New-York tribune., 1902-06-20
CENTR4L'S ELECTRIC PLlAS.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT Ac-
CEPTED FOR PARK-AVE. TUNNEL"

At the nineteenth annual convention Of IN"
American Institute of Electrical Engineers IN
session at Great harrington. Mass yeste'oaE'
Rion ] Arnold. consulting engineer of th's 'l'!'
made an address In which he embodied IN" report
Of his investigation into the proposed substitution
of electricity for steam tracks OF tn" rail-
road between Mott Haven jun ton and Forty
second-st.
Last August Mr Arnold. commissioned by the
E.u,-york Central Railroad began a study OF the
,reration Of the road between these points. Not
long ago he submitted twelve independent plans
for the Improvement Of conditions between F'r'y
second-st. and Mott Haven ON" OF th'9' p!a'ts
he especially recon mends because of It's practlca-
hilitv The railroad company viii soon p'Eh 10
annlv this plan to the betterment OF its terminal
facilities.
The plan involves tie installation Of combined
alternating current and direct current power std
tion on the Harlem River, near the outer end OF
the and sub-station at the Forty-second-s'-
terminal with storage batteries in both the power
house and sub-station. The trains Will be ora"n
by electrical locomotives. each weighing sM'y-hNe
tons and deriving their motive power from
third rail down Fiftieth-st.. and from an over
head trolley &; wide iron wirei system between
that point and the Grand Central Station
The undertaking promises to be expensive Ire
total cost Of the installation and equipment Will
be nearly SO00Co0 This amount will cover the
cost of Mr. Arnold's plans and the construction of
the lIndergroun! switching yard, running from Lex
ington-ave. Madison nave which is at present
under consideration. Borings are now piItiE i!aue
To ascertain the cost of the excavation of this tun-
mel The latter. II Is thought. will involve an eX-
rendture nearly $25.1rJ.Dpn
Plan No II. the one Mr. Arnold mas recommend
ed and the company has accepted, Will mean
slight economy over other plans and provide well
lighted fast running trains and clear cool tun-
mel. Mr. Arnold. in making up his i comparative tne
lists OF expenses. assumes that as at present, TWO
men will operate the locomotives. and that the
men vii be paid the the engineers OF
steam locomotives. He finds that the operating
expenses for mile for steam locomotive
would be % % cents. against 1850 cents for an
electric locomotive. The fixed charges for n loco
motive for one mile 1.13 cents for steam and
7S3 cents for electricity This gives a total for
steam of and for electricity of 1868 Mr..
Arnold believes that practical operation will show
a somewhat greater gain than that indicated by
his figures.
At Mr.. Arnolds office yesterday 1t said that
this plan would he at put into operation.
This means that ali trains arriving below the
Harlem River. both suburban and express. will be
drawn by large electrical locomotives The change
from a third rail to overhead wire at Fiftieth-
81 is made necessary by TIE number of switches.
which make the third rail Impractical.
Chief Engineer Wilgus OF the NeW-York Cen
tral road and w. +. Potter. of the General Eec-
tric Company. have Colaborated with Mr.. Arnold
IN his inVestiga tionS.