The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-24
FAST TRAINS.
Difficulties In tho Way Of an In
creased Ratio Of Speed.
a Plan on Foot I'm This Country to Build
Train Calculated to Run
Two Miles in Ono
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
ut Baltimore, and engineers of some ex-
pcrience were sanguinc 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 q minute,
was spoken of as mechanically possible.
But the constructors, alas! reckoned
without their host. 1 twas found that the
memorable laws of friction would cause
bearings, wheels, ETC., to simply melt
from the intense heat evolved. In round
numbers n 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 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 i'm
possible by qualified engineers, unless
great notifications are made in
the existing form and size of hangcs,
rails, etc. Such speed has, it is al
legged, been once or twice accomplished,
but the highest of which an authentic
record exists is within fraction of
eighty miles per hour, or one and one
third miles per minute. We do not, of
course, undertake to say that a 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 OH
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 rail and wheel may yet be de-
signed which will permit of 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
~ 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
mcnse increase in wheel diameter,
depth of f1ange, or other device, is vet
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 Il proposal to run 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 a trough-lilke
guard to keep the wheels on the track.
The engine and cars arc gigantic, the
former having twelve driving wheels,
not incased (all wheels are now in
cascd), and the axles are to be SO con-
'1~
ity 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 diane
ter, this large size saving friction of
machine; and should the wheels revolve
no faster than the present style it would
allow of the speed intended being at
tanned. 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 is de-
signed as seventeen feet wide, twelve
feet high and one hundred feet long, be-
ing capable of holding four hundred
persons with their baggage. The cars
are to join as smoothly as n pipe, the
forward part of the engine being round
ed Off and the car exterior made smooth,
having side doors, windows and sky
lights, and like semi-cliptical cylinder
placed on its face in shape, this smooth
ness and shape being to save friction of
air, for train in such rapid motion
would create Il greater wind than a vio-
lent hurricane.
We cannot. of course, prophesy what
may yet be accomplished. In view,
however, of the fact that Jules Verne's
romance-invented torpedo boat has
actually become the sober fact of few
years later we should not like to say
the above project is impossible, many
as are the practical difficulties in its
way
Sixty Years In Siberia.
a Napoleonic veteran has lately re-
turned to St Petershnror from, S;haria