The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-27
a NILE IN TIN SECONDS.
Interesting Speculation as TO the Fut
ure Speed of Railway Trains.

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ure Speed of Railway Trains.
Under this title some interesting details
III accurate) are given by the american
Engineer Of the results of the attempt to
run train which, according to the peo-
jectors OF the electric express" was to run
at the moderate speed of six miles minute.
An experimental line was built at Balti-
more, and engineers of some experience
were sanguine that even if the tremendous
speed spoken of were not accomplished,
the train runs would put in the
shade anything hitherto accom-
plished. One hundred and twenty miles an
hour, or two miles minute, was spoken of
as mechanically possible. But the con-
structors, alas reckoned without their host.
1t was found that the memorable laws of
friction would cause the bearings, wheels,
ETC., TO melt from the intense heat evolved.
In round numbers, four-foot wheel would
have to revolve over II 900 times minute
"a practicable speed with a small spindle.
but quite impossible with the ordinary
axle.
About mile and half per minute is
now said to be all that is within practical
accomplishment on the existing type Of
railway, If friction only be considered. As
regards safety, even this speed is deemed
impossible by qualified engineers, unless
great notifications are made in the exist
ing form and size Of hanges. range, etc.
Such a speed has, it is alleged, been
once or twice accomplished, but the
highest of which an authentic record ex-
lists is, we believe, within a fraction of
eighty miles per hour, or one and one-third
miles per minute. We do not of course, I'M
dertake TO say that a higher rate of motion
could not be reached; but all engineers are
agreed that IL ia not possible with present
rails and rolling stock.
As matters now stand it would seem that
it is easier to construct motive power which
will pFopel, or rather drag, vehicles at a
startling pace, than to design vehicles which
will keep on the track or be uninjured by
the heat 80 generated. 1t is nowadays un-
safe to ridicule any project which does not
propose to violate some natural law, and it
is quite possible that some form of rail and
wheel may yet be designed which will per-
NIT of a much higher rate of speed than has
yet been achieved. But it is GER
tain that these have still TO be de-
vised and that people OF inventive minds
have here yet unattached field. After all
the rate of eighty miles per hour, which has
actually been accomplished, would have
seemed a greater miracle to our great-grand-
father than the much-talked-of 100 does to
us. Whether the solution will lie in the
adoption of the sliding railway type, or in
an immense increase in wheel diameter,
depth of fiange. or other device. is yet un-
certain; but the problem will, without
doubt, be solved at no distant date.
Our American friends are endeavoring 20
grapple with the difficulty, and the main
outlines Of 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 IL would be laid
in a trough-like guard to keep the wheels on
the track. The engine and cars are gigan-
tic. the former having twelve driving
wheels, not incased (all wheels are now in
cased), and the axles are to be SO constructed
as to give low center Of gravity by hav-
ing the car bottom near the rails. The
great weight, width Of rails and shape OF
cars would, it is claimed, give stability. AL
the wheels under the train would be eight
feet in diameter. this large size
| saving friction of machine; and should
| the wheels revolve no faster than the pres
emit style, it would allow OF the speed in
| tended being attained. As large wheels on
the present tracks would not be stable, nor
| would there be car room, the rails would
have to be laid ten feet apart. The car as
designed is II feet wide, 10 high and 100
| feet long, being capable of holding 400 per-
sons with their baggage. The cars are to
| join as smoothly as pipe, the for ward part
of the engine being rounded off, and the car
exterior made smooth, having side doors,
windows and skylights, and like q semi
elliptical cylinder placed on its face in
shape, this smoothness and shape being to
save friction of air, for train in such
rapid motion would create greater wind
| than a violent hurricane.
| We cannot. of course, prophesy what
may yet be accomplished. In view, how
ever, of the fact that Jules Verne's roo
mance-invented torpedo boat has actually
become the sober fact Of few years later
we should not like to say that the above
project is impossible, many as are the
practical difficulties in its way.