The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-01
ELECTRICITY FOR RAILWAYS.
A Trunk Line Asks Estimates Upon
Electrical Locomotives.
o Letter in PHILADELPHIA Press.


Chicago is preparing to take great step
which will rivet the attention of the scien-
tific and commercial world which is en-
gagged in the development of electricity. and
the step is to be taken in characteristic
manner: not by slow and cautious APP
proaches, such as have characterized the
New York & New Haven and also the
Pennsylvania railway systems. but by one
sudden leap into the great future which
almost everybody has predicted awaits the
great railway trunk lines through the SUBJ
stitution of electricity for steam. l am de-
barred from giving the names at present
Of the great railway corporations whose
lines stretch out from Chicago to the
South. West and Northwest which have
decided to abandon the use of steam, ex-
cepting for certain purposes. and to substi-
tute for it electricity as the motive power
for their systems. The purpose has been
terests or to prevent the annoyance which
publicity would be sure to entail, Ii Is not
possible to say. Not very many OF those
have known of this purpose. although In
vague way ii has been reported that some
of the greater railway lines which run out
from Chicago were likely, by and by, to be
found making partial use of electricity as
a motive power.
Not yet have any contracts been signed,
although negotiations have progressed very
far and some conditions have been mutu-
ally agreed upon. Some time ago the man.
ayers of three of the great Chicago trunk
turers for estimates of the cost of con-
struction of locomotives adapted to cleo
trical propulsion. The specifications were
complete and all that is necessary for the
upon these plans. and then submit esti-
mates Of cost.
Upon these propositions will depend
whether this substitution will be immedi-
ately done, or whether 1t Will be delayed
a little. for the element OF cost of these
locomotives is, OF course. an important tone one.
sitions which will be satisfactory will be
laid before the directors of these three
companies, and that these are likely to be
followed by CONTRACTS, and then some rev,
Citations which will occasion interest and
excitement, perhaps, in this country and IN
Europe.
be procured at reasonable price then the
rest Of the plan will be very easily devel-
oped. 1t is almost as colossal as the
agara into a vast electric plant In the
heart of Illinois. Iowa and some Of the
Northwestern States vast coal deposits ex-
list. The purpose Is to establish at Inc
mines great power generating plants The
one in Illinois may ultimately become CT
as great capacity as that which the NJ
agara plant is estimated to be equal to:
Right at the mouth of the mines the coal
is to be used for the purpose OF generating
electricity, thus saving the cost OF trans
portation to Chicago or to other centers.
The Illinois generating plant Will De an
enormous one, capable OF furnishing eiec-
trio power sufficient for the uses OF one
of the great railway systems OF that state.
stations along the line, there to serve It's
purpose of replenishing the exhausted bat-
teries of the locomotives.
The system proposed is Drleny OF Ine
following nature: Starting out from Chi
cago a locomotive will be fitted with
suitable chloride accumulated storage pat
tery of the system which is made by Phil
adelphia manufacturers This chloride bat
terry is charged at the station IN chicago
and so charged as to carry the locomotive
at a certain speed for certain distance.
When the section of the road which Is
proportionate to the power or TINS storage
battery has been passed over the iocomo.
time, by the use of crane working by
electricity, the exhausted battery VIII DC
removed from the locomotive and announcer
fully charged be put in that ones place;
thus another section of the road Will be
passed over again and the exhausted bat
terry be removed and fresh one supsti,
for the use of the following train. All
of the electricity comes from the central
generating station, which IS located at the
The plans do not contemplate an entire
substitution Of electricity for steam. The
electric locomotives, will be used only LOT
will be used as heretofore for drawing
freight trains. for the problem OF econ
omcal and successful use Of electricity for
freight service has not peen solved. Be-
sides, the continuation of the steam loco
motive. as a hauler of freight will prevent
of Of electricity for steam would entail.
The question of speed has not yet been
reached. It is sufiicient for the managers
think they do, that 1t is possible to obtain
and maintain with safety, higher rate of
speed with the proposed electric locomotives
and the chloride accumulation batteries
than can be secured by the use of steam.
and that this high rate will probably be
found to be more economical. What the
maximum rate will be can only be de-
termined after experimental tests.
The substitution of electricity for steam
and for passenger and mail service alone
upon these three trunk lines will probably
involve the expenditure of some ten to
twelve millions in the aggregate. includ-
ing the cost Of establishing the general
ing plants at the mines, but it is believed
that this vast expenditure will be in the
line of economy.