The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-10-07
New Car Motor.
Great Saving In Horse Stock.

ureRL saving In horse STOCK.
There has been on exhibition at the
office of the Passenger Railroad Loco
motive Manufacturing Company, for
several days past, the drafts for new
motor power or engine for propelling
street srs, which, if it does what the
gentlemen interested say it can do, is
bound to work q revolution in the
street cars. There is also a small
working model for car starter by
which the strain upon the motive
power, whether it be horses or steam,
is removed by the application of a very
simple process to the running gear.
One OF the new locomotives is now
being built by the company, and it is
expected that public trial will be
given as soon ~ the machine is finish
ed. 1t Is of rather novel construction.
A gas engine supplies compressed air
to a reservoir. from which power is
derived to work a system of air and
hydraulic valves which operate two
elastic feet that tread upon the cobble
pavement between the rails. The
power is so nicely under control that
these feet are placed gently upon the
cobbles, and when thus placed the
pressure is applied, and the feet move
upon the cobbles ina the same manner
that horse's foot moves. These feet
are made adjustable to the inequalities
OF the pavement, and should the pave
ment he broken or removed, will
reach down and press upon the earth.
In connection with this locomotive an
apparatus is attached underneath the
passenger Car called the "Differential
Car Starter" This Is also of peculiar
construction, being wheel within
wheel. There are no springs or cog
wheels IN it. The back axle of the car
rests upon two small wheels; these
wheels run upon the flanges of two
larger wheels, and are elevated. four
inches above the pavement, out Of the
way of sand. The draft is applied to twJ
small friction wheels, which bear upon
the large wheels near their top periph-
cry, and thus is obtained a twenty
eight-inch leverage acting directly
upon the small wheels upon which
the axle of the car rests. This lever.
age comes into action whenever there
is any resista nee, such as starting
Car loaded with passengers, going up
grade, or running over stone or
other obstruction. This car starter is
of great value for use with any kind
of motor, for it avoids the necessity
of very heavy locomotive depending
upon cohesion. The locomotive tested
on the Market street line some years
ago weighed ten thousand pounds-too
great a weight for the light city tracks
but even with this great weight
when starting loaded car the wheels
of the engine revolved upon the track
without moving the car until sand
was thrown under them. The Bald
win Works admit that had this car
starter been und er the car, their loco
motive would have started it easily.
With this starter under car, loco
motive weighing five hundred pounds
| less than the car will start loaded
car with ease. The Differential Car
Starter has been approved by the
Franklin Institute of this city, and
has also been put to a practical test on
car drawn by horses, and relieved
~.
ing loaded car. 1t would be of
great value for use with horses, but it
is proposed to do away with horses,
the company offering to furnish the
starter and locomotive and engineer,
and contract to haul two cars night
and mprning and one Through the
day at q per diem rate below the pres
ent cost, thus enabling street car COM
panies to sell their horses and stables
and make a saving in the daily run
ming expenses OF each car of from one
to two dollars. The locomotive will
make no smoke or steam, and the en-
gineer will stand In front in plain
view. Good mechanical experts who
have examined the working drawings
of the company's engineer are salts
fed that the locomotive will be a sue
cess. -PhSl1. Exchange.