Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-27
Compressed Air Propulsion for Railways.


Mr.. Rammell, c. T., has recently invented
method for the more efficient propulsion
OF trains on metropolitan and other short
service railways. 1t is by direct thrust,
on an improved adaptation Of thepneumatic
principle, and is applicable without Struct-
ural alteration to any existing railway
The trains are propelled from station to
station by the pressure of air directly and
porsistently applied until the required vC-
locity is attained, when thcy travel on to
their destination by the impulse which has
been given, being finally brought To rest by
the brakes. This arrangement consists of
i torcC-tube, with q guide-tube of the same
diameter beyond, laid between the rails
of the permanent way at stations,
the two forming continuous
tube. A light piston, iointed and
of special construction, is common TO
both. and through slot in the upper part
OF the guide-tube transmits the thrust,
which is brought to bear ON suitable CON
tact pieces underneath tie train. ThruStS
OF any desired force and length of stroke
may be thus impaired. Practically il IS
found that a thrust of aboUi a stations
length, or. say 100 yards, is sufficient for
running the usual half-milc jnterSccdonal
distances of metropolitan lines; if the
train has to meet an adverse gradient the
thrust is continued over 4 longer space; If
to descend a falling one, over shorter
Curves are easily rounded, the piston being
flexible. The stations are connected to-
gether by main conveying the power to
each, so that a single air-comVrcSsing cS-
tablishment is sufficient for an entire line
An elaborate series of experiments on
the resistance of railway trains to motion
was carried out some years ago in France
and the results, it is stated, support conClu-
Siycly the calculation that not only all
metropolitan interstatioual distances may
be readily covered on the impulse princi-
pie, but that far greater ranges are practiCa-
bic with it. TO give only one example:
\ mass (cnginc and tender weighing
fifty and one-half tons started on a straight
and level piece of line at 4 speed of 81
miles an hour, ran by its momentum
1920 yards, being the distance between the
Westminster bridge and Blackfriars sta
tons of the District Railway, comprising
three interstational lengths. Again, in
England, during the experiments on
to a speed of Gifty miles an hour. When
the steam was shat off the train ran on by
itS--mOmcntum Il distance of FIVE miles.
= 1t is explained that, while the impulse
system would superSede the use of the
locomotive engine iOr local service, it may
be worked in combination with the loco
motive system beyond those limits, since
the character of the train is untouched, and
the ways are left common to both systems.
The direct advantages claimed for the new
method are ~ reduction by one-third of
the moving weight By the elimination of
the locomotive engine; (2) higher speed
between station and station; l31 noiseless-
ness of action and the avoIdance of all SEN
4 IL sI.,4,g
Of underground lines without opening on
the surface, and (5} large saving in wear
and tear and maintenance of way. 1t is
intended TO demonstrate these advantages
shortly by a series of trials on the full
scale London Times.