Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-09-20
SPEED OF RAILWAYS.
Claims That the Possible Maximum Limit
Is Now In Sight.

Is NOW IN SlEnC.
Since the new record of fast long dis
lance runs for the United States was made
by the New York Central on Wednesday a
fresh impetus has been given to spccula-
ton on tho possibilities of the future as
regards speed for regular scheduled trains.
There is no probability that any attempt
will be made by the New York Central to
increase the speed Of the Empire express
at present. Vice President Webb says this
very positively, although he adds that it
could be increased if there was any occa-
sion for it. That this is true was proved
by the run of Wednesday,
A question that remains is, How great
is this possible increase? Mr.. Webb says
that train can be run faster than the one
of Wednesday. Whether a train of that
weight can be run, to any important OK
tent, faster, in the present known Condi-
tions Of travel, seems at least doubtful.
There has been a good deal of talk of
late about the probability that the general
substitution of electricity for steam on the
long distance roads in the future will lead
to a much faster rate of speed. Electricity
Is now in use on some of the railroads.
For instance, the Nantasket branch of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford rail
road recently substituted electricity for
steam. However, the engine is practically
a large trolley car, and the run is only
seven miles. When it comes to long dis
lance travel, very different problems have
to be faced. The most ambitious effort yet
made to use electricity in place of steam is
being made by the Baltimore and Ohio, a
trolley, the largest yet built, being used to
haul trains through the tunnel at Balti-
more. This experiment is not yet perfect
cd, though it promises to be a success.
Speaking of such cases, Locomotive En-
cheering says that even some railroad
men, to say nothing of newspapers and
the public have based on such cases the
idea that the time for the general use of
electricity in railroading is at hand. Com
menting on this feeling. the N,per adds:
"The electric current is only u conven-
lent means of conveying power-a belt
and that power can be best and most
economically developed by a steam engine.
"Further research develops the fact that
it Is quite impossible to send this current
over trolley wire for more than five or
six miles with any economy. The current
leaks away and becomes weak. The longer
the line the weaker the current toward the
outer end and the higher or stronger the
current the more it leaks
"The electric current can be generated
by compound condensing engines supplied
with steam from ample boilers under nat
ural draft for less money than power can
be developed by any steam locomotive,
but the SO called electric locomotive sup
piled by it is yet like q captive balloon-it
can go the length of it's rope and no more.
"For suburban business where light,
frequent service is needed electricity Is
better and cheaper than steam motors and
will and ought to be used, hut the electric
motor that is to run at lightning speed
and haul the ordinary trains of our trunk
lines over divisions of 100 or more miles
long has not yet been built or invented.
Electric locomotion will be an evou-
ton. 1t will grow little by little, doing
all that can be done with 1t in its present
stage of development, but don't worry
about it's doing away with the locomotive
yet.
"Of course some one may stumble upon
the solution of the problem tomorrow and
make motor that will develop It's own
power directly from fuel so much cheaper
than steam locomotive does that 1t will
pay to throw them all away, but romem-
Der that it is also possible that some one
may perfect flying machine that will put
the electric and steam locomotives both
under the same shed with the stagecoach
and the Conestoga wagon"
In short those who have very high
hopes of the possibilities of electric engines
for long distance running are looked upon
by practical engineers as oranks. New
York Post