The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-26

the speed of the alleged fast trains Of
the country. The fastest train from
Chicago Ia Omaha averages less than
thirty-five miles an hour: the fastest
train from Chicago to Denver thirty
two miles an hour: the fastest train
from Chicago to New York less than
forty miles an hour; the fastest regu-
lar train in the world about fifty-two
miles an hour. with but four cars and
especially constructed locomotives of
enormous power.
HELD AS IN A VICE.
Critically observe the development OF
speed of a passenger train from the
time It pulls out of a station until IL
attans it's maximum speed. Assume.
straight and level track and "a still
day. The speed increases rapidly up
to twenty miles an hour. Then it is
that some mysterious but powerful re-
tarding influence begins To be- felt.
What is it" There are but four
frictions. Three of them- wheel.
axle and the Internal fticiion of
the locomotive do not increase
win 50. I'd. But hear the roar of the
wind on this Still day. ~ thirty miles
il has increased. n forty miles Tho en-
gineer pulls her out three on fnu"
nutchcs. at fifty miles the sto!ier is q
busy man. and unless IN" train is u
short one the limit Of speed is reach u
before Il sixty mill an hour speed l.;
attained. A hurricane is sweeping past
b.. in is t,ly az ,stu IA =,
strength at every projecting surface.
1t whistles through the ventilatlIg
windows: il roars among the wheels
and brakes. II is not safe To stand on
the platform. The train is held as in
vice. The limit ot speed has been
reached. The atmospheric resistance
has Increased with the square of th..
velocity and tn. power Of tn" locomo.
tive is exhausted in the combat. Thr
speed is maintained only a, an eGot =
nous waste in fuel ana power. No
railroad company can maintain a pas :
s-nger uain service which averages a
speed Of forty miles an hour, To say
nothing of sixty
1t should need no extended argu-
nsnt, no massing Of statistical inform
alton To stamp the mord-n pasaenge,
locomotive. and train as 4 mechanical
lnonStrosity which should have be"n
discarded years ago. II the present
construction is right. then th" lines or
the yacht Defender are wrong. and Il
scow could have dislancrd the Nalkyiie.
WASTE OF ENERGY.
If my theory is correct the railroad
companies of the United Stai~s are
squandering millions of dollars annual
ly in wasted fuel and power. The fuel
bin of the railroads of this country ex-
cecds $3.50. .0O0, 0OO year. This amount
is subtracted from railroad dividends.
A proper and scientific train con-
struction would reduce this vast
amount by material percentage. 1t
is impossible to say how much until
practical experiment is made. such an
experiment can be made ut an eNpens"
of les than $4,000. Larger sums have
been advanced for scientific expert
ment of less interest an Importance.
These inventions contemplate no tx"
pensive notifications in existing loco
motive and car construction. The loco
motive should have "a sheared or point
ed front, so as to cleave the air. From
tha front of the locomotive to the end
of The rear platform of the last car
there should be no break In the con-
tinuity of the lines. The tender should
vcstibule to the locomotive and to the
front car. The several cars should be
vestibuled flush to the outside shell OF
the cars. and there should be no open
space between cars where the air now
strikes with speed-destroying force,
The windows should be flush with the
sides of the cars. The sides Of the cars
should curve down to the boxes of the
car trucks. so as TO reduce the air re.
sistance of the running gear as much
as possible. The surface Of the entire
train, from locomotive front to the
tapered rear of the last car, should be
as smooth and unbroken as a yacht or
ocean steamship below the water line.
The air for ventilating purposes should
be admitted at the front of the ten
der and distributed through the train.
The present method of passenger train
ventilation is unworthy of civilized
people. The engine pours out smoke
and stirs up dust. The car windows
are then opened and this dust ana
smoke and CRIME cinders is swirled
against the helpless and wretched pas
sengers. At the front of the train
there is an unlimited supply of pure
air. and the speed insures its distribu.
ton the entire length of the train.
The mechanical details are simple and
have been provided.
With such train present railroad
speeds can be doubled without Increase
in fuel or power. With such a train
present railroad speeds can be main
tained with an enormous saving IN
fuel, power. comfort and safety. Rail-
road expenses would be reduced. pat
ronaga increased and greater divi-
dends insured.