Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-07-05
Electricity a. Railroad Motive Powe,


1t cannot be doubted hat the recent
successful experiments at Nantasket, Chi
cago and Baltimore in the substitution of
the electric motor for the steam locomo-
tive, mark the opening of q new era in
railroading They signify TIE probable
adoption by steam roads, as self-protecton
against parallel trolley lines, of electricity
as motive power, at least for branch roads
and for passenger traffic in thickly popu-
lated sections. In the experiments at Nan
tasket ii was shown that by simple ex-
tension of the familiar trolley system the
steam roads can have local service much
superior to that of the present. Owing to
the teXibility of the electric current and
the eyenness of its power, almost any speed
desirable can be attained. 1t is said that
the terrific rate of so miles an hour was
reached in the Nantasket test and a higher
speed could be realized if demanded. The
cars are simply baggage cars, upon the
trucks of which are mounted powerful cleo
trio motors, two or four to the car as the
case might be. Each car is equipped with
a Westinghouse brake, the compressed air
for which is furnished by a compressor
operated by an electric motor.
The experiments at Baltimore are more
ambitious. Here the first serious attempt
will be made to displace the steam locomo-
tive in regular railroad service, and much
will depend on the success of the trial. es
pecially on roads like the Pennsylvania and
New York Central Two of these cleo
tric locomotives will be used to haul the
Baltimore and Ohio trains through Balti-
more's SS,OO0,000 tunnel, 7430 feet long,
extending under the business part of the
city. A maximum speed of so miles an
hour is to be developed, and it is guaran-
teed that they shall pull 1850 tons at a
speed of 80 miles an hour, thereby consti-
tuting them the most powerful electric To-
cOmotiyes in the world. An idea of their
tremendous power may be arrived at when
il is stated that in a test one of these loco
motives was coupled to a siX-wheel New
York Central locomotive, ana though the
steam engine did its best to go in the OPP
posile direction, the electric motor pulled
it up and down the track at will. This
experiment at Baltimore grows out of the
serious Inconvenience and damage result
ing from the presence of gas where steam
| locomotives are operated in tunnels and il
| necessitated radical departures from exist
ing electrical apparatus. A successful in,
stallation of the use of motors to hau
| passenger coaches on elevated roads is that
on the Metropolitan Elevated in Chicago
where it has been in operation since June
| 1st.
The substitution of electricity for steam
offers an ideal means of transportation o
passengers, being quick, cleanly, and o
| such nature as to admit of running at mucl
more frequent intervals than at present
and would create an increase in the amount
of business. While it is not probable tha
any immediate revolution will be made, tn,
process of evolution will, in all probability
bring about the gradual substitution of the
electric locomotive for that energized by
steam on the trunk lines as we'll as the
! branch roads of the country.