The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-28
A Novel Invention.

A Novel Invention.
Mr.. w. NJ. Griscom, in letter to the
New York Times, dated Berlin, de.
scribes the trial opening of the Electric
Railroad. He says:
1.-The Electric Railroad was built for
the purpose of showing that passenger
trains could be run on it, and freight
trains as we'll, and in addition, to secure
to Germany the credit due her for the
first practical railroad, carrying passen-
gers, operated by electricity. The Elec-
trio Railroad is built from small vii
liage called Lichterfelder, to the princi-
pal Cadet School in Germany (nine
kilometres from Berlin), and is two and
half kilometres in length. The width
OF the track is one metre. The rails are
of steel, and rest on cross:ties of wood.
and this is all the insulation they have.
In fact, the whole road is constructed in
the ordinary manner. A short distance
from the roadway in the machine build
ing of the Water. Works, the dynamo
electric machine is placed, and is driven
by ten.horse power engine, which is
conducted by means of insulted cable
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railroad. From this rail the cleo
trio fluid passes by means of the
tire of the car wheel (resting on the rail
charged with electricity by system of
springs, in contact and rubbing againtt
it. to the electric engine fastened un-
derneath the car, and after serving its
purpose in driving the engine is con-
Quoted to the tires of the wheels on the
opposite side, and from these wheels to
the opposite rail they are in contact
with, thus com 9leting the electrical cir
cult. 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 between the
sets of Car wheels, .as before stated,
underneath the car. It's road shaft lies
parallel to the two car axles. On the
end of the engine shaft is small grooved
pulley, and connecting with the car
wheels are drums with similar grooves.
Small belts made of spiral steel wire
the pulleys and the drums, one
set of belts running to the drum of the
front wheel, and the other to the one on
the back axle. By this arrangement of
steel belts the power is transferred from
the engine to the car wheels. The start |
ing and stopping of the car and engine
are arranged by the movement of O crank |
on either platform of the car, which |
breaks or connects the electric current; |
there arc also q car-break and bell signal |
all within easy reach of the conductor, |
VINO can run the car as we'll as receive |
fares and tickets.
''The car itself was built at Cologne,
q nd q al ilo To
American horse railroad. It is hand |
somely fitted up and can be run either
way without turning. 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 car,
w0 ran nt le.~t th;~ts ,n;ias hou. at a |
steady, continuous rate, proving that |
high speed was attainable.
when one considers the entire alb.
sence OF smoke, cinders and other dis.
comforts incident to the use of steam
locomotives, this invisible, noiseless
power seems great step forward in the
mode OF moving railroad trains.
Some OF the advantages of the EN-.
pioyment of electricity as a power NAV
be stated as follows: A great saving in
The force required to move the train. as
here is no boiler, water or coal required
% be carried with it. The cars can be
Quilt much lighter, as no dead weight is
and are much more easily
controlled by the brakes in stopping.
The electric engine occupies little space
Underneath the car, is OF small weight.
md free from danger. Water power can
'e utilized to produce the required elec-
ric current lit need not be near the rail
oad.) The road is now open for passen-
'er business, and the car is making regu-
ar trips between Lichterselder and the
,adet School.