The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-10-03
THE RAILROAD OF THE FUTURE.
Lartigue's Single Rail Scheme May Eventu-
ally Supersede the Present System.

Lartigue's Single Rail Scheme May Eventu-
ally Supersede the Present System.
We rsosntly pointed out that express
trains in England seldom maintain over
long distances an average speed exceeding
30 miles an hour, and that the same thing
might be said Of the United States. No
doubt engineers have demonstrated on the
English Great Northern railway and on our
New York Central that a short section of
straight track can be traversed much more
rapidly, but 1t has come to be accepted as
an axiom that under existing mechanical
conditions the rate mentioned Is the highest
speed consistent with safety.
What are the conditions which have I'm
posed this conclusioni 1t Is the curves of
the existing lines which render long con-
tinued movement at speed of 80 or 100
miles an hourimpossible, unless the weight
Of engines and trains should be increased
far beyond what the bridges aud roadbed
would bear In the absence OF such an In
crease of weight and strength, which is eco
nomically impracticable, a 100 mile express
would fly off the rails at the first sharp
curve The fact Is familiar to every COM
petent engineer. Heknows the mathemat-
ical relation Of curves to speed. He knows,
for instance, that the force tending at a
moving ut the rate of $50 miles an hour
would be about 81 times greater than that
which train resists when running at 90
miles an hour 1t follows that the existing
lines must be both Strengthened and
strengthened II the present average speed
Of express trains is to be materially height
ened.
Such Strengthening and strengthening Is
practically out of the question, owing to
the tremendous outlay that would be in
volved. Is there, then, any way Of obtain
| Ing new rates OF speed on the old routesi
| IL appears from the London Spectator that
this question Is answered In the affirmative
by Mr.. Behr in a pamphlet advocating the
application to existing routes Of the Lar
tigue single rail system. In this system,
which, as we shall see, Is no visionary
scheme, but is actually in operation, the
cars sit astride single rail raised to
height of four feet from the ground on
steel trestles, on either side Of which, but
21S feet lower, is a small guide rail.
| The wheels on which the cars run move
on the central rail, while the guide rails on
each side are grpped by smaller wheels.
To speak accurately, this is not single
rail, but a treble rail line, although the
hard work is done on the raised central rail
But whatever name should be given 10 the
system 1t Is said that the stability ana se-
curity Of the cars, mounted on the central
rail saddle, with the guide rails serving as
stirrups, are such that Is almost impossible
for train to be thrown off the track. When
curves are encountered. the rail Is canted
transversely to a degree calculated 10 neu.
tralize the centrifugal force. and II the can't
ing does not suffice the surplus OF centrifu-
| 10,
ton Of the central rail and inner guide rail.
As we have said. the Lartigue system is
no untried proposal. It Is now working
for short distance, 81 miles, from Listo-
wei to Ballybun!on in Ireland and an ap-
plication OF the principle On much larger
scale has been made In the department OF
the Loire In France. The calculations re-
lating to the stability and safety Of cars
run on this plan go to show that, even for
a speed Of 100 miles an hour, the demand
made upon the Lartigue lines would not
exceed, In the case of the most unfavorable
curve, the normal limit Of strain ut present
allowed.
IL these claims can be sustained, 1t seems
clear that the Lartigue system may render
| unprecedented rates Of speed not only me
chemically but financially possible, for the
single rail can be laid side by side with the
present lines on the existing routes. The
financial difficulty which would be present
ed, were new routes required, being elimi
mated, the provision Of an adequate motor
power need not stop the way. Mr.. Behr es
Inmates that the cost Of constructing on
either side Of the existing main line from
London to Brighton Lartigue line TO be
worked by electricity at speed OF from 100
tol50 miles an hour. including rolling stock,
generating plant and all appliances for
working trains, would not exceed q, 900 600
II is contended that by this means Brighton,
which is 80 miles away, could be reached In
20 or 25 minutes ride from the British me
tropolis.-New York Sun.