Daily Republican., 1886-05-04
A WILMINGTON INVENTOR.
George q. Pyle. WilmiDgtoniaD, but 1
Resident of Columbus. Ohio, Invent
an Electrical Locomotive Head Light

George q. Pyle. wilmiDgtoniaD, but q
Resident of Columbus. Ohio, Inventa
an Electrical Locomotive Head Light
Mr.. Gesrge Q. Pyle, OF Columbus,
Ohio, Is the son of Isaac Pyle, 0lS
Jefferson street. A few years ago be
removed to Columbus, where he is now
the mechanical electrician for the
American Electric Headlight Company.
Mr.. Pyle has lately invented an electri
cal headlight for locomotives, which IL
a wonderful Improvement and safe
guard, making night travel fully as
sAte as day. The engine and dynamo
only occupy q space of about two feet
six inches square, and weigh about 276
pounGs The lamp, which can be placed
in an ordinary headlight case, Is con-
nee led with the dynamo by wires run.
ming along the handrail.
In the cab is an Edison incandescent
lamp, which Is also connected with the
dynamo, and has q shield to keep the
light from the engineers eyes. The
engine 10 run by steam from the loco
motive boiler. A stop cock convenient
10 TIE engineers hand starts or stops
the light at will.
The light has been put In use ON the
Mt. Vernon and Pan Handle road, and
will no doubt soon come into general
use on ell roads. Mr.. Pyleon the even
ing of April 14,h with some friends
went out after night on q train on the
Pan Handle road 10 witness the work.
ings of the lamp, and the following is q
part Of the article published in the
Columbus Daily Despatch in reference
10 IL:
Although the moon was out quite
bright, telegraph poles from IL TO II
ahead Of the engine could be readily
counted. AS there are about 20 poles
to the mile, the distance the light IL
thrown can be easily figured. Whistle.
posts, road crossings and other small
objects were plainly visible one-half a
mile away. As the brilliant light
struck the trees far ahead 1t seemed as
though the sun must have broken
through the night and was shining
brilliantly on the track and the objects
ad sining 1t. Startled birds few across
the light, and now and then n rabbit
was plainly visible rs he "hobbled"
along the track for an instant and then
disappeared off TO one side. At one
place large black dog, one.fourth OF
mile ahead was plainly seen trottinR
along on the ties with the air Of a pro
feBsional tramp. He turned round, and
on seeing the brilliant light ''struck his
colors" and bounded down the bank as
though some of the electricity mad sud-
denly reached him.
AT Centerburg, after waiting q few
moments, the whistle of the incoming
train was heard. Three miles beyond
is curve, and bsfore the light proper
csLao into view the sky was quite brill
liantly illuminated, resem bling some.
what the Auroral lights. The instant
the engine rounded the curve the station
was brilliantly illuminated. Though
the train was three miles off, a postal
card wSs read and the time on q watch
disting guiEhed with ease. A hand held
before a coat made a distinct shadow.
The engineer, Thomas Karr, gave the
same strong tribute to the electric head
light. He said, "It is one of the best
things ever put on an engine" The
lamp, II anything, worked better than
the other, and one surprising point is,
that the vibrations of the engine DO not
interfere with the light, as 1t burns
steadily and evenly-in fact, more
steadily than the electric lights in use
III this city.