The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-19
AN ELKCTKIc HEADLIGHr.
railroad Tracks Illuminated Nile
Ahead ON Clear Nights.

n .
Railr0xd Tracks Illuminated . Nile
Ahead ON Clear Nights.
Electrical World.
There are two distinct views of the func.
tons of headlight. 1t may be looked
upon, as it is 70 very large extent abroad,
as simply signal light for the benefit Of
track and station men, or may be regarded
as an illuminator intended 10 show posi-
bic obstacles on the track at sufficient dis
lance to enable the stopping of the train
without the disastrous results of collision.
There is q well-known popular theory that
the headlight is not of much use to an
engineer anyhow. and if We con-
slider the ordinary forms Of re-
Hector lamp now in use it is
not at all improbable that such q theory of
inefficiency is correct. A headlight which
merely shows the track = few rods in front
OF the engine can do little toward aver ting
. collision provided the train is running
anywhere near the usual speed. tits to the
use of electricity that we must look for a
light of sufficient power to show plainly the
condition of the track for long distance
in front of the train. An apparatus has
been in practical use on several Dads, and
gratifying. 1t is the invention of G. G.
Pyle. of Indianapolis.
The little dynamo and engine are be-
tween the smokestack and the headlight
operated by them. The engine is one of
the multiple cylinder class, and is very
small, perhaps the smallest engine COM
plete and perfect in all its parts that has
ever been put to practical use. Its full
and three-Quarter-inch pipe is ample to
supply the steam, which is taken from the
back end of the boiler, so that the throttle
is always within easy reach OF the engi-
neer.
The minute engine is connected directly
to the armature spindle of diminutive
dynamo in the most compact form. De-
signed 10 supply only single arc lamp. no
special regulation is necessary, and the
only care required is to keep the bearings,
oiled, and the brushes, which need never
be shifted, trimmed and smooth. The to-
tai weight of the engine and dynamo to-
gether is out $50 pounds, and the combi-
nation occupies space twenty-eight inches
long, fifteen inches wide, and seventeen
inches high. The normal speed in 425
turns per minute.
In fitting the apparatus to locomotive
the headlight is usually moved forward q
little to secure the necessary space between
it and the stack for the location of the ma
chinery. The entire plant is under COM
plete control from the cab. as single turn
OF the valve in supply pipe will start up
the light or extinguish it while running.
The lamp is of the rack-feed style. The
carbons run in guides, thus steadying them
at a point quite close to the arc, SO that any
vibration of the engine will not jar the
carbons sufficiently TO break them or TO de-
stroy the continuity or uniformity of
the arc. The lower electrode, instead of
being carbon, is copper rod. The light
given is nominally 1000 candle power, and
proves amply sufficient for railway usage,
although the power could be largely en-
HANGED If it were desirable. Electric lights
are now used on the Vandalia, Cincinnati,
Hamilton Il Dayton. Indianapolis, Decatur
s. Western, Wabash, Michigan Central,
Columbus. Hooking Valley & Toledo, Lou
isville, New Albany Chicago and Mil
waukee, Lake Shore q Western roads.
A dozen or fifteen telegraph poles in
front of the engine can be distinguished
regularly, even when the weather is not
altogether good, and on an exceptionally
clear night as many as thirty-three poles
have been counted from the cab of the en-
CINE Illuminated by the powerful light.
Poles are about twenty-nine or thirty to
the mile. Even in bad weather, when the
illuminating power of the lamp could not
fairly be expected to be anywhere near its
maximum, the view for 900 or 1900 feet
ahead of the engine is substantially
as good as in daylight Small obstruc-
tons on the track could readily be made
out at that distance, even by an iHexperi-
enced eye, while great or large object
would be easily visible nearly half = mile
Sitting in the cab of an engine provided
with this headlight is decidedly new sem
sation. Small OBJECTS like mileposts can
be readily seen at distance of mile in
good weather, and even the Joints
IN the rails can be seen 100 feet
ahead. The only objection which might
be raised 10 the use of an apparatus of this
kind is that which has been advanced
against the electric light before by pilots.
Running toward a powerful light OF this
kind on double track, it might sometimes
be little difficult to distinguish landmarks
by reason of the glare But even the ordi-
nary headlight is somewhat Objectionable
in this respect. and it is quite certain
that additional range gained by the use
of electricity will more than compensate
for any additional glare. The case is much
more favorable, at least, than that met
with by pilots. because, although there is
an Intensely brilliant light from the APP
preaching engine, yet the drivers own ma
chine is casting forward beam of equal
intensity making the track ahead a q hrirht