Evening star., 1897-01-22
RAPID TRANSIT EXPERIMENTS
Official Report on the New York Trials of
New Motors.
Definite Conclusions Are as Yet Inn
possible Ms to Compressed
Air.

From 1896 Report \. y. State r. r. Commissioners
The underground trolley system of cleo
trio propulsion for str eet surface roads has
now had a years trial on the Lenox ave-
nue. line of the Metropolitan Street Rail
way Company in New York city, and al
though not quite as satisfactory or econom-
ical as the overhead trolley. is regarded as
preferable to the cable in SO many re-
spects that its use is to be extended to
other longitudinal routes of this company
In view of this fact 1t is safe to predict
that there will be no more cable construc-
ton in New York city.
Some very satisfactory experiments have
been made recently with compressed air
as motive power. Three Hardy COM
pressed air cars, manufactured at Rome
N. Y, have beer in operation on the l25th
street line OF the Sd Avenue Railroad Com
pany since August 1, 1896 The cars are
run across 125th street from the Fort Lee
ferry to the East river a distance of a
little over two miles. They are charged
every three round trips, thus giving them
q run OF about thirteen miles. The heav-
lest grade is about per cent, near 4th
aVaiue. The compressor plant is located al
the car barn. An S0-HP engine connress
es the air Into a battery of storage tubes
al 2.ooo pounds pressure, and the air is
carried through pipe to a point In the
barn where the car is charged. about two
minutes being required for the onerstion
IT. IL
Two cars are constantly in service the
tnlru stands at the barn ready to take the
pace OF car requiring to be recharged
Each car holds 50 cubic feet of air under
pressure of 2,O10 pounds The workinp
ar pressure as applied to the motor aver
ages about 13O pounds. During the Decem-
osr snow storms the cable cars were block
ed on the 125th street line while the air
cars had no difficulty in making time when
hot ihter1ered with by the other cars.
Accurate Conclusions impossible,
1t is claimed by the inventor of this sys-
tenn that the cost of operation per car mile
Will De less than the overhead trolley sys-
tenn. The limited operation on 125th street,
however, does not furnish sufficient data
for accurate conclusions.
The Hoadley compressed air system Is be-
ing experimental with by the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company on its Lenox ave-
rue line between 10th and 146th streets
with apparent success. The chief differ
ence between these two compressed air sys-
TENS Is In the method of applying the pow-
er. The Hardy motor has cylinders and
piston acting directly upon the axle as in
the case of a steam locomotive. In the
Hoadley motor the power is applied by
gearing.
The Manhattan Elevated Railroad Com
pahy INTENDS making experiments with the
Hardy motor. The motor company is now
building an engine at Rome about the size
OF the steam engines at present in use on
the elevated railway. 1t will be opera ted
on the 9th avenue line, between Rector
street and 5Sth street, the compressor plant
being located at Rector street The engine
Will be constructed TO carry sufficient air
to operate train of five cars thirteen
miles without recharging 1t is expected
that the engine will be ready for service
some time in February
Third-Ral Plan.
The elevated railway COMPANY has also
been trying electricity on its 34th street
cranch, from Sd avenue to the 34th street
ferry. The motor was built upon the trucks
OF dummy engine A third rail, which
conducts the current from the power hous
to the motor. has been placed on insulated
chairs fastened to the guard timbers outside
the track rail and standing about ten inch
es above the track rails. The connection ia
made by two steel shoes which reach from
the lower side of the motor and clasp the
charge rail. When more electricity is pro-
duced than is used by the motors II In
stored in accumuiators located at the ferry
end OF the route. This motor has been sue
cessluiiy working since October g. The
average power. including heat and light
Tor sne cars. Is 40 amperes; voltage, 45O.
No dimculty In operation was experienced
curing snow storms. and mechanically the
motor has done all the work required of il
,hegaroins Its economical efficiency the
me Is too short and the traffic too limited
70 ADMIT or comparisons that would be of
much value. w VI