, 1880-05-19
EDISON'S ELECTRO.MOTOR.
Experiment with the Elcctr0sL0cotuo-
tive on the NIcn5o Park Isnl1rond-An
Accident Prevents n Satisfactory Test
tIaisafe NIinf1a.

experiment WITH lNe f*HGCtfOsL0cOtn0A
tive OH the McIIto Park Isallroad-An
Being Nude.
Nt,v FORK Irtraia Mav 10.
For some time past Edison has been EN-
gagged in perfecttng MI electro-notor to be
used III countries where the tra!t'c would be
insufficient to pay tie interest Upon even
ilarrow-gnugu road operated under the pres
elit system. The engine consists Ut simple
four-whcel truck on Which tlynnMlo-lna-
chine is placed. All arlnatlre reyolyes Just
nj In obtaining the electricity for the fights,
but system Ut gearing Is used SO tltat the
armature niny work perfectly Independent Of
tic car-wl,eels. enabling the operator to Use
rs much power us lie desires. The line Of
raiLrOad at MEMO Park Is little
over half mile in length. and
has some very sharp curves and
steep grades. The system on which 1t works
Is ns follows: The electric engine receives
It's motive power from large steam engine
Mt the station, but, before tho power Is used,
it Is turned into electricity. which, passing
through, the rails, supplies electricity enough
to run the Mntur or drought engine. Wltn
the rontl would be laEll for practical purposes
there would be q, station every ten miles froln
which electricity would be supplied for five
machine ut each station would he sufficient
to rnn several trntns at tiIa same time Oil tho
sectI0,l MIR. Edison claims tint all the lnoye-
ments Of tratrson each te,,.t,tle section arc
switchings cnil also be done automatically
It is Intended that eact trtlln will carry thirty
tans Of freight, Or from Nv to. 800 passen-
gers. The cars, Mr.. Edison says, will iaye
tho same ltghtness ns strept-cars, llence the
lead weight will !,o small. SO hatnlore freight
freight trims viii bo nbont twelve miles IN
hour, and passenger trains twenty miles.
cars weighs about two ard 0nehnlt tons.
The rond can be .luld In milling or agrlcuft-
ural districts, wherever u wngon can pass.
as little or no grultng nect! ~ -doAe. Ti!e
trdction necessary 10 l!sccntl stGep grades Is
produced by means Of magnetic attraction,
tho powers OF which can be 50 exerteA That
the traction of tho twn MD y half ton motor
:a be a.ls esa to thaa 81 savy loco,,
broken country would Ds about $500 per
nile, and, as 1t Is OF II two md one.:lsnlf foot
gauge, tl!a Inventor sayH II cum 0e stored
hugs from Miauy SECTIONS Of the pluccr dig
glngs III, California to the p!Ace where Ills
Sheds will be located; Of the experiment
very ltt!e eHl e BE- sai Te ,s sngiM,e. Was
aud, everything being ready, tbs circuit w,tA
nude. As tho motor begail to lu0yt nearly
every one of,, tho workn'en got, OH
II nltu away Mtey Ncnt hluWI4. NHEa
tho dowT-Ernda wns reached, the truck
was found to be very airtys be!nk
WIN I'M. clllrEu Of the friction gearing
pressed on tho lever too haItl, and tlio l1rEe
ping uny further movement Ut the inosor.
TllU power of the electric current must ltaVe
been very great, rs the reporter snw where
tic electric spark burned Everything ~ the
sllnpe Ut rust or .!lrt OF tho track: It WIS
quite evident tltat Tie 'crowtl!ng OF thu n'o,a
OH tho motor CAUSED tho accident nilu put all
untl to Il very Interesting experiment..
y gentleman wllt Is cugngcd III tho man,
uiactnre Ut bnoys for tho G0yerllnient called
nl Edison short ti1le ngo and gave Gl'n III
lle snt.l tllut tho biIuys weigh about tllteen
tons, md that their plnngtng, even during
power. Edison touk tho Hint mud Ind q
snail dynamo n,act!ne atle tor tS pnrpyss
tI,ree-!,orse power, Of energy. lle lug tSp9r. s
anteed tl!at ,u VII Elys o!,c E E.!s IT, llK,t
tl!e llght. As the buoys "rs to bs placed
cpssfuI. h0 valuable to lnur3uprX.