The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
A NEED OF THE TIME.
FIreproof Electric Cars Necessary to
Public Safety.
Scientific American.

Scientific American.
A few weeks ago George Westinghouse
warned the public against the dangers
from fire to which electric cars. particularly
on elevated and subway systems, are ex-
posed Reference was made TO the dis
aster to the Liverpool Elevated Railroad,
in which a whole train was quickly con-
sumed at a point in the line where the
road passed from an elevated into a SUBJ
way structure. 1t was only by the sheer
est good luck that any of the inmates of
the train escaped, the fire, once start
ed, swept through the train with great ra-
pidity. The letter referred to was written
at a time when the question of the electri-
flying of the New York Central Railroad
and New Haven lines in this city was un-
der active discussion, and it was intended
as warning against the too hasty
sumption that by the substitution of cleo
tricity for steam in the operation of rail-
roads the dangers from fire and other
causes would be completely eliminated.
Since Mr.. Westinghouse article there
have been several practical illustrations Of
the force of the warnings given. On street.
railway cars there has been something of
an epidemic Of burnt-out fuses, which, be-
ing improperly safeguarded, have set fire
to the cars with more or less serious re-
suits; and 1T was only within two weeks
that on the Manhattan Elevated Railroad
a three-car train caught fire and was COM
pletely and quickly consumed. This last
accident, although fortunately not attend
ed with any personal injuries or loss of life,
for the reason that the train was not in ac-
tive service, is a much more serious acct
dent than the burning of a street car, for
the reason that the chances of escape for
the passengers on a street car are favor
able whereas the breaking out of fire on
an electric train on the elevated road is
liable to result in a positively awful cataS-
trophe. Should such a fire occur between
stations on single-track structure, and be
accompanied by a complete disablement
of the motive power, so that the train were
halted between stations, the passengers
would be shut up in a veritable fire trap.
The end doors of the train being locked,
and the platforms overhanging the edges
of the elevated structure as they do, IL will
be seen that the only chance of escape
would be the doubtful expedient of leap
ing to the street below. If the dangers due
to isolation of the train would be great on
an elevated road. they would be even great
er in subway tunnel, particularly If IL
should happen to be single-track tube;
for in this case there would be the added
horrors of asphyxiation by the extremely
heavy fumes which would be given off by
the burning insulation and the heavily var
nished woodwork of the car.
BY taking every precaution known to
modern engineering, IL would be possible in
the construction of the cars, both as regards
the car itself and its electrical equipment
to reduce the danger of fire TO a point at
which II would cease to be a cause Of
anxiety. In the first place, most careful
attention should be given in ne construc-
ton OF the electrical equipmen to the
question of insulation. The fact that in
Europe engineers have been using a 5000
volt current directly on the cars shows
that 1t should not be a difficult matter to
so insulate the low-tension direct current
which is in use in this country, that fire
from burnt-out fuse or from short-cir-
cutting would be practical imposibility.
A further insurance against fire, not less
effective than the first, would be the con-
struction of cars either entirely of metal
or of the best quality OF fireproof wood.
OF course, there are a hundred and one
kinds of so-called fireproof wood on the
market. and many of these are of ex-
tremely poor quality, the fireproofing in
several cases being only temporary, and
rapidly passing off on exposure to the
weather. There are some fireproof woods
however. that are worthy of the name
woods that lend themselves to manipulation
by woodworking tools. that will take a
very fair finish and yarnish well. The
com bination OF the very highest type of
insulation with metal or wood hreproof
cars would, We feel perfectly safe In stat
ing. completely eliminate the danger of fire
from the electric trains. which, within the
next three or four years. will be running
ia vast numbers throughout the city and
in its suburban service.
That there was nothing over-alarmist
about the warning of Mr. Westinghouse
recent events have proved. Unless the
methods of car and train construction sug-
gested be complied with. We fear that il
will not be many months before another
tragedy. involving loss of life. will be added
TO the many which have occurred with
alarming frequency of late in this city
These methods can be adopted at cost
which will not be in any sense prohibitive:
and as we are satisfied that great corpora
tions like the Manhattan Elevated the
New York Central and the construction
company which hopes within couple Of
years to open our great subway system
are DESTROYS OF making railroad travel per-
fectly safe. we confidently believe that now
while the question of equipment is under
consideration. they will see TO il that sug-
gestions of such obvious utility as those
indicated above will be incorporated in their
rolling stock.