The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-16
BRIDGE MOTORS LAID UP.
BREAK AT TINE POWER HoUSE
SHUTS DIFF THE CURE N
Old locomotive Hu-tlsd oat md Trahae

Ola Locomotives Hustled ont mud Trnfae
Cot 1nto 1ts Regular schedule After n
Delay or Several Hours - The New
Movable Stairvny TO ne Put Up To-day.
Pending the completion of tho plant which
will furnish electricity for the operation of the
new motor cars on the bridge tho current Is
supplied from the power house OF the Brooklyn
Heights Railroad Company In Kent avenue.
There was an accident in the power house at
AZ o'clock yesterday afternoon, just as the
evening crush on the bridge was beginning.
which caused n delay of nearly four hours bo-
foro the resumption OF the regular schedule.
The trouble was caused by tho breaking Of the
cross-head on n 9, 1000 horsepower engine. The
cross-head Is the heavy bar fitted to the piston
rod at the point of the piston and connecting
rods. 1t operates between two uprights called
the guides and compels the piston rod to run
true. II lie an important piece of machinery and
a break in 1t cannot be repaired in a short time.
AS soon rs the accident occurred the railroad
people telephoned the main office OF the bridge.
They said they could continue to furnish the
current for half an hour or so, but thon would
have to shut It OF or deprive the trolley cars of
light and heat. Chief Engineer Martin was not
we'll yesterday and had gone home before the
accident occurred. He was Immediately COM
municated with and he gave orders to get the
locomotives and old cars ready.
There were twelve trains with electric motors
running at the time of the accident. When the
engineers and nremen who had been employed
on the locomotives before the electric motors
wero introduced. were transferred TO the motor
cars. they discarded their greasy overalls and
caps and donned spick and span uniforms.
When the order came yesterday to start the
fires in the engines and get thcm ready to
switch cars there was q hustle for old clothes.
Some of the engineers and fircmen had thrown
their old clothes away altogether. and they had
to borrow clothes from the men ut work in the
construction department to resume their old
places, as working in the cab of II locomotive in
a new uniform. ia decidedly, uncomfortable.
The men worked with a will. however, despite
the disadvantages and in less than half nm
hour. or almost as soon as the electric current
gave out altogether. had eight trains running.
Meanwhile, the crush had got started at the
New York terminal and in orde- to prevent the
obliged to hold the crowd IN check at the ticket
eoxe,, The majority Of the crowd accepted the
before. and plodded across tho promenade.
There was n steady stream Of men and women,
said that the accident would lay up
to be able to make arrangements for n current
to have them running to-day or tomorrow, The
is expected. by Jan. /. and then there will be
slight possibility Of such, AN accident causing
power nous. will be retained as a reserve in
case Of n breakdown In the, bridge plant.
Chief Martin aid Yesterday TINT the Keno In
which got permission from the bridge trustees
some time ago TO put up an experimental stair
POSITION ona and u Hs Underwood 81 5si' tha, Mr. HA' Reno
would set his men at work putting 1t up this
II will take twenty-fUur hours to get
The movable stairway will be built over the
stairs at the middle entrance on the south sido
of .he New York terminal, so that the stairway.
IL IL proves successful. will relieve the other
during the crush hours. 1t will run
nnfm ERntlr once IT ig started. that is II IL rms
At all.
The elevator company assumes all expenses of
building the stairway and placing IL in position.
1t also assumes all risks of injury to passengers.
and has filed n bond OF $4,000 with the bridge
movable stairway viii be run by electricity
By the bridge authorities. AS the use
that it Will cost the b:idge. but il it is a snccess
i NIL be bought. and perhaps Others VII be
pa.t m uho ss ,Hnn, ny NJ ms rs expe ib;t., viii ", co ne a
Island and at the Worlds Fair.
The elevator + prTrpsrIy described as a re,
stairway will continue TO move only in one di-
that is, upward. but Others will be built,
down. The stairway will be supplied with a
handrope at the ordinary height OF a handrail.
the same speed as the flooring. The hnndrope will
consist Of a chain enclosed in soft rubber. and it
aiming his balance and to prev"nt ann amy
danker OF falling, He Rrasg?s il as he steps upon
reaches the solid platform at the top Of the
stairway. Tho floor OF the elevator is made of
rubber-covered transverse Stats closely joined.
each running upon two whsels placed at the
ends of the stats. II necessary wheels will be-
placed mid way.
An ingenious invention in the shape of n COM
bination OF a corrugated surface for the moving
and a com bike edge for the stationary
is designed to prevent the feet of the
passengers from being caught between tho
upper part OF the moving platform and the
stationary platform when the Journey Is ended
in case tho passenger should not step Off quickly
enough. The outer surface of the Stats OF tho
moving floor is convoluted. the convolutions
being continuous and near together from
Dne end OF the Stats to the other. As
each Stat reaches the upper station
platform going up or the lower one
down. the teeth of the comb edge OF the
stationary platform will fit closely in the convp-
lutiOns, and as the passenger reaches the edge
b: II landing these teeth will slip under his feet
rs the stat turns downward OH it's return course.
Or. rather, his feet will be projected over and
npon the comb teeth. and he will ind himself
on "A solid footing while the moving
hooring goes on. to turn upon a sprocket wheel
and make its return journey.