Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-31
FAST TRAINS.
Difficulties in the Way Of an In
creased Rate OF Speed.
A Plan on Foot In This Country to Build
Train Calculated to Run
Two Miles in One
Minute.

Minute.
Some interesting details (if accurately
are given by the American Engineer of
the results of the attempt to run train
which, according to the projectors Of
the Electric express" was to run at
the moderate speed of six miles min
ute, says the London (England) Inven-
ton An experimental line was built |
at Baltimore, and engineers of some ex-
perience were sanguine that even if the
tremendous speed spoken of were not |
accomplished, the trains run would put |
in the shade everything hitherto accom-
plished One hundred and twenty
miles an hour, or two miles minute,
was spoken of as mechanically possible.
But the constructors, alasl reckoned
without their host. twas found that the
memorable laws of friction would cause
bearings, wheels, ETC., to simply melt
from the intense heat evolved. In round
numbers four-foot wheel would have
to revolve over eleven thousand times
per minute-a practicable speed with
small spindle, but quite impossible with
the ordinary axle. About a mile and a
half per minute is now said to be all
that is within practical accomplishment
on the existing type of railway, if fric-
ton only be considered. AS regards
safety, even this speed is deemed i'm
possible by qualified engineers, unless
great notifications are made in
the existing form and size of fanges,
rails, etc. Such a speed has, it is al
| legged, been once or twice accomplished,
but the highest of which an authentic
record exists is within a fraction Of
| eighty miles per hour, or one and one
third miles per minute. We do not, of
course, undertake to say that higher
rate of motion could not be reached,
but all engineers are agreed that it is
not possible with present rails and roll
ing stock.
AS matters now stand it would seem
that it is easier to construct motive
power which will propel, or rather
drag vehicles at startling pace, than
to design vehicles which will keep on
the track or be uninjured by the heat
so generated. 1t is nowadays unsafe to
ridicule any project which does not
propose to violate some natural law,
and it is quite possible that some
form of roll and wheel may yet be de-
signed which will permit of a much
higher rate of speed than has yet been
achieved. But it is certain that these
have still to be devised, and that people
of inventive minds have here yet I'M
attacked field. After all the rate of
eighty miles per hour, which has actual
ly been accomplished, would have
seemed greater miracle to our great
grandfathers than the talked-of one hun
dred and twenty does to us. Whether
the solution will lie in the adoption of
the sliding railway type, or in an i'm
mense increase in wheel diameter,
depth of f1ange, or other device, is yet
uncertain, but the problem will with
out doubt be solved at no very distant
date.
Our friends are endeavoring to Crap
pie with the difficulty, and the main
outlines of a proposal to run a high
; speed train have been published. The
track is to be built much heavier than
the roads now in use. In exposed
places it would be laid in trough-like
guard to keep the wheels on the track.
= The engine and cars are gigantic, the
former having twelve driving wheels
[ not incased (all wheels are now in
: cased), and the axles are to be 80 con-
s structed as to give a low center of gray
ity by having the car bottom near the
rails. The great weight, width of rails
and shape of cars would, 1t is claimed
give stability. All the wheels undel
8 the train would be eight feet in diane
Il ter, this large size saving friction o.
t machine; and should the wheels revolv'
: no faster than the present style it would
f allow of the speed intended being at
tanned As large wheels on the ptesen
tracks would not be stable, nor woult
: there be car ROOM the rails would hav'
: to be laid ten feet apart. The car is de
v signed as seventeen feet wide, twelve
n feet high and one hundred feet long, be
l. ing capable of holding four hundret
o. persons with their baggage. The car
. are to join as smoothly as pipe, tn
, forward part of the engine being round
l. ed off and the car exterior made smooth
u having side doors, windows and sky
G lights, and like semi-eliptical cylinde
W placed on its face in shape, this smooth
IS ness and shape being to save friction o
10 air, for train in such rapid motiol
would create greater wind than vic
10 lent hurricane.
We cannot, of course, prophesy wha
may yet be accomplished. In view
however, of the fact that Jules Verne
10 romance-invented torpedo boat ha
). actually become the sober fact of fey
u years later we should not like to sa,
. the above project is impossible, man
as are the practical difficulties in il
10 way.
h Sixty Years in Siberia.
p A Napoleonic veteran has lately RI
70 CT fYoyx,