The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-02
WONDERFUL RAILROADS.

WONDERFUL RAlLKUADS.
In these days when English and Ameri-
can railroads are vieing with each other
in trying to make the best record for steam,
it may he of interest to learn of plan pro-
posed and patented in lS3S. in the very
infancy of steam railroads, which could if
| it would work give higher speed than that
attained by the famous No. 800 of one mile
in 81 seconds, or at the rate of 112l miles
per hour.
The plan was to construct a very long
train of platform cars having track its
whole length, Upon this was mounted a
second train similarly constructed, but
somewhat shorter, upon this third and
so on until the trains were five or more
deep. Each train was to Lave its own loco
motive and all were to be started together,
say at a speed of % miles per hour. it is
obvious that each train would have a speed
of its own locomotive in addition to the
speed of below it. Thus the train running
upon the ground would have speed OF 25
miles per hour, and the others Of 80, 10,
100 and 1875, respectively. The speed of
the uppermost train would be far ahead Of
anything achieved since this plan was pat
Gated. The patent bears the number 500,
and was granted April IL, 1888. The num-
bers of this and all other patents referred
to in this article are given in order that
skcptiaal readers may, if they choose, verify
the statements made. Copies may he OBJ
tanned from the Patent Office upon ordering
by number at the established price of ten
cents each.
Another device for attaining a high de-
gree of speed was patented in 1SS5, by a
citizen OF Buffalo, y. Y. 1t was an ele-
waited cable railway system in which the
car was suspended beneath cable held far
above the enormous balloons. The road
was gravity road altogether, and it was
operated upon principal which every boy
who is fond of coasting has often wished
could be applied to the hill down which he
has just sped with such exhilarating swift
ness and which must be toled up again
before the experience can be repeated. The
track is always down hill one. for as soon
as you have been hoisted up toward the
clouds, and shot with breathless speed
down the inclined cable to the second bal
loon, a mile or two away, that balloon
raises you up again, and the balloon you
have Just left, or the one on ahead, is drawn
down by stationary engine, so that you
can slide back to the starting point Or con-
tinue on your journey to the next sta
ton. This patent is No. BPS, 800.
A problem in railroading that has re-
ceived considerable attention from GER
tain class of inventors has been to devise Il
scheme whereby two trains may pass each
other, going in the same or opposite direc-
ton, upon single track, and thus save
half the expense now necessary to lay a
double track. The solution of this problem
has not been left to the abstract theorist
alone, for numerous actual experiments
have been made, both in this country and
abroad, but chiefly on this side of the
water, to accomplish this feat. The press
has announced the results in flaming "ex-
tras, which have been eagerly scanned by
horror stricken public. Less than year
ago, patent No. $50, 800 was granted to
cover way of accomplishing this result
without the usual heart rending and san
culinary attendant circumstances, and now
that the plan is made known, we are all
wondering why we never thought of it our
selves-it seems so simple At each end OF
one Of the trains is a long inclined plane
car, and upon these inclined cars, and along
the roofs OF the other cars, is laid an ordi-
nary track Of standard gauge When q
second traih desires to pass this. all it has
to do is to crowd on steam and climb over
it. This it can do with equal facility
headed in either direction, and whether the
first train is stationary or moving at high
speed.
In the line of appliances for soaring cat
tie from the track, the proverbial Yankee
ingenuity has had full swing. Patent No.
3l4, 800 shows an engine equipped with
long lazy tongs prod, operated by a lever
extending into the cab. II the whistling
does not scare the invading COW away, the
engineer can stop the train and punch the
''critter" without leaving his post of duty,
thereby saving considerable valuable time.
Another patent for the same object, No.
81, 1888, shows an engine having a steam
gun to throw a shower of stones or gravel,
and still others shoot round balls or throw
streams Of waite: or steam.
Farmers cannot afford to experiment