The morning call., 1891-08-23
A MILE IN TEN SECONDS.
Ii Is Hard to Build Vehicles That Will STAY
on The Track.

Under this title some interesting details
Qf accurate) are given by the American En-
gineer of the results eff the attempt to run a
train which, according to the projectors of
the Electric express" was to run at the
moderate speed of six miles minute. An
experimental line was built at Baltimore,
and engineers of some experience were SAN
guine that even if the tremendous speed
spoken OF were not accomplished, the train
runs would put in the shade everything
hitherto accomplished. One hundred and
twenty miles an hour, or two miles min
ute, was spoken Of as mechanically posi-
Die. But the constructors, alaSI reckoned
without their host. 1t was found tLat the
memorable laws of friction would cause
bearings, wheels, etc, to simply melt from
the intense heat evolved. In round num-
bers 4-foot wheel would have to revolve
over L, LOCO times per miGute-a practicable
speed with a small spindle, but quite impos-
slble with the ordinary axle.
About mile and half per minute is now
said to be all that is within practical accom-
plishment ON the existing type of railway if
friction only be considered. AS regards
safety, even this speed is deemed impossi-
Bile by qualified engineers unless great modi-
hcatIons are made in the existing form an d
size of tianges. rails, etc. Such speed has,
IL is alleged, been once or twice accom-
plished, but the hig hest of which an authen-
ii
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 en-
glneers are agreed that it is not possible
with present rails and rolling stock.
AS matters now stand it would seem that
1t Is easier to construct motive power which
VIII propel or rather drag, vehicles at a
startling pace, than to design vehicles which
Will keep on the track or be unniured by
hAuf n cd Z js 1a,rc
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-
init OF much higher rate OF speed than has
yet been achieved. But II is certain that
these have still to be devised, and that peO-
pie OF Inventive minds have here yet I'M
attacked field. Alter all, the rate of eighty
miles per hour, which has actually been ac-
complished, would have seemed q greater
miracle to our great-grandfathers than the
talked-of 120 does to US. Whether the solu-
ton VIII lie in the adoption of the sliding
railway type, or in an immense increase in
wheel diameter, depth OF tiange, or other de-
vice, IS yet uncertain, but the problem will
without doubt be solved at no very distant
date.
Our American friends are endeavoring to
grapple with the difficulty, and the main
outlines of proposal TO run high-speed
train have been published. The track is to
uo puilt MUCH HcdEitr IMAM Tue TOduS now
In use. In exposed places 1t would be laid
in trough-like guard to keep the wheels on
the track. The engine and cars are gigan-
tic, the former having twelve driving
wheels, not encased (ail wheels are now
encased), and the axles are TO be so con.
structed as to give low center of gravity
by having the car bottom near the rails.
The great weight, width of rails and shape
of cars would, it is claimed, give stability
All 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 present
style it would allow of the speed in
tended being attained. As large wheels
on the present tracks would not be sta
bic, nor would there be car room, the rails
would have to be laid 10 feet apart. The
car is designed as II feet wide, u feet high
and 100 leet long, being capable of holding
400 persons with their baggage. The cars
are 10 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
semI-elllptlcal cylinder placed on its face
In shape this smo0thneSs and shape being
TO save friction of air, for a 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 MIR. Jules Vernes'
romance-invented torpedO-boat has actu-
ally become the sober fact of a few years
later, we should not like to say that the
above project is impossible, many as are
the practical difficulties in its way.-Lon-
don (Eng) Invention.