Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-01
ELECTRIC ROADS IN ITALY
How the Italians Adapt Their Lines
 Special Cars Built.

Special Cars Built.
 Tn company with the members of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, writes a special correspondent from Milan, I have visited the Adriatic Railway Go in Italy, which has recently applied electrical working to it's sixty seven-mile section of line originally built for steam locomotives, and run ming along the shores of the lakes of Lecco and Como and from the junction of Colico to a terminus at Sondrio.
 The achievement is likely to have de- cided weight in considerations of a similar nature now daily under discus sion in Great Britain The portion of the Italian railway on which the work has been carried out is not one that was considered the most favorable for the practical de monstration of electrical working, but one on which it might be considered [ that if a successful result were abtain- ed many other sections offering less onerous conditions could with absolute certainty be readily converted. In Investigating the general meth ods that have been followed by the engineers who have carried out the
 
 tellina section of the Adriatic com pany's system there is practically no evidence of alteration to the permanent way beyond connecting the rails at every joint with a stout copper wire so that the return current finds and easy passage. It is still possible to run steam locomotives over this part of the railway and any of the com FN1r 1Tysc, iYon, I- carriages can be coupled on to the cleo tr1c train and hauled along just as of old. Special cars fitted with electric mo- tors capable of developing 600 horse power, have been constructed with a small cabin at either end, in which is located the apparatus by which the driver controls the starting. running and stopping of the train. These cars ! weigh aboot fifty tons each. have 9 seating capacity for forty passengers and can haul at a speed of forty miles per hour five coaches of the ordinary | rolling stock.
 The goods traffic is handled by spe- | cia1ly constructed electric locomotives resembling in external shape those of the Central London rai1way-weigh- | ing about forty-slx tons and capable of starting a train weighing 27O tons up the steepest incline on the Valtellina section. The electrical energy is conveyed to the train by means of overhead trolley l wires, such as are seen in everyday use in connection with electric tram | ways, but there is a difference in the pressure" employed of about six to one in order to avoid unnecessary loss in the very long transmission along the line.
 The passenger travelling by the train finds that he can sit and enjoy the view i from the window without the objection | able smoke of the locomotive, and that i regular speed is maintained through | the journey. Gradients and curves, which are numerous, are easily sur- mounted, and there is the satisfaction 10 the shareholders of the railways of | increased dividends.
 The general success of the undertak- 1 ing can be readily gauged by the fact that a further length of thirty-one miles, giving a connection with Milan, will be converted to electrical working as soon as possible.-London Mail.