The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-09-03
GIl0lglIomoC 1Jlll1l.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 1885.
Air-Dciycn St.cct-CarS.

About two wears since. says the Lon
don Tines, VIC described Il system OF
air-drlyen tram-cars which was then
about to be adopted OF The Caled0nidn
road line Of the london Streets Tram
way company's system. This was the
Mek&rski system, and the car which
was then experimental with was put
on for regular traffic, and was worked
for about two months, taking its turn
with the pair of logsc-caTs. 1t was in
tended then TO displace the whole Of
the hOrse-workcd cars on this line by
ten aiT-driVgn ears, but various de-
lays occurred which prevented effect
being given to this Intention until the
present time. Now, however, arrange
mcuts have been completed, and the
first Of the series Of ears will very
shortly be placed on the line for rcgu-
lar working, TO be followed in due
course By the other nine, which are be-
inc built. Since our previous notice,
however, several improvements have
been introduced into the details of the
alr-enginos, which arc now made upon
the compound principle. The high
pressure cylinder is five and quarter
inches, and the lUw-nTess eight
inches in diameter, with an eimht-inch
stroke, and through these the com
! pressed air ig0m the reservoirs IS sue
| cessiyely used. Means are provided
by which the hi@h-prtss are air can be
I used III the loW-pressure cylinder if
/ necessary. The enginc-loUse contain
/ ing the air-compTeSsiu@ 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 compress
/ ed, at 4 pressure OF 49, pounds per
/ square inch. into reservoirs placed in
/ the euwinc-housc. From these rc5er-
I yOir5 the air is conveyed to the tram
| car through charging pipes with prop
/ er couplings, which are connected up
for charging aud disconnected when
/ the reservoirs OH the car which are
/ placed underneath The piatform-are
/ charged 10 the necessary pressure.
The principal feature Of the system,
/ however, is that the air in passing
/ from the reservoirs on the tram-Car to
! the cylinders OF the engine is conduct
! ed through boiling water and steam at
! pressure OF sixty pounds TO the square
! inch, which Is contained in what is
/ known as q hot-poc This hot-pot IS
| charged at the comprising station
| while tie car reservoirs are being till
ed with compressed air. BY this means
| the heat which the air takes up durin o
/ its passage through the hot water not
only causes the air to expand, but pre-
! vents the formation of snow in the
cylinders and ut the exhaust The
working pressure IN the high-pressure
! cylinder ranges from 100 pounds down
| 10 30 pounds yer square inch, and can
be varied at will. There are efficient
! 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 inspected recently at the in
yentions exhibition by number OF
| gentlemen interested in tramway To-
| cJmotion. They were received by
Capt. Clipperton on behalf OF the COM
| pany, and the construction of the en-
CINE and its working were explained
by Mr.. Harris, for Sir Frederick Bram-
| well, who is the engineer tor the Me
| karski company. bat who was unayoid-
ably absent. The car was run to and
fro on short line III the south prom
cnade of the exhibition, lis working
powers being satisfactorily demonstrate
ed over such severe curves as could
not occur in practice. We may add
that the tram-cars upon the MeGarski
system have been successfully working
on the tramway lines nj Nantes, in
France, for the last six years.