The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-09
TEE STEAM MOTORS
ON THE ELM GROVE Road.
Progress. of tA. Change. ia the Gauge .nd Route.
The New Cars Popular with the Travelling
PubIIe-Intct on the Country HOrsss.
How the Motors Look and Ran.

80 quietly and uuosten tatiously has the Elm
Grove Railway Company worked at altering
the guage OF It's road, and laying the
steel track to accommodate the new steam
motors, that the general public are not aware
that these motors are making regular trips
over a portion OF the route. Indeed, aside
from persons living along the line OF the
road, the changes seem to have passed unnot-
iced. Yet the road from the eastern terminus
TO seiberrs has been torn up and relaid, the
new track being Of steel rails and standard
gauge The new cars, propelled by steam,
now run over this distance, connecting at
Seibert's garden with the horse cars. Passen-
gers are there transferred
The change Of gauge Was made very rapidly,
and while tue road was torn up omnIbuses
were run from the eastern end 10 Bel
bert's II was the original intention
to next alter the track from Setbertst to Mt.
Belleview, and transfer passengers In omnt-
buses ~ before, but this method Of transfer
not proving popular with the travelling pub.
lie, the pan was changed. The ties and
rails are now being scattered along the I'M
completed portion OF the road, and about
next Tuesday the work OF changing the
gauge will be begun between seibert's garden
and Mt. Belleyiew Hotel. The work will be
completed In sections, aud the motors and
cars continue to connect OF the west end OF
the completed road the point Of transfer be.
ing advanced toward the city gradually as
the work progresses
ABIDE on THE NEW MOTORS.
A reporter went out yesterday to the ter.
minus OF the road. The horse car was crowd
II ,,,Ikk -laAtaa tpkn haA HaNn
shopping in the city, gentlemen who were
called into the country on business, or had
been IN the city on similar errand, and
children who accompanied their elders.
After the transfer there was abundance OF
room for all, and the car was not nearly filled.
The most striking feature OF the new cars,
from an interior view, is their roomy aud
commodlous character. They will seat thir.
~ persons, and as many more can stand
without crowding. The cars are very much
like an ordinary street car except in size,
having q seat extending the full length
on either side, with bell ropes and
straps TO steady ones self when standing.
The cars are longer, however, than the long.
est street car. and about as wide as the stan
dard railroad car. The motor Is at one end,
separated from the passeu ger compartment
by a paneled partition, in which Is large
mirror. Oil lamps with refectors are at each
end, and 10 the middle OF the roof is a larger
lamp, surrounded by reflector, and ar.
ranged very much like the lamps In regula'
ton cars. The effect upon passenger going
| from one oil the old, nsrrow gauge cars OF the
line into the new vehicles Is stunning. The
new cars are the most elegant In this part Of
the country.
The engineer sits in semi.circular space
with the machinery. the whole arrangement
from without looking much like a bay
window. The cylinders are under and
at the rear OF the car, and none OF the ma
chinery Is bulky or in the road. A con.
ductor rides upon each car, there being no
communication between the engineer and
passengers.
The cars ride much more smoothly than
either railroad CATS or street cars. Indeed,
the builder who cou d construct a palace or
drawing.rOom which rode as easily and
smoothly. would secure monopoly OF the
business at once. The trip from Ssiberts
TO the terminus was made at the ordinary
speed, which Is about twice as fast as the
| horse cars. Going down bill the cars move
with a perfect freedom from noise. Ascend.
ing grade there Is very slight
noise Of escaping steam, and cone vapor
appears at the rear OF the car. At no time
coal Is burned III making steam. There Is no
practical limit to the speed OF the cars, and
several other cars can be attached TO the motors
and drawn by them when the amount oil
travel demands II. u
The eastern terminus has been extended
up TO the main entrance to Hornbrook = Park.
ard from there Y extends into the new
sheds adj ,ining the Old stable. This, with
the old Y enables the cars 10 turn without q
turn table.
now THE CHANGE Is RECEIVED.
From the conversation OF the passengers on
the cars, the sole topic OF which was the new
method of travel, II wou'd be judged that the
neral impression In regard 10 the motors Is
favorable, Numerous horses passed the cars,
and very few showed any disposition TO
trighten at the unwonted sight One or two
horses from the city id, bat the country
steeds, which pass along the National Road
daily, have already become accustomed to
the motors, and pay no attention to them.
One gentleman who was aboard said his horse
had frightened at the ears,
. yes" said his little girl, "but he frightens
at pile Of ashes"
~ do not think II would be safe for ladies
thing" said one lady.
~ saw two ladies driving this morning,
and they seemed to have NO trouble at all !"
said another.
Just then buggy with two Wheeling gen.
tlemen approached, and passed while the
car was standing still for moment, to re.
ceive passenger. The horse never started.
wait till we pass him" said q gentleman.
This the motor soon did, but beyond little
Jump as It glded into his sight, the horse
showed no signs that he saw II.
A great anxiety was felt a first, by those
living out the pike, but 1t Is already much
lessened, and the people along the route
aaar. "a ha maud Of La nan, inatittitinn Ii