The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-30
A RAILROAD UP IN THE BLUE SKY.
The Way the Lan2cn Suspended lsa'i-
way Looks When Riding i'll its Cars
(By Charles Edward Shull, Special cor
respondent.)


There is just being completed In Ger
many one of the grandest pieces OF me
chanism ever constructed by the mana
of man. 1t is the overhead railway run
ming between Elberfeid and Barmen,
and in many ways can claim the diStinc-
ton of being the most remarkable Vsil-
way in the world
1t is practically the first overhead rail
way opened to the public, and undoubt-
edly the only suspended railway in eN
istence that follows the windings of
river. passes down the streets Of busy
towns and along country highways, the
passengers being carried along in mid
air, as it were, in long cars, suspended
on a marvelously- overhead
track This interesting railway is known
as the Langen Mono-Rail Suspended
Railway, named after its inventor, Eu-
gene Langen.
At the time OF writing, the railway is
not entirely completed, though part of
the system is in working order, and has
been for some months. AS already
stated, the railway connects the two
towns of Barmen and Elberfeid, situa-
ted on the River Wupper a tributary
of the Rhine.
The distance between these two towns
is a little less than nine miles. They
are connected by the ordinary State Rail-
way but for some years past it has been
patent to the authorities that a more
rapid means of covering the distance be-
tween the two towns would have to be
devised.
The municipalities We're not prepared
to spend an excessive sum on the con-
struction of q new line-such as would
be entailed in building an ordinary track
on the ground-through the expense of
obtaining property rights, while the cost
of an underground railway was alto
gether ont OF the question. After much
negotiation. it was decided that an over
head or suspended electric railway, to fol-
low the course OF the river for six mics,
would be The only way of successful solv-
ing the difficulty.
The railway throughout its entire length
is a double track. The speed obtaina bic
is about twenty-five miles an hour. al
though thirty, or even more, could easily.
be maintained. At first the speed does
not sound anything out Of tire way, but
it must be remembered that the railway
was not built for very high speed. but
more to keep up a continual run OF trains
between the two towns at a fair rate.
Indeed, ii is the intention of the authori-
ties to run trains every two or three
minutes.
Including the eighteen stoppages-for
there are as many intermediate stations
on this comparatively snort line, most
VI tIiSlli IISGIiiotSiy buiil DNtf li.c EiNSl--
the whole journey will be accomplished
at a speed of about twenty miles an hour
The system of signalling is unique
There are no signals along the line, apart
from the signals at the stations so that
the driver mas not to look out for any
thing but the approaching stopping
place. He starts when his station sig
nal shows the line to be clear. His own
train then blocks that signal. while it
gives Zine clear to the preceding block
The carriages. or cars, are long, and
when filled with passengers will weigh
about fourteen tons. Each car will hold
fifty passengers. ard is divided into first
and second-class and smoking compart-
ments. Two carriages are to make one
train. The passengers enter and leave
the cars by two side doors, opening in
ward. The cars are so designed that
they open into one another. so that pas
sengers may step from one car into an
other. Each car is suspended from the
rail above by two boyle wheels, nearly
thirty feet apart Between' these wheels
is the electric motor which drives the
train.
In the principal streets through which
the overhead railway runs. the Orders
which support the track fulfill three
fold purpose, for they not only support
the line on which the trains run. but
also act as lamp-posts for lighting the
streets, while in some cases the conduc-
tors of the electric tralnways have been
attached to the girders. In the country
roads where the walks are lined with
trees the effect on the landscape is not
altogether an unpleasant one.
IT has generally been conceded that
one of the difficulties attending the erec-
ton of overhead railways is the want OF
sheds. sidings. silunting stations, etc,
but the railway under notice can boast
of being fully equipped in this direction.
II is estimated that the cost of building
this unique line will be about S3OoO0O
per mile.