The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-05-08
ELECTRIC RAILROAD
Will Maintain a Schedule Speed of
One Hundred Miles an Hour.
BROOKLYN Eagle.

Electric railroading has reached its
highest development in line starting
lust beyond the western limits of the
City of Chicago and having approx
mately 80 miles of main line. Trains
on this road, which is all on private
right of way, daily attain and main
tain a schedule of seventy miles an
hour.
The promoters talk of speed APP
preaching $50 miles an hour.
The motor equipment is the heaviest
ever placed under Car, 1t provides
for regular maximum speed OF
IS miles an hour and an acceleratlOn
of two miles per hour per second.
This electric road is known as the
Aurora, Elgin and Chicago. and to
build the 81 miles of track now prac-
tlcally complete, a bond issue OF
$3, 900, 600 and capital stock to the
amount of "a, 500, 900 is provided for.
The total liabilities therefore are
SOL, 219 per mile, which is considerably
higher than any other interurban road.
But the chief feature In the public
eye is the present promised increased
speed.
sour trains run very fast; the
fastest in the world I believe, said
Secretary Warren BIcknell. 1.-THE
regular schedule attained and main
tanned for short distances at present
IS 70 miles an hour. 1t il the only
road, steam or electric, to my knowl-
edge, that does this. We hardly expect
to attain and maintain speed OF 100
miles an hour regularly, or in actual
service.
"But the General Electric Company.
using our roadbed and equipment for
the test, desires to attain speed OF
$50 miles an hour, if possible, for
scientific purposes. 1t is building
motors and cars with that object in
view 1t desires to get accurate data
regarding track and air resistance
while going at high speed. This com
pany believes it can attain a speed
of 100 miles an hour over our tracks,
perhaps 115 to 100 miles under
present conditions.
The roadbed is better in all respects,
perhaps, than that of any steam road
leading out of Chicago The single
track roadbed is Is feet wide, the double
track 90 feet, with nine inches of
gravel ballas. Provision is made
WH6l0 Iuc SiuSlc bldCh uOW 10 AOi "
double track. In fact, the long sidings
SO frequently employed practically
make the road double tracked for short
distances. There is about BE- miles OF
double track now In use, the remain
ing 90 miles of the 80 comprising the
length of the ROAD Is single track and
chiefly in the rural districts. From
Chicago to the golf grounds at
Wheaton, II miles, the road is double
tracked.
The telephone instead OF the tele-
graph is employed in operating the
road All the sub stations have an
attendant or agent, to whom the train
dispatcher sends his train orders for
delivery to the motorman. When the
order has been delivered and receipted
for the attendant so informs the dis
patcher, somewhat after the manner
universally in service by the steam
roads. There are also telephone
booths at all sidlngs and crossings
for use in an emergency. in which case
the conductor or the engineer COM
munlcates directly with the dis
patcher. There are two separate tele-
phone services, one for train and ore
for general business of the road. These
lines extend the entire length OF
the road, and are so constructed as TO
make it possible to talk from any
instrument. Each Car has telephone
equipment for attachment to the tele-
phone wires IN case of emergency.