The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-24
THE THIRD RAIL TRIUMPhS,
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Fhladelphla BfeSS'
The statement that the managers of the
New York elevated railroads have prac-
tically decided to adopt the third rail-
electric system will surprise no one. the
wonder is that the new motor has not
supnlanted the cumbersome old steam er-
gines long ago. The elevated railroads
seem peculiarly adapted to the third
rail" system. Their tracks are raised
above the streets, have no grade cross
ings and are exclusively used for the
passage of trains. Here would appear TO
be the ideal conditions for the application
of some system of electrical propulsion.
The real reason for delaying its adop-
ton has probably been the wish to await
the development of experiments made
elsewhere and so secure the best system
when the change was made. The le-
suits of the test of the third rail- oiec-
trical method that has been going on on
the Hartford and New Britain branch
line in Connecticut appear to have con-
WINGED the New York elevated railroad
people that a system has been found
which is safe, cheap and practicable. The
Hartford and New Britain road began
running trains by the third rail- about
the middle of last May and the system
has now been in operation nearly eight
months 1t is a suburban branch of the
New York New Haven and Hartford
railroad and would still be operated prob
ably in the sluggish manner many such
roads are run in New England had not
a competing trolley line been built which
ran more frequent trains at lower rate
of fare and SO cut deeply into the profits
of the steam railroad.
O.
1t was recognized at once that a new
method of transit must be introduced,
able to compete in expense and speed
with the trolley, or the line would have
to be abandoned. The 'third rail- inven-
ton was chosen and tried and it has
succeeded SO well that other branch lines
are to be equipped with the same motive
power. The snow and ice are found to
be no obstruction and the income has
greatly increased. When the road had no
trolley rival it earned $125 day, but this
decreased rapidly when 1t had TO divide
it's business with the trolley line Now,
however, the third rail" line is earning
| $25S Il day and its success is felt TO be
| assured. 1t is true that the present WIN
! ter has not so far. been a severe one on
railroads but it has given test enough to
| assure the managers that the third rail-
! system is as practicable a method of pro-
| pulsion in cold as in warm weather.
o.
| With this example before them the New
| York Elevated Railroad company can
| hardly make a mistake if they decide to
! substitute the third rail- for the old
method of steam transit. Such action vii
also be sure to encourage its adoption
elsewhere. 1t is probable that many lines
have been waiting the result of the win
/ ter's test in Connecticut. The summer
trial was successful and now that equa
| good fortune has attended the trial IL
winter there need be no further doubt as
to the feasibility of the invention. The
third rail" may not be the final anc
best result Of the effort to apply cleo
trlcity to the propulsion of railroad trains
but it has proved its superiority ovel
steam, on short lines, at least and its
general adoption for that kind OF traffic
| future.