The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-02-27
THE RAILROAD OF THE FUTURE.

Lartigue's Single Rail Scheme May Eventu.
ally supersede the Present System.
We recently pointed out that express
trains In England seldom maintain over
long distances an average speed exceeding
30 miles an hour, and that the same thing
might be said of the United States. No
doubt engineers have demonstrated on the
English Great Northern railway and on our
New York Central that n short section of
straight track can be traversed much more
rapidly, but it has come to be accepted as
an axiom that under existing mechanical
conditions the rate mentioned is the highest
speed consistent with safety.
What are the conditions which have i'm
posed this conclusion' 1t is the curves Of
the existing lines which render long con
tinued movement at speed of 90 or 100
miles an ourimpossible, unless the weight
of engines and trains should be increased
far beyond what the bridges and roadbed
would bear In the absence of such an in.
crease of weight and strength, which is eco
nomically impracticable, 100 mile express
would fly off the rails at the first sharp
curve. The fact is familiar to every COM
petent engineer. He knows the mathemat-
ical relation of curves to speed. He knows,
for instance, that the force tending at a
given curve to throw off the rails train
moving Mt the rate of $50 miles an hour
would be about Ga times greater than that
which train resists when running at 60
miles an hour. 1t follows that the existing
lines must be both Strengthened and
strengthened il the present average speed
of express trains Is TO be materially height
ened.
Such Strengthening and Strengthening is
practically out of the question, owing to
the tremendous outlay that would be in
volved. Is there, then, any way Of obtain
ing new rates of speed on the old routess
1t appears from the London Spectator that
this question is answered in the affirmative
by Mr.. Behr in pamphlet advocating the
application to existing routes of the Lar
tigue single rail system. In this system,
which, as we shall see, is no visionary
scheme, but is actually in operation, the
cars sit astride single rail raised to q
height of four feet from the ground on
steel trestles, on either side of which, but
| 21S feet lower, is q small guide rail
The wheels on which the cars run move
on the central rail, while the guide rails on
each side are gripped by smaller wheels
To speak accurately, this is not a single
rail, but "a treble rail line, although the
hard work is done on the raised central rail
But whatever name should be given to tn,
system it is said that the stability ana Sc
curity Of the cars, mounted ON the centra
rail saddle, with the guide rails serving a.
stirrups, are such that is almost impossibl,
for train to be thrown off the track. Wher
curves are encountered, the rail is cantet
transversely to a degree calculated 10 neu
tralize the centrifugal force, and If the cant
ing does not suffice the surplus of centrifu
gal tendency is counteracted by the joint &c
ton of the central rail and inner guide rail
As we have said. the Lartigue system il
no untried proposal 1t is now working
for short distance, 81 miles, from Listo
vel to Ballybunion in Ireland, and an ap
plication Of the principle on a much large
scale has been made in the department o
the Loire in France. The calculations re
| lating to the stability and safety Of car
run on this plan go to show that, even TO
q speed Of $50 miles an hour, the deman,
made upon the Lartigue lines would no
exceed, in the case of the most unfavorabl
curve, the normal limit of strain at presen
allowed.
II these claims can be sustained, it seem
clear that the Lartigue system may rende
unprecedented rates of speed not only me
chemically but financially possible. for tn
single rail can be laid side by side with tn
present lines on the existing routes TIL
financial difficulty which would be present
ed, were new routes required, being elm
mated, the provision of an adequate moto
power need not stop the way. Mr.. Behr es
Inmates that the cost of constructing o
either side of the existing main line fror
London to Brighton Lartigue line to b
worked by electricity at speed of from ~
to150 miles an hour, including rolling stock
generating plant and all appliances fo
working trans, would not exceed s., ZOO, 90,
1t is commended that by this means Brighton
which is so miles away, could be reached i
90 or 25 minutes ride from the British m,
tropolis.-New York Sun.