Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-22
Air-priven street-Cars.

About two years since we described a
system of air-drivenss tram cars which was
then about to be adopted on the Caledonian
road line of the London Street Tramwav
Company's system. This was the Mekarski
system, and the car which was then expert
mented with was put on for regular traffic,
and was worked on that line for about four
months, taking its turn with the pair horse
cars. 1t was intended then to displace the
whole of the horse-worked cars on this
line by ten air driven cars, but various DELAYS
occurred which prevented effect being given
to this intention until thepresent time. Now,
however, arrangements have been COM
pleted and the first of the series of cars viii
very shortly be placed on the line for regu-
larry working, to be followed in due course
by the other nine which are being built.
Since our previous notice, however, several
improvements have been introduced into
the details of the air engines, which are
now made upon the compound principle.
The high pressure cylinder is 81 inches
and the low pressure s inches in
diameter, with an S-inch stroke, and
through these the compressed air
from the reservoirs is successfully
used Means are provided by which
the high pressure air can be used in the
low pressure cylinder if necessary. The
engine-house containing the air compress
ing machinery is situated at the Holloway
road end of the tramway line, where there
are boilers, engines, and pumps, by means
OF which atmospheric air is compressed, al
4 pressure of $50 pounds per square inch
into reservoirs placed in the engine-house
From these reservoirs the air is conveyed
to thetram-car through charging pipes with
proper couplings, which are connected III
for charging and disconnected when the
raFsr~.. i
underneath the platform-are charged tC
the necessary pressure. The principal feat
ure of the system, however, is that the all
in passing from the reservoirs on the tram.
car to the cylinders of the engine is con
Quoted through boiling water and steam al
a pressure of sixty pounds to the square
inch, which is contained in what is known
as a hot-pot. This hot-pot is charged al
the COMPRISING station, while the car
reservoirs are being filled with compressed
air. By this means the heat which
the air takes up during the pas
sage through the hot water not
only causes the air to expand, but prevents
the formation or snow in the cylinders and
at the exhaust. The working pressure in
the high-pressure cylinders ranges from 15C
pounds down to 50pOunds per square inch
and can be varied at will. There are eff
Gent brake arrangements, and all the other
requirements of the Board of Trade have
been amply met The first of the series OF
cars for the Caledonian road line was in
spected last Saturday at the Inventions Elk
hibition by 4 number of gentlemen inter
ested in tramway locomotion. They were
received by Captain Clipperton on behalf OF
the company, and the construction of the
engine and its workings were explained by
Mr. Harris for Sir Frederick Bramwell,
: tn ha oh
pany, but who was unavoidab,y absent.
The car was run TO and fro on a short line
in the south promenade of the exhibition,
its working powers being satisfactorily
demonstrated over such severe curves as
could not occur in practice. We may add
that the tram-caTs upon the Mekarski sys-
TEN have been successfully working on the
tramway lines at Nantes, in France, for the
last six years. London Times.