The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-16
NEW ELECTRIC ROAD MODEL.
improved Third Ran system said to
Promise Great Things.

From the New York Press.
Models OF a new electric railroad sys-
TEN, which it's promoters declare will
be far more desirable in practice than
any now being operated, are now on
exhibition in a downtown office build
ing The distinguishing characters
ties of the third rail in ordinary streets,
the control of the road switches by the
motorman (thus doing away with
sNitchmen at points where tacks OF
different routes join, or as an alterna-
tive, the hating of the car while the
motorman moves the switch with an
iron rod, and the ability to run the car
to the end of the route even II ali pow
ef from the central station is shut of.
The new system viii make great
change in electric traction, II the IN
ventor's claims hold good, especially as
a surface thrd-rail road can be lald
down on this plan much cheaper than
q cable or even Il conduit electric line
lin fact. quite as inexpensiVely as an
overhead trolley.
TO most of us the striking thing in
this system would seem TO be the plan
by which the third rail is rendered en-
tirely harmless and unchanged with
electricity except at the points over
which cars are passing. These points
are, of course, constantly moving with
the cars and the method by which the
inventor claims to have solved MS
problem is extremely simple.
Usually the third rail, which takes
the place of the wire in the overhead
trolley and the metal conductor in the
conduit system, Is continuous ana
charged from end to end with an cleo
trio current of such power as to be ia
tai to whoever touches 1t. But in this
system the third rail is laid in sec
tons Each section is perfectly insu-
lated and distinct from every other sec
ton. All are. however, connected with
a feed wire. laid some distance below
the surface, and also completely insu-
lated.
At intervals along the route of the
road there are vaults containing
switches. which automatically make
and break connection between the feed
wire and the short sections as the car
progresses. BY this plan no part OF
the third rail that could possibly be
touched by horses or persons is at any
time energized. The rail directly un-
| der each car is alive, of course, but
| person would be obliged to crawl under
! the car to get a shock.
This scheme works perfectly in the
small model, and it is stated that the
i Aracostia and Potomac railroad of
| Washington, II miles in length, is to be
! equipped with it as soon as possible
/ A feature the value of which is not
| SO obvious TO any but railroad men Is
| the provision to prevent what is known
! as short circuiting. This mas never
yet been accomplished by any other
system. Another feature. though not
/ so important as any of those men
! toned above, will be appreciated by
everybody The coming of a car is her
aided at night by the display of electric
! lights which may be inelosed in red
! globes and so serve as danger signals.
! by day. warning cards or target signals
may be shown automatically.
The propulsion of the car, in case
the power from the central station Is
! shut off is to be effected by carrying a
small storage battery on each car. Cur
rent from this battery will be turned
/ on whenever the central station current
! Is off, and can also he used to reinforce
| the current from the third rail on
| heavy grades.
Those who are opposed to the new
system say that the carrying of stor-
age battery will add unduly to the
| weight of each car. but its promoters
say the extra weight need not be great
enough to offset the advantages.
Many trolley men Of this vicinity
have recently investigated this new
| third rail- the Pennsylvania railroad
authorities have given considerable at
tention to it. and 1t Is expected that a
demonstration of its points will soon be
made for the benefit of the Metropolf-
| tan Elevated railway people.