The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-04
Means az saving Time by stopping
Quickly and Starting Rapidly.

Is that some plan will soon be adopted. There is
one question, however which, 1t appears to me-
has not received the attention Its Importance de-
serves 1t is this-how to secure rapid transit with
very frequent stoppages. These two conditions are
undoubtedly antagonists, and yet II either Of them
Is sacrificed to any great extent the usefulness Of
the project will be greatly diminished One OF your
correspondents suggested the running of last and
slow trains on separate tracks; the fast to stop at
few stations, and the slow at many This plan
would in great measure obviate the iifhcuity,
but the space occupied by four tracks and the ex-
pense OF construction would, think, render the
idea practicable. The chief obstacle which pre-.
vents the realization of rapid transit and numerous
stations is not so much the time occupied while
the train is actually at rest that wasted in stop
ping and starting, and the consequent short time
high speed can be maintained II the stations are
Any attempt to considerably reduce the time oc-
cupied In bringing train to rest by the aid Of
"breaks" applied TO the wheels will, think be
sufficient force be applied to the breaks to pre-.
as indeed that Of the rails ALSO would result in
very short time from the extremely small bearing
'bearng suriace in this case is Theoretically con.
sideredl misnomer 81 surface Is excluded from
the definition Of line but practically the weight
cumierence OF the wheel, producing nat surface,
which is too small to be measured. is also only
temporary. the elasticity OF the iron restoring the
wheel to its original form. Thus 1t win be readily
seen that II the ordinary rolling contact be changed
resist with lmpunity the abradng action OF the
great pressure and high speed.
object In view would be the following AT each
station, and extending short distance at both
vaea 81 c apoTe % ad raeK
simple device mot necessary to describe in this
letter. 'breaks" consisting Of plates two thrae
feet long, would be made to embrace the centre
rail with any force necessary on approaching
station. An enormous resistance to motion could
injury to the centre rail than the practice
already In use entails on the ordinary
from the fact that the pressure applied to the
breaks would be distributed over their large sur
e VI me IN the rae 10
be probably necessary to apply q small stream OF
water to the breaks while in action to prevent over.
heating.
The centre rail would also subserve another USE
full purposeA The time occupied In starting the
be materially lessened II the adhesion between the
driving wheels and the rails depends upon the
weight Of the locomotive. Now, If horizontal wheels
were made to embrace the centre rail with great
pressure, and were driven by an auxiliary c. ,Inder
Of large power cSndera steam lear were admitted 70
the auxiliary the train could be made to attain Its
highest speed IN very short time depending
strength OF the fastenings OF the centre rail to the
seepers the auxiliary cylinder would be used only
and horizontal wheels has been iouna to work So
admirably on the Mont Cents Railway that there is
no occasion OF charging on Its feasibility The
whole question reduces itself to one Of expense.
My opinion is that the freedom rom wear which
would be secured to the ordinary rails
would amply compensate Tor the extra cost OF the
centre rail- without taking into consideration the
useful onices which it would perform.
BY the means have suggested Tor possibly by
others) q high speed could be obtained together
with large number OF stations. This question
appears to me to be OF Importance, not only to
property owners, but also to the general public;
and wopd be glad to see 1t discussed through the
columns OF your widely circulated paper. Respect
fully yours, JOSEPH SMITHERS.