The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-17


at rapid rate of speed, the electrio
cars being much lighter than the steam
cars.
10 Mr.. Tunstall-I am unable to say
whether tue danger would be greater
when entering or leaving the curve.
The jury took II recess till 2:3O.
AFTERNOON SESSION. N.-GEo. II. DEAroN,
night ysrdmsster Norfolk aud West.
ern, u resident of BrambIe.
ton, twenty three years experience
In railrondiug. Have beeu en-
gagged as brakeman, freight aud pns-
senger conductor and yardmaster.
Have had experience with ulr brakes
as passenger conductor. As yard
master we are supposed to know the
working of brakes. Havu made u study
Of air brakes. Have paid attention to
them sinoe first Introduced. have
examined the brakes OF motor cars on
Ocean View road. Yes, through
curiosity when they first came here, as
1t WAS the first time / ever heard of or
| saw them on au electric motor car or
trailer.
They are capable Of about forty to
forty live pounds pressure. may be
more. L think on these cars forty aud
torty-tve pounds would beall required.
/ remarked ut the depot that did not
thiuk they needed them as the motor
would be ell required. have visited
the scene Of the accident on the Ocean
View railroad. | heard that it was fast
speed and sudden application of the
alr brake around short curve caused
the accident. | saw the curve, and in
my estimation no change has been
mnde in the curve, nnd laughed at
the idea that such theory should be
n a " y1pa1 | Innif
| OF that Kind would derai itself on nc
| count of curve by the application of
| forty-tive pounds of air. buse nv
| opinion on the way we run trains ou
steam railroads, sometimes with empty
| passenger coaches at speed OF forty.
hve or nifty miles per hour, and never
reduce speed for curves heavier than
| this.
10 Mr.. Marsball-Not III all cases
the number OF pounds OF air proper
tionate to the weight oi the car. |
| know of no established rule; 40 or 30
pounds of air would be enough to cou
troll that train under any circun-
stances, but l never looked ut the
| gauge, anu do not know, as matter
| Of fact, how much they carry.
10 Juror think ii the fuuge of
the wheel was i, aud the spike was of
ali inch, that it would throw the car oil
the track on slight curve, If going
hiteen miles an hour. The same tiuuge
aud same spike on struIght line, the
liability would not be ns great with the
spike laying parallel with tue raj.
Ii ls not necessary 10 lnye spike
the same thickness US the t!anger OF "A
wheel to throw wheel from th.
track. This ls owing to the peculiar
make OF the tange, which is thicker
ut the base than at the edge, and the
pressure has tendency To lift the
wheel over to the outside OF the wheel.
The cars would be more apt TO be
thrown OIL the track when 1t struck
the spike.
The sudden application of The brakes
alter the cur had entered II curve,eoIuu
at rapid rate ol sIeed, would not
have a tendency 10 make the Cur Jump
the track
From my information and Judgment
1t would not be dangerous to suddenly
sppiy the brakes to u train running nt
rapid rate Of speed approaching IA
curve OF this character.
l have seen trains thrown by q spika
IN my yard experience. | have done
this myself. Frequently when | could
not get spike | would take big mali
or iishpllte.
l believe the cause of the accident
on the Ocean View railroad was caus
ed by spike on the truck. | EXPRESSED
my opinion as soon AS | went down
there. had heard no Que else ex
press an opinion.
II went down on the train bv my
sell, and did not see u person there
kuew. On Saturday night | had IN.
structlons TO turn the wreck tram
over to the Ocean View railroad at our
connection, and Sunday being my uuy
oil, | thought would go down as un
observer.
had heard that the train was poing
SO fast that it would not curve: also
that the sudden application OF the uir
brake had derailed the entire TRAIN,
hehru no other rumor. | EXPRESSED
my opinion that did not think there
was curve on the Ocean View road
or that they could get power enough
TO derail tram. did not hear that
the track had spread. was, thiuk.
the hrst one to give The opinion that
thought the train had been spiked.
\. l.. JOHNSON,
consulting engineer, n native of Rich.
mond, residing III Philadelphin Have
had experience in the construction
aud operation Of electrical railroads;
actively employed in the work since
!6S'' electric railroads date from that