The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18

It Will BE Smaller Than Now.
'To carry out an arrangement of this
character" Mr.. Westinghouse con-
tinues, stations having electric gem
Grating plants with gas engines and
producers, could be located at intervals
of from 10 to 20 miles. so that there
would always be two or three stations
furnishing current for any particular
part of the line. The electric locomotive
for hauling such trains would be en-
tirely different from the present loco
motive, and could obviously permit of
changes in operation, for no electric To-
comotive need have greater weight
and capacity than needed to haul from
twenty-five to thirty cars. 1t can be
operated by one man and will be of such
a shape that it can be conveniently used
as a caboose car and for the carrying
of tools and appliances for cases of
emergency. Instead Of putting the
whole motive force in front of the train,
and thereby subjecting the roadbed,
bridges and cars to excessive weights
and strains, a second locomotive can be
conveniently place in the center Of long
trains. thus subdividing the force ap-
piled for its propulsion, thereby reduce
ing to convenient limits the quantity of
current required. as has already been
demonstrated. electric locomotives can
be made which will have greater haul
ing capacity than any steam locomotive
which has yet been produced.
il
Some Interesting Possibilities.
"a standard railway, electrically
equipped. could operate all of its
branches and could establish numerous
other profitable ones. and would thus
have u decided advantage over compet-
ing street car lines The electric opera
tion of railways permits readily of a
more frequnt and rapid train service
than Is possible with steam locomotives,
and 1t Is not impracticable to attain.
upon properly constructed and guarded
tracks. very high speed. so that very
frequent service of very light trains be-
tween such cities as New York and
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton could easily be provided. to the
great advantage of the public and to
the profit of the company undertaking
such a plan of operation. The current
could be used for lighting the track. for
the operation of machinery in all the
shops, for the pumping of water and
for the handling of freight I'm the num-
erOus stations along the line; and by
reason of the cheap generation of elec-
tricity the electric current could be
used for lighting and heating trains,
and. to quite large extent. for heating
the buildings of the company.
IL
But Little Yet to DO.
"An intimate connection with the gas.
electric and engine business for over so
years. and constant study of those
subjects. have led to the conclusion that
gas engines of large power and of great
er economy than hOste referred to can
now be manufactured, and their manu-
facture In large way has only to be |
brought about to create new conditions |
of the utmost Importance to railway |
properties. Electric railway appara-
tus. generators. motors and methods Of |
distribution have been developed at q |
remarkable pace. SO that today it seems |
that but little additional work will have |
to be done to make the electric motor |
substitute in all particulars for the |
steam locomotive. The facilities of the |
various Westinghouse companies for |
the manufacture Of electrical 'appara-
tus and engines are already very ex.