The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-06-24
A NOVEL INVENTION.
UTILIZING ELECTRICITY IN PRoPELL-
ING TRAINS.
Description of the New RAILROAD in Use at
Lichterfeidcr, Germany.

Mr.. w. Nj. Griscom, In letter to the New
York Times, dated Berlin, describes the trial
opening of the Electric Railroad. lie says:
"The Electric Railroad was built for the
purpose of showing that passenger trains
could be run on 1t, and freight trains as well,
and. in addition, to secure to Germany the
credit due her for the first practical railroad,
carrying passengers, operated by electricity.
The Electric Railroad is built from a small
village called Lichterfelder, to the principal
Cadet School in Germany (nine kilometres
from Berlin), and Is two and a half kilome-
tres in length. The width of the track is
one metre. The rails are OF steel, and rest
on cross-ties of wood. and this IL all the in
sulation they have. In fact, the whole road
is constructed in the ordinary manner. A
short distance from the roadway, in the ma
chine building OF the Water-Works, the
dynamo-electric machine is placed, and is
driven by ten-horse power engine, which
furnishes the current of electricity, which is
conducted by means of an insulated cable
underground To one OF the rails OF the rail-
road. From this rail the electric fluid passes
by means of the tire OF the car wheel crest
ing on the rail charged with electricity by a
system OF springs, In contact and rubbing
against it, to the electric engine fastened I'M
derneath the car, and after sewing its puf-
pose in driving the engine Is conducted to
the tires of the wheels on the opposite side.
and from these wheels to the opposite rail
they are In contact with, thus completing the
electrical circuit. The tires of the car
wheels are Insulated from the hubs and
axles by the use of wooden disks. The
electrical engine is placed equidistant be-
tween the two sets of car wheels, as before
stated, underneath the car. Its road shaft
lies parallel to the two car axles. On the
end OF the engine shaft Is a small, grooyed
pulley, and connecting with the car wheels
are drums with similar grooves. Small belts
made of spiral steel wire connect the pulleys
and the drums, one set OF belts running to
the drum on the froat wheel, and the other
to the oae on the back axle. BY this az
rangemeut OF steel belts the power is trans
| ferred from the engine to the car-wheels.
The starting and stopping of the car aud
engine are arranged by the movement Of q
crank on either platform of the car, which
breaks or connects the electric current;
| there are also a car-break and bell-signal, all
within easy reach of the conductor, who can
| run the car as well as receive fares and
| tickets.
1.-THE car itself was built at Cologne, and
/ Is similar to one-horse car on an American
| horse railroad. IL Is handsomely fiji ed up
Il auu Iah uC tuh tibhCt 'aJ 8itloa1 ~
BY resolution of the authorities the rate OF
| speed Is limited to fifteen kilometres an hour
but on the return trip from the Cadet
School, with twenty persons on the CARVE
| ran at least thirty miles an hour at STEADY
continuous rate, proving that high speed
was attainable.
"When enc considers the eutire absence
of smoke, cinders and other discomforts Incl
dent to the use of steam locomotives, thi'
invisible, noiseless power seems great stel
forward in the mode of moving railroas
trains.
"Some of the advantages of the employ
ment Of electricity as power may be state
as follows: A great saving In the force re
quired to move the train, as there issnt
boiler, water or coal required to be csrIiet
with 1t. The cars can be built much lighter
As no dead weight is transported, and ar
much more easily controlled by the brake
Ia stopping. The electric engine occupie
little space underneath the car, is Of sinai
weight and free from danger. WATERPROOF
can be utilized to produce the required cleo
trio current Git need not be near the railroad)
The road Is now openfor passenger business
and the car Is making regular trips between
LichteIfelder and the Cadet School,