New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
LOCOMOTIVE.

hand the Baldwin people are glad to get so val
liable patron. But that branch Of the business
may develop rather slowly at first, and even
when it attains its fullest activity they expect 10
keep on making steam locomotives as now.
Burnham; Williams G. Co. confidently expect that
the demand for this form of engine for certain
classes of passenger business and the principal
freight traffic of the country will continue FOR
many years. if not forever. But If there should
come a call for a new style of engine they pro-
pose to capture as much of that trade as they
cam and do all they can to promote It,
A PROBLEM FOR THE RAILROADS.
A phase of the present situation which will go
far toward determining the future proceedings
of the Pittsburg Philadelphia alliance is the In
terest which managers of existing railroads are
manifesting in electric traction. 1t would be
gross exaggeration to suggest that those men
are evincng as intense anxiety for the future
welfare of the corpora tions they represent as
Nicodemus did for his soul They are not cry
ing What shall do to be saved?" and they
are not rushing pell-mell to the builders OF cleo
trio engines with orders for new means or trac-
ton 1t is true. however. that trolley competition
has cut into the suburban business OF many
steam lines In a serious, not 10 say appalling
manner in the last two years; that a great deal
Of solemn thought has been provoked thereby;
that quiet confidential interviews are being had
once in a while between railroad presidents and
electrical engineers; and that at least some rail-
road companies adopting the policy recently
recommended by Dr. Louis Duncan, OF making
electricity an ally instead of an enemy
Every few weeks now one hears OF some fresh
venture having a special bearing on this question
of the adaptabty of electricity to the work Of
for ipcf
the Baltimore and Ohio road has put in highly
successful operation ninety -sx-ton electric en-
CINE for hauling through expresses and freight
trains through its tunnel in Baltimore. Elec-
trcity has been substituted for steam for the ex-
cursion traffic on the Nantasket Beach branch
of what was once the Old Colony road and over
in New-Jersey the Pennsylvania road has begun
running a lire from Mount Holly to Burlington
nv the same means This last experiment, like
that near Boston is made with an overhead wire
and trolley and cars nearly the full size used
as day coaches steam roads The Mount
Holly feeder Is equipped with three motor-cars
that resemble baggage cars. small space at
one end being partitioned off for the machinery,
and each of these cars is capable of hauling one
or two standard Pennsylvania cars at the speed
of from forty five 10 sixty miles an hour.
This rolling stock is provided with Janney
counters platforms and buffers, and with air.
brakes and the motor-cars carry slender but
stout iron cowcatchers under one platform. 1t
was rumored that the New-York Central road
contemplated making similar experiment from
Niagara to Buffalo; but as yet this enterprise
has not taken material shape. But when three
such companies the Baltimore and OHIO, Penn
sylvania and New-York. New-Haven and Hart
ford go as tar as they have already gone toward
ascertaining the feasibility OF substituting cleo
tricity for steam. ii becomes apparent that new
era in rarcading is close at hand
THE FIRST IDEA TO BE CARRIED OUT.
The immediate plans OF Mr.. Westinghouse
have naturally been the subject of much specu-
ation and inquiry That gentleman is not TAX
ing everybody into his confidence just yet. 1t
is not his habit TO prophesy. He prefers to
achieve But he makes no secret OF his inten-
lions and Views certain points. In the first
place, he and the successors or Mr. BALDWIN
have conjointly employed David Leonard Barnes
eminent both electrical and mechanical
engineer to design a large railway motor which
shall be adapted to high speed. long-distance
passenger service. The problems which are In
volved In this task are more serious than one
might suppose Ii Is one thing to put set or
field magnets in frame and revolve an arma-
ture between them by means OF an electric cur
rent admitted through wire. and get 100 zoo or
800 horsepower out OF tnat machine when ~
rests sohdly on foundation OF masonry In big
shop But 1t Is quite different thing To suspend
that same machine. similar one. on huge
truck and drive II over railroad track al the
rate of forty five. sixty or ninety miles an hour.
An electric motor Is delicate piece OF machinery
In some respects: and. as built to-day, Will not
stand the racket that a limited express loco
motive experiences.
To enable IL successfully 70 withstand the phys
zeal shocks to which II must be exposed In high
speed railway work there must be further work
done The questions involved are only those OF