New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
SECTION OF TRACK SHOWING THE SIM

SECTION OF TRACK SHON
travel but to the sa ling Of time IN entering anu
leaving stations Under the present antiquateu
system trains must begin to slacken their pace
n considerable time before coming TO an aoso-
ute halt. and cannot acquire their full speed
until they have gone some distance from INC
station. With electricity the stopping Is erected
in briefer space Of time and fuil head"ay 10
attained far more promptly. The time saiheu 10
not large for each station, but the sum totaI ioi
The trip from the Battery to Harlem VIII DE
large enough to be appreciated by the thousands
OF daily travellers
NOISE AND DIRT ELIMINATED.
Tho people living along the line OF the eie-
waited roads will also be great gamers py 'he
proposed change The SCOT now poured iroih
locomotives will be no more and the NOISE anu
rattle Of the trains will be greatly diminished.
As for the elevated railroad company II WI"
save large sums IN running expenses and re-
pairs.
The use of electricity for traction purposes
has been Of sufficient duration 10 prove seNerdi
things One Of these is the limitations OF inc
familiar overhead trolley. and the underground
trolley as well. They have served the purposes
for which they are used IN a satisfactory way
but In their present stage Of development Gull
not be considered IN connection with such
trains as are run the ordinary steam ROADS
The experience OF trained men Indicates that
the third rail system is the only practical one
for such purpose AS matter or fact II u III
use in two lines in New England. There has
been one difficulty, however. with this systei"
as used on these roads. The third rail Is
live and II stands on IT and touches one
Of the other rails, he gets a severe. If not fatal
IN
the public can be excluded. and the chief danger
IS to the worknen. the current being carried
under roads crossing the tracks.
MR. WILIARD'S ELECTRICAL EXPERIENCE.
One Of the men who set about devisng
system OF electric traction for long and heavy
trains which had to be moved at high rate OF
speed was William A p. Willard, jr He was
especially fitted for the task having had prac-
teal experience electrician on the Nan
tasket Beach branch of the New-York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad Company. This
branch is operated by electricity. the third rail
being live Mr. Willard has been an electrician
for fourteen years. In the two years OF his
service on the New-IIaven road he had tho
best possible opportunities TO become familiar
with the workings and shortcomings Of the
thrd-rail system, as there used lie superin.
tended the laying OF the first mile OF the third
rail- and was present Mt ell the tests. In 1895
he was Inspector OF construction Of the branch,
and in 1896 was electrical superintendent OF the
Nantasket division
Mr. Wizards idea was to improve the third
rail system by eliminating the danger. This he
has succeeded In accomplishing. His device
renders the third rail dead" except when the
car is actually passing over 1t. At all other
times it Is as harmless curbstons would be.
The top OF the rail. which the shoe contact
piece on the touches as It passes over IT. Is
movable.
THE MOVABLE SECTION.
The shoe touches the rail, moves the top along
q short distance TIL It becomes live, and then
gets its electricity from It. When the shoe has
passed Over the section. the rail is returned 70
its normal place dead being brought back 10
place by spring The shoe passes on to the
next rail- pushes this section along till 1t in turn
makes contact with the source Of supply below.
becomes live and gives out its power TO the car,
which then passes along to the next rail- and so
on Indefinitely. Thus. each rail IL live or charged
only while the train IS over II.
Before the train reaches It, and efter the train
or car has passed over It, it is dead. has cleo
tricty In IT, and is as safe as piece Of cold iron
living loose on the ground. Mr. Wizards third
rail- It is thus shown. IS not solid rail. 1t IS
constructed in sections.
DETAILS OF THE DEVICE.
Each section Of the third rail- which may be as
long or short as may be desired is composed Of
an iron trough or channel which carries the cleo
trio conductor and also sustains the movable
top Of the rail which the shoe on the car comes
in contact with to get its electric energy as 1t
Iasses over IT. A much Swallowed piece Of
channel iron, a little longer than % trough. fits
loosely over the trough like the cover OF a box,
keeping rain seet. snow and all the rest OF the
disturbing clements out OF the trough and form
Ing the movable top rail.
The insulation is effected simply by strips OF
wood The section trough carrying the con-
ductor ia lined with wooden pieces on bottom
and sides. on the bottom Of this channel. which
has now become virtually wooden one. rests
/ the conductor or feed wire, which is always
! charged. and which is the live rail OF the other
systems. on top OF this feed wire conductor
! (Which may be made large small as de-
sired lies another piece OF wood which Is what
| insuates II from the top piece the movable rail.
On top Of this wooden piece are placed little
rousra which carry the top rail and permit 1t to