The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-01-15
A New Endless Railroad Plan.


jesse Frye, q mechanical engineer,
has on exhibition at his residence, Nc
723, Sixth avenue, the working model
Of q novel railroad. The most impor
tant part Of the plaza 5 the production
Of a very high rate Of speed by means OF
peculiarly arranged wheels. EacA
wheel consists Of lesser and larger
wheel, the smaller one resembling the
hub Of m ordinary wheel The two are
cast in one piece, the hub projecting in
WARDS anil being .one fourth OF the en-
tire diameter Of the wheel The hub,
SO to cali 1t, moves along the track BY
mtans of any power, and tae larse
wheel OF course, moves with it, but en-
tirely free from the track. A block O:
wood representing car and having
grooves on the under surface is fitted or
to the larser circumference of two pairs
Of wheels, the track being double like AZ
ordinary railroad track, and power being
applied to pils in the axles, the car
moves along at o rate Of speed four
times greater than tn speed Of the hub
anl passes RAPIDLY ron one set OF
wheels 70 srother In cher words,
while all the wheels, which are in tie
form Of an endless chain, move one foot
the car moves four feet, the motion orig
mating in the hub and being transmitted
to the car through the larger wheel. 1t
is designed TO operate this system III an
iron tunnel deliberately constructed in
small sections and fitted together so
closely as to be impervious to water and
gases, the tunnel to be placed under
ground or under waterways at any re-
quired depth. Within the tunnel are
to be two compartments Or avenues for
the two trains moving in opposite direc-
tons. The compartments are just large
enough to allow the trains to move easily
and the road or tunnel is to be some.
what in the form of fattened eclipse
forming circuit, the train being con
tinuous and having neither beginning
nor end. Thus person going in one
direction and remaining in car would
after time find himself at the place
from which he started. Mr.. Frye
claims that the close fitting of the trains
in the compartments will overcome very
greatly the resistance of the air, and SO
enable high rate of speed to be main
tanned without loss of power He also
claims that axle friction is entirely done
away with by his plan, and thus SO
much additional power gained. The
compartments will be ventilated by
stacks running up through the tunnel to
the outer air. The steam engines are to
be placed beneath the tunnel, one engine
to operate circuit It is proposed to
build the tunnel not by excavation, uuV
by burrowing, or boring, thus obviatins
all damage to property on the surface.
Ingress and egress Will be made to the
trains by means of elevators, and each
car will be twelve feet long and divided
into two compartments. The trains
will not be stopped at any point, but a.
regular intervals, such as every quarter
of mile The cars will be coupled by
means OF a universal joint and the ROAD
will be 50 even that there will be no
Earring. Each circuit will be in charge
of one signal-master, who will be com
municated with almost instantaneously
by electricity, and he will start and stop
the train. Mr. Frye claims that by his
system speed of $50 miles an hour can
be attained. He says the strong points
of his invention are high rate of speed,
absolute safety to life, the absence of in
conveniences inseparable from the pres
ent system of railroads and the use of
compartment cars, which will prevent
passengers from being annoyed by othe.
persons, as they are often annoyed in
horse and steam cars.