The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-11
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.

Train Calculated to Run
Two Miles IN One
Minute.
Some interesting details (it 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) Iuven-
tion. An experimental line was built
at Baltimore. and engineers of some ex-
perieuce We're sauguinc that even If the
tremendous speed spoken of We're not
accomplished. the trains run would put
in the shade everything hitherto accom-
pIished. One hundred and twenty
miles an hour, or two miles IA minute
was spoken of as mechanically possible.
But the constructors. alas, rccl1oned
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 revOlvc over eleven thousand times
per minute--a practicable speed with a
small spindle, but quite impossible with
the ordinary axle. About Il mile and
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 inn
possible by qualified engineers, unless
great notifications are made in
the existing form and size of flanges,
rails. etc. Such a speed has, it is al
fisl1
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 casicr to construct motive
power which will propel, or rather
drag vehicles at startling pace, than
to design vehicles ?-hich viii keep on
the track or be uniniured 6y the heat
so generated. 1t Is nowadays unsafe to
riGicule any project which does not
propose to violate some natural law,
and it is quite possible that some
form of rail and wheel may vet be de-
signed which win permit of n 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 un-
attacked field After all the rate of
eighty miles per hour, which has actual
" been accomplished, would have
seemed a greater miracle to our great
grandfathers than the talked-of one hun
dred and twenty does to US. Whether
the solution viii lie III the adoption of
the sliding railway type, or in an i'm
mense increase il wheel diamc+
depth of flangc, or other device
uncertain. hu, tho -'~ b'Cn
out doubt be solved at no very c
date.
Our friends are cndcavoring TO crap
pie with the ditiauitv. and the main
outlines OF u propossl 80 run q high
-peed train have been published. The
track Is 10 hc built much heavier than
5he roads now in use. In exposed
,Iaces il would be laid in trough-lil,C
-uard TO keep the wheels on the track
.lc engine and cars are gigantic, the
,rmcr having twelve driving wheels
ut incased taIl wheels are now in
.ased), and the aXles are to bc SO con
truCted a. to give a low center of grav-
y by having the car bottom near the
.lIls. The great weight width of rails
IL shape of cars would. it Is claimed.
NC stability. All the wheels uude
&c train would be eight feet in diane
r, this large size saving friction OF
arhiue: and should the wheels rcvOlvC
faster than the present style it would
pw OF the speed intended being at
ned. As large wheels ON the present
.lzs would not be stable, nor woulG
re be car room, the rails would have
10 laid ten feet apart. The car is de
ned as seventeen feet wide. twelve
high and one hundred feet long. be
= capable of holding four hundreu
crsons with their baggage. The cars
-a 10 Join as smoothly as a pipe, the
rward part of the engine background
of and thc careStcrior made smooth.
wing 2 dc doors. windows and sky
rhts. an like a semi-eliptical cylinder
placed ON $ face in shape. this smooth
ness and shape being 70 save friction OF
air, for a train IN such rapid motion
would create greater wind than VIC.
lent hurricane.
We cannot, of course. prophesy what
may vet be accomplished In view.
however, of the fact that Jules Neruc's
romauce-iuvented torpedo boat has
actually become the sober fact of "A few
years later we should not like to say
he above project is impossible. many
as are the practical difficulties in it.
v-ay.