The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-14
THE NEW MACHINES.
N Trial OF the Single Reduction Motors Is
Satisfactory.


The officers Of the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company are DESTROYS to improve
their electric car service as much as possible.
With that object in view they have just re-
ceive several of the Westinghouse single re-
auction motors which are said to be the most
advanced aud accomplished apparatus of that
Nnd invented up TO the present time. Two
OF these motors were attached 10 summer car
NO Z, and pursuant 10 an invitation rendered
Vy the officers. / went to the car stables On
west Main street ut noon on Sunday TO satisfy
myself whether or not the new motor was an
Improvement over the one in use at present.
found Mr.. q. l.. Fisher, the treasurer OF
the company; Secretary T. J. Craigie and
MAJOR Charles Selden. the efficient superin-
tendent OF the road. in waiting, After de-
leay OF few minutes the car, which had been
thoroughly overhauled, was brought out Of
the shed, and the little party started on q
trial trip TO look into the workings of the new
motor. We first went around the loop 10 the
New reservoir, aud the experiment proved
very satisfactory over the IT" rails laid on
tnat portion Of the road. There was almost
no noise at all, only the springs proved to
DC somewhat stiff on account Of not having
Deen used as yet We next went over the
Main-street line to Fulton, and the rails on
that route being rather defective, at some
places considerable jarriug was noticed,
winch. however, will no doubt be obviated
as soon as the new steel rails have been put
down. During the whole trip there were
only few persons on board OF the car. and
the motion OF the apparatus could not be
fully tested. On Sunday evening, however.
by chance | boarded the same car when II
was loaded TO its fullest capacity and then
noticed that it travelled perfectly smooth and
without noise where the track was in perfect
condition
When the terminus in Falton was reached
short stop was made TO inspect the motors,
which proved % be perfectly cool. and IL was
therefore decided to at once retain the car IN
the service.
The experiment with the new motor ap-
peared to be entirely satisfactory, and the
officers of the company were well pleased
with the result. Another car Will at once be
equipped with the same kind of motor, but
no further changes in the other cars Will be
made until the motors have been thoroughly
tested. The Westinghouse single reduction mo-
tor has 20 horse power. while the one now in use
IS only ID horse-po Under the new sys-
tenn each car will be propelled by 40 horse
power of electricity OF d sufficient amount 10
keep train Of several cars IN motion. while
under the present system the cars are only pro-
vlded with thirty horsepower motors. The
improved motor dspenses with part OF the
gearing on the old motors. All the gears are
incased and run in oil. The new mo-
tors being 50 much more powerful, are some
what moro expensive.
The company will within the next two
weeks begin 10 relay the tracks on the Main
street line Instead of the old worn out iron
rails new fifty pound rails made Of the best
steel will be used on the entire line through
the city as far as Twenty-eighth OF Twenty
ninth street. and Mr.. Fisher will then apply
to the new City Council for permission TO use
T rails around the loop in Fulton.
& II. e H. ff,.,
street line, for the first time this summer,
ran over the whole route from the depot, on
Twenty-ninth aud p streets. TO the lake at the
New reservoir. turning into the tracks of the
Nain-street line ut the corner OF Main and
Beach streets.