If the
noise of the machinery be at all noticeable, it
will only serve 10 heighten the excitement Of
travel, there being an enthusiasm inseparable
from travelling by steaA not to be found many
other way.