New-York tribune., 1878-05-01
STEAM IN SLXTLE1VE.

OVER THE GILBERT LINE TO THE PARK
A SUCCESSFUL TRIP YESTERDAY FROM TRINITY
CHURCH TO IFrY-NGNTH-sr.-RUNNING WITH
oUT JOLT or JAR-DEsCRPuON or THE ROLL
ING-sTOCK.
The first trip over the Gilbert Elevated
Railway from Trinity Church Central Park, made
yesterday. There four ears containing 200
passengers among them DR.. Gilbert, the pro
ector OF the road, President WI ,am Foster jr,
and Directors Horace Porter, John Baird, A.
Levy II. ". Alexander, J. f. dc navarro L NJ. Brown
and W. X. Garrison; also eX-MayOr Wickham, Commis
sioner OF Public Works Campbell, o. B. Bunce, \. B.
Pullman W r. skunk, q. T. Han, Grosyenor p. Lowrey,
f. B. Musgrayc and l.. y. Fuller
just as the chimes Trinity ringing the hour OF
the train started. amid the cheers OF large crowd
gathered on the platform and in the street below.
slowly at first at rate Of four Ave miles hour,
II approached the curve at Murray-st and then sped
around the rate Of ten miles an hour No JarrnG
was felt and although the curve is sharp the passengers
were thrown sdcwise In their seats In west Broad
way the train moved rapidly reaching speed Of
twenty-five miles an hour Tho road was true and even,
ana there was no more motion felt than Is experienced
IN the most elegant Pullman car ON tho best rock
ballastcd railroad IN the country. As the tram
shot ahead tue windows Of the factories, shops Offices
dwellings along the route were suddenly thronged
with people, all smiling open-eyed and open-Inouthed
The sidewalks below showed host Of upthrned faces
Men and boys shouted, and women waved their hand
kcrcefs. one woman more enthusiastic than the rest
down blue windOwcuTtaln ana shook u wildly III
the air regardless Of the yarousy cOlOred curl papers
that bcdecked her head The horses below pricked up
their ears pranced gaiy about, None OF them
i'm the lower ana deusey crowded part or the city
however, got beyond control
The curve at Amity-st. and South Ffth-ave. has a
radius OF only ninety feet. This was successfully
turned But the rails at sxth-aye and Amity-st. had
been nearly covered with pant by careless wOrkmcn,
and the speed OF the tram had been considerably
lcssened II approached that pOn the wheels OF the
engine slipped around and the cars came to stop En-
ginecr Zelner backed the train few rods, ana took
up the broad highway. Not a jar or
smoothly toward Central Park. Pushing along the
avenue at the level Of the second story windows was
difficult persons f3milIariwith the first
story features OF the busy thOrougare to realize Just
where they were. II seemed as II one were travelling
through some unknown street in strange city. few
landmarks, however, had familiar lo0k-the Jefferson
Market Court House, Macy store booths IhseaIre,
The partially finished platforms of Ninth Fourteenth
Twentythrd aud Forty ysecOnd-sts were tlronged with
spccta tators, also tho windows OF the houses
tram. few wagged their heads or shook their 1Sts
good naturedy. AT the sixth Avenue car stables Two
"whOa Cuging to the bits OF horses that exhibited
no symptoms OF fright except prckng up their ears
dow OF the office Of the company the trium-
phant train moved past. The horses along the
1nd.st pair attached to ice-wagon away.
But one OF them stumbled ana fell and the sole
runaway thus IaI oatsed by rapid transit III sAthaFe
came an ignOminiOus end.
Within the hilarity and congratulations prevailed
whenever the absorbed passengers ulned from the win
dows aud realized the circumstances IN which they were
placed. Then there burst forth such eXelamat0ns as
"No more hanging to straps" No more bloekades.
filthy straw frozen feet and crowded horse.car
The trip TO Fitty-ninthst. was made in seventeen
minutes including delay OF one minute at sxthave.
and Amty-st. IL Is expected that The same distance
will ordinarily be by through trains In twelve min
,ies and by way traias in twenty-five minutes. After
short stop at FIfy-ninthst the engine was shunted
and placed the other end OF the ran and the return
trip was begun at 1882. IL was marked with the came
that characterized the
strees and windows outside the train, and OF
security, pleasure and speed among the passengers
Within undsturbed by single shake or jar AT Canast
grade OF fifty feet 10 the mile begins and the track
continues TO rise until Chambersst. s reached Ascend
ing this grade the pressure OF steam which was ut no
sufficient 90 enable the engine To draw
the fftytwO tons behind II. The train came TO full
stop The engineer bestirred himself however, and In
train passed easily up grade and around the short
sharp curves, reaching It's starting point a 4:04 Thon
there little lingering around the train Dy the pas
sengers who seemed TO dread TO betake themselves To
the horsecars.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAIN.
The works OF the engine which drew the this
trip are SO ncosed that looks much like ordinary
passenger IL has four large driying-wheels aud
four pIlotwhees The diameter of the steam cylinder
is ten inches. The will be heated, BY u
tns smokestack Is prevented by patent device
Each the four passenger cars - thirty ieot
ten inches length and eight feet nine inches in width
darker The edges are orname.sed with maroon color.
The stripes and decorations are ia dark green and gold
ns doors are placed o. ne ends put s h qsnnsa ~ 70
eight persons can be seated In the centre. on
ike those in the ordinary Pullman car From this
CENTRE side scats like those IN the horse care extend to
sons Csowding is prevented by little arms which se
from the cushions Il intervals o. nneteon inches The
upholstey y ~ InsTosaeelos<d IpoIoeco xns 9ar2els
Grated WIZ lowers sn Srsbsssaes fSe sSss 5sts
ssss windexs form tns sss q tnt & S*E x3s