The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-04
MILLIONS 70 save TINE
The Great Railway Tunnel Beneath
the City of Baltimore.
The Only Line of the Kind in the
World. Twenty-Five Minutes to.be
Saved at the Enormous Cost
gilmore Than ST 900, 900.
Electricity Against Steam
Ispccia, corrcspondcnce.]

Does it not make your head ache?
People who do not think this is fast
world will smile incredulously at this
statement, but it is true This is why
what is known as the Baltimore Bolt
Limo railroad was planned five years ago
80 TINT trains of the Baltimore and
Ohio railway could go rushing under
meath the heart of the city Oh their way
between New York and Washington
without being ferried across tho Patapsco
river. True, the Belt Line gives tho rail
road company an opportunity to secure
passengers from stations in different
parts of the city, but this was only
minor consideration. The question of
time was the main issue, and this out
lay of money representing ~, years of
Labor and the construction of what is
the only limo of its kind i'll tho world
was the result of quiet conference
which agreed that this timo must be
saved at any cost.
AT the conference was n short, stout,
black eyed man, with u determination
which showed itself plainly on his fea-
lures. Ho was the father Of the plan to
bore under the city and lay tracks many
feet beneath some of the largest build
ings in Baltimore. The idea of MIR. John
b. Mcdonald was ut first received with
amazenent, hut by facts and figures he
proved tho possibility Of tho work, ana
ats progress has since shown his ability
and Judgment, which may be called into
play II he receives the contract to con-
stru6t New York S proposed underground
railway frSm tho Battery to Harlem,
on. whichthis company is now figuring.
Tho Baltimore Belt Line, us it is
fnmiiiarly. termed, is less than eight
miles long, but its feature is the tunnel
work. One tunnel is 8, l46 feet long and
the other nearly 400 fect, or in all about
g miles. It begins mt Camden station,
III the southern part of the city and OK.
tends north and northeast under ono of
the main business streets, Mt some
points the top OF the arch being 40 feet
below the pavement and Mt other points
rs near rs 0 feet to the surface. The
line emergcs into deep cut in the
northern suburb and thence winds
around i'll long curve to 81 junction
with the main road just beyond the
clty's limits. The excavation for this
great hole III the ground is over 80 feet
wide and 26 to 30 feet high, as it is
largo enough to allow two trains Of tho
largest sized cars TO pass each other be-
tween its brick lined walls
Passengers who go through it may be
interested in knowing that every foot
of the road, including tho tunnel, cost
just a225-rather expensive when You
come &c puzzle over it.
Pr,tz
especially interesting to engineers, in
yentors, abroad men and electricians is
that the long passenger and freight
trains over it are to be hauled by enor-
nous electric locomotives In scientific
phrase its motive power will be the
trough conduit system.
1t is certainly funny looking loco
motive IS the first impression Appar-
emily it's little house on big wheels,
with an ordinary locomotive tendon at
each end, on each OF which arc boil
and headlight but the curious and
wonderful mechanism by which this I'M
seen force is controlled Mt the will of the
engineer needs careful covering from the
clements, and this form is considered to
give it the best protection.
The motorman with one hand pulls n
small lever. not unlike a steam engine
throetle valve. But no steam misses. ST.
lently the machine begins to move AS
the speed increases one notes the pecul-
lar whirring or buZziug sound made by
the trolley motor of common use, but it
is not SO loud, although now the appa-
raS9s may be rushing along at the rate
of 80 miles an hour. BY degrees the
man at the lever pushes it back and
pulls at another handle. This causes tho
familiar kissing of the airbrake, with
which he controls the motion after the
current is shut off as easily as does a
steam engineer, but there are no redhot
furnace doors to open. no gushing of
steam from the safety valve, no soft coal
to throw into huge firebox glowing at
white heat. All these are absent, but
still there is the marvellous force which
has pulled the train Of seven or eight
Pullman cara, representing dead weight
OF 500 tons and over, up grade which
wouh require high steam pressure Oh
11osul engine.
Vhss is what is expected Of these ma
chimes, which will weigh 90 tons each
and have motors equal to edo hossepow-
or, enough to withstand a current Of 700
electric volta" This power, It is cal
culated, yeill allow them to haul passen-
gers and freight trains through this tun-
mel at q apeed Of 80 and 10 miles per
sonr respectively. Near tho junction of
the Belt Road and main limo hbo st,or,