Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
THE THIRD-RAlL SYSTEM
TEST TO BE MADE ON d. AND 0.
RAILROAD.
Device Differs From Others Similarly
DesiEnated-The Mode of Opera
ton Described.

Much interest is felt among railroad men
throughout this country. and even in Eng
land, as to the outcome OF test Tuesday
next Of new system of electric propul-
sion which has been laid in the Belt limo
tunnel at Baltimore. While the system Is
termed third rail- 1t Is entirely different
from anything of the kind heretofore in
use. The following description OF it was
given to a Star reporter by one OF those
who installed the plant:
The rails are charged" he said. ''in this
manner: The motorman opening the con-
troler to the first notch automatically
communicates with the air tank carried on
the locomotive as a storage reservoir for
compressed air. which operates the brakes.
1nis compressed air tank Immediately
gives the power to the air engine, which
in turn operates electric generator,
winch generates current sufficient to pick
up switch. which charges the third rail
with current from the power house That
instant this current passes from the switch
TO the third rail. to the SHOE to the cleo
trio generator which lifted the switch; that
Immediately and automatically becomes a
motor which, through the substitution OF
two valves In the air engine, also becomes
a compressor and charges the air tanks
from which 1t originally got Its motive
power.
Thus at no time during the operation Of
car over this system is ii possible to
have a charged conductor or third rail-
except when the motorman has opened the
controller Hence should person even fall
beneath a car and the motorman quickly
throw the controller to close ii there
would not be the slightest danger of in
jury by electricity.
Danger Removed.
There is no possibility of the third rail
becoming charged in front or rear OF the
car while the car Is in motion. 1t lies on
the ground as harmless far electricity
is concerned as any car track on any sys-
tenn.
I'm 1887 there were less than 100 miles
Of overhead trolley systems in the United
States and Canada. and less than 100000
invested in all the systems. while today
there are over two and a half billions In
vested in such transportation lines in the
United Statse alone. Thousands Of miles
of these lines run parallel with the steam
roads and have SO far injured their pas
Senger traffic that 1t Is absolutely neces-
sary and compulsory for the steam roads
to equip their suburban lines in order to
cope with the opposition Of the electric
railways.
1.-The only reason they have hesitated SO
long Is that the continuous third-rail sys-
tenn could not be used in compliance with
the law. as 1t was not only dangerous. pus
could not be installed in all steam systems.
owing to the exposure of the third rail-
The system now installed in the Baltimore
and Ohio Belt line tunnel opens up an
avenue entirely new in that field and fuf-
nishes the only outlet for the steam reads
to meet the trolley systems"
Inventor of the system.
Capt. John M. Murphy is the inventor OF
the system. and 1t bears his name. 1t Is
stated that for the last seven years he has
devoted himself exclusively to its perfec-
ton. He installed at Manhattan Beach,
N. Y. the first street railway third-raii
sectional system that was ever successful
ly operated. Up to this time. 1t Is de-
cared. this system has been operated over
more than $4,000 miles without hitch.
The Manhattan Beach system is, however,
though a sectional thrd-rail system, oper-
ated by means of storage batteries, while
the new system just installed on the Bal
timore and Ohio is really based on COM
pressed air. The achievement is regarded
as a great scientific triumph, and the test
will, it Is expected, be witnessed by manJ
hundreds of men of science from every sec
ion of 10