New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-10
A NEW IDEA IN TRACTION.
CAR AND STEAM ENGINE COMBINED FOR
SOME SUBURBAN SERVICE.
AN EXPERIMENT IN ECONOMY IN sPARsELY
SETTLED REGIONS.

AN EXPERIMENT IN ECONOMY IN sPARsELY
SETTLED REGIONS.
A curious experiment Is about to be tried on
one OF the branches Of the New-York and New
England Railroad running out OF Boston
Where electricity is used TO move cars the mo-
tive apparatus is usually placed under ana Sc
cured to, the cars themselves. Only IN rare III
stances is there separate machine. correspond
ing TO a steam locomotive; and this is USED only
for long heavy trains. like those sent through
the Baltimore tunnel But for light trsff1c ana
short trains. such as are used in a certain class
OF suburban service. II has been thought waste
sul 70 have an independent motor. At any rate
President Clark of the Consolidated. has often
thought It 50: and he has long been desirous OF
sscertainirc whether Il Is feasible TO combine
engine and car.
The Consolidated people are famous for their
push enterprise and originality 1t is not to oe
wondered at therefore. that Mr. Clark hna!iy
resolved to make practical test OF his idea
The managers OF the Schenectady Locomotive
Works were consulted and authorized to con-
s,ruct an experimental coach They nave zone
so. the preliminary runs (st schenectady III
dicated that 1t is about what Mr.. Clark wants:
and now. after a coat Of paint and another OF
varnsh. the novel vehicle will 60 into actual
service on a suburban line near Boston. The car
Is called a composite. 10 suggest It's unique
character, end vet 70 dferentiate II from the
combination Of baggage and passenger ac-
conlmodations already so familiar TO railway
men and commuters.
The composite car is sixty-four feet long ana
looks much like a standard day coach Of any
steam road Upon careful examination. now
ever. one discovers that the truck at one end Is
hu,
are larger and heavier. and are equipped With
connecting rods like those of a compressed air
streetcar There is a cylinder and piston TOO.
on zach side Of the car a. this end well under
the bodv Of the coach After little search
water tanks are found 10 be hidden away unoer
the car out apparently no provision mas oeen
made for fuel. for reason that VIII ne men
toned presently. A light iron cow-catcher pro-
iacts modestly at this end: and on the edGe OF
The car platform there stands headlight. Inc
srnokestack projects but a few inches ABOVE the
roof The bell is q low. iat gong. on top or the
car hut hardly visible to the observer unless ne
stands off at distance. This serves the pur-
pose Of q whistle so well that the latter Is
omitted altogether. The engine and engineer
have one end of the car to themselves. and are
parttioned off from the passengers
II is contended that when the gauge shows 2oo
pounds o, steam and the furnace has been
freshly coaled the engine will run for at least
twelve miles and probably for twenty. without
further attention TO the fires. No stoker Is re-
ouired on the car. This work Is done at the
terminal stations The engineer operates the
gong very much as motorman does on troll
ley car
Mr.. Clark's theory is that for heavy suburban
travel electricity Is cheaper than steam. he mas
done much to promote the use of the former on
roads that have hitherto relied upon the latter
He gives no indication Of any change of purpose
and the plans for running most OF the snort mes
Of the Consolidated system near Boston by elec-
trio power will undoubtedly be carried out. But
there is another class Of service, in regions that
are sparsely settled and that contribute only a
few PASSENGERS which it is necessary TO keep IN
mind II is not deemed eXpedient TO abandon
the running of trains there altogether. In such
districts however, il is even more desirable TO
economic than in others; and II is in this par
ticular field that Mr.. Clark is now trying 10
effect a saving. He seeks to do this partly by
diminishing the cost Of machinery and fuel. and
partly by reducing the number OF hands required
10 operate the train The outcome Of this vent
ure will he waited with interest