The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-09
FLYING MOTOR.
over a siiIs Minute Through rhe Tunnel.
II WnB n Test Run.

WhIrling under .he heart OF Baltimore
at the rate OF sixty,one miles an hour was
the novel experience of a party Of men
ON electric locomotive No. l OF the Balti.
more and Ohio Railroad Company on
Friday.
This record was made In the ocomo,
motives fret test OF high speed through
the tunnel. The electric giant carried on
Inc trip DIR. Louis Duncan, consulting
electrical engineer OF the Baltimore and
Ohio; Messrs. w. d. Young. superLutend.
ent OF the Baltimore and Ohio Company's
vlsiDg electrical engineer OF the General
Electric Company. and L. II. Shepard, Mr..
Parkers assistant Mr.. ". w. Murray, an
OLD and trusted engineman OF tho Baltl.
more and Ohio. stood at the controller.
Approaching the south portal OF the
tuhDel speed OF only twenty mllas an
hour was developed owing to the curve
and switches at that place. The start was
made with an easy forward glide of the
locomotive. Entering the tunnel the en-
Rlnemnn twirled the wheel around. liking
the controller on speedier notches.
Under the impetu5 thus given the loco
motive dashed forward. As steady as a
palace car, owing 10 the absence OF vibrat-
ing parts. 1t flew pact the double row OF
electric lights which Illuminated the tun-
mel. a. a speed that seemed to blend q
GIlmmer into trails Of light stretching to
the north opening of the tunnel. So
smooth snd steady was the motion that
the rapid rate did not appear unusual. All
on board kept firm grips on their hats, as
the cool air OF the tunnel whistled through
Engineer Shepard stood at the speed.
recording apparatus. watching the move.
monts Of the instrument. Nearing the
northern portal of the tunnel the power
was ehut of and the speed was red uced,
Inc announcement was then made that
n m nLd AZ hzan h..l
been attained. smile VI intense salts
1ectlon overspread the cOuntenances 0t the
electrical experts at this result and DR..
Duncan EXPRESSED himself as greatly
pleased with the lest
Much interest was manifested In the
performance OF tho flexible trolley during
the trial. This feature OF the electric 10.
comtlye has attracted general attention,
and many qusries have been made as to
lis adaptaDlllty for even ordinary ser.
vice, not to speak OF tast speed trials.
The trolley mechanism was CLOSELY watch.
eu during tine trip. and at the speed main.
talned II took the Irregularities of the
overhead structure with apparent per-
lection, there being not the slig htest hitch
or jar in It's operation. The trolley shoe.
glided with remarkable precision TIM ough h
the electric conduct, at one moment bring.
Ing out the full extension OF the nexib Q
shaft. then dipping down to within few
feet OF the locomotive, running on one
side and then on the other. and not sln-
gle spark or sputter was to be observed.
When the locomotive was first tried
with heavy service trouble was encoLn.
tered owing to.the trolley shoe. This was
due to the fact that the overhead conduct.
or had been In position for some TINA and
not having been ueed. an accumulation of
scale had developed. impairing the contact
Of the trolley shoe. No further trouble
has been found since this ecale was re-
moved. and recurrence OF the difficulty
lie not expected.
The burpt OF speed resulting In eevel-
opment OF rate of 81 mi!es an hour was
made on the heavy grade OF the tunnel.
and the engineers said 1t was equivalent
to 20 miles an hour on level Truck. The
performance OF the LOGON olive was such
that they would not hesitate to run II at
that or even greater speed II they had 8
sufficient stretch OF track for the purpose.
Locomotive No. l was mol designed for
last time. and the result of its latest test
ls looked upon as an indication of what
may be expected from an electric locomo.
tive specially designed for such purpose.
Since August locomotive No. l has
been hauling the entire freight service OF
the B. and o. through the tunnel, and it
has been daily ready for operation every
hour Of the twenty four. The average
speed maintained In hauling heavy
Irelghts has been fifteen miles an houF.
Two more Of the locomotives are now in
ptoBEebh VI ettCttpH hb bcUutuECJhuyt M l.,
where the works of the General Electric
Company are situated. and In few weeko
both OF these Will be sent to Baltimore tor
service.
The original plans for the overhead
structure in the tunnel aud for the loco
motlvea. have been adhered to, and Engl.
neer Parker stated that no departure from
them is contem plated.
A large number of railroad officers and
electrical engineers from other cities have
been inspecting tue new service In the
tunnel, and 1t Is now generally regarded
as practical success. Arrangements are
being made for visit to Baltimore of a
delegation from st. Louis. including the
oillcers of the terminal association OF that
city. The object of the trip is to study
the operations of the tunnel equipment
here with view of installing such a plant
In st, Louis for hauling trains through the
long tuDnel entering that city.