New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-19

CONTROLLING SEVERAL CARS AT ONCE.
TESTS OF THREE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS IN
THE BOSTON SUBWAY

my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Boston April 18-Nearly two hundred men spent
the hours between midnight last night and o'clock
this morning In Boston's subway watching the
first public trial of the three systems of control
offered the Boston Elevated Railway for in
the system Of third rail- about TO be in
stalled Operating a train of four five cars. each
Of which has its own motor and controller" is 4
different matter from managing single car. It
must be practicable 70 actuate all OF the indie
pendent motors as If they were Multiple con-
troll systems, especially designed for elevated
roads were exhibited by the WESTINGHOUSE Electric
Company the Sprague Electric Company and the
General Electric Company Each had train OF
cars equipped with different brakes. gates and
couplings and built different designs and
the subway cleared Of the regular
traffic begun.
There no especial Stunts set for each COM
pany do but the various trains were put through
tricks that showed the special claims made by each
company TO the best advantage.
THE SYSTEMS SHOWN
The Sprague system is entirely electric and so
also is the General Electric system. The Westing-
house system is combination of electrical couuec-
ton and compressed air power.
In the Westinghouse system the throwing OF
switch by the motorman opens one after another
of series Of valves like those used in switch and
signal systems IN railroad yards These valves are
in the compressed air pipes. and the compressed air
Is thus made to turn a big controller ike the small
ones now in use trolley cars the difference being
that the power can be automatically applied gradu-
ally, but cut of instantly.
The Sprasue system a pilot motor which
ngeniously applies the power necessary 10 start the
cars motor. II works by exciting magnets which
in coming to their armatures. make the connection
for the big motor.
The General Electric controller works on the plan
of perfected controller of the ordinary type also
having provision for slow starting and instant
cut of.
The Westinghouse and General Electric com
panies used brakes Of their owr manufacture The
Sprague outfit by the request of the Boston EIe-
waited road. used the Christensen brake. This by
the way. had an excellent demonstration OF its
ton subway, on Tremont-st. there is an per cent
A. me had 99 b r, tb {6N rs ,S The
climbing the grade again II had barely reached
two of the The brake held the rear part on
tne per cent grade perfectly the car not slipping
back foot The grip was almost instantaneous.
INTERESTING FEATS
The Westinghouse train started by far the most
smoothly. This stated 70 have been more on
account OF the inexperience Of the motormen on the
other trains than anything else
Che OF the most interesting exhibitions the
General Electric outfit through was the I'm
coupling of the train. and running Il on the air
hose and electric connections alone. So well st4
the controller equali2e the in the motors ~
though they were not coupled second trial
OF this moved the train far enough 10 demonstrates
with the cars foot apart and uncoupIed but for
the hose and connections II was also shourD
that this system would work without the brake nv
throwing the motors into reverse gear.
Among the hundred so New Workers. who CANA
70 the trial President Rossiter ~ rba
Brooklyn Rapid Transit. Vice-Presdeut Skirt OF the
Manhattan Railway Company. and from the same
company L. 3 StillweN, consulting engineer. Cen
eraI Supertnt endent Baker. and Messrs. Pegr1lnn
and Gould President Vreeland OF the MetropOII-
tan. and Mr.. Baldwin. Of the Long Island Railroad
were also present
At o'clock the was stopped for luncheon in
the Sconay Square station. After an Informal
grub" General Bancroft. OF the Boston Ela-
veted called II. the trial finished Tonight
the directors Of the Boston road make their private
OF the three systems.