Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-12
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS IN ITALY.
How the Italians Adapt Their Lines
Special Cars Built.

Milan CORRESPONDENCE of the London Mail.
In company with the members of the In
stitute of Electrical Engineers. 1 have
visited the Adriatic Railway Company,
Italy, which has recently applied electrical
working to it's sixty-seven-mile section of
line originally built for steam locomotives,
and running 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 decided
weight in considerations of similar ma
ture now daily under discussion 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 IA
vorable for the practical demonstration of
electrical working. but one on which 1t
might be considered that if successful
result were obtained many other sections
offering less onerOuS- conditions could with
absolute certainty be readily converted
In investigating the general methods that
have been followed by the engineers who
have carried out the work on what is
known as the Valtellina section of the
Adriatic Company's system, there is prac-
tically no evidence of alteration to the per-
manent way beyond connecting the rails
at every Joint with stout copper wire, so
that the return current finds an easy pas
sage. 1t is still possible to run steam loco
motives over this part of the railway and
any of the companys ordinary passenger
or goods carriages can be coupled on to the
electric train and hauled along just as of
old
Special cars fitted with electric motors
capable of developing GOO horse power have
been constructed with small cabin in
either end in which Is located the appa-
ratus by which, then driver controls the
starting running andtstopping of the train
These cars weigh ABOUT nifty tons each.
having seating capacity for forty passen-
gers and can haul at a speed of forty
miles per hour five coaches of the ordinary
rolling stock. The goods traffic Is handled
by specially Constructed electric locomo-
tiyes resembling in external shape those of
the Central London railway, weighing about
forty-six tons. and capable of starting a
train weighing go tons up the steepest in
line on the Valteliina"section.
The electrical energy is conveyed to the
trains by means'o of overhead trolley wires.
such as are seen in everyday use in con-
nection with electric tramways but there
is a difference I'D" the pressure EMPLOYED
of about six to one In order to avoid I'M
necessary loss In the long transmission
along the line. The passenger travelling by
the train finds that he can sit and enjoy
the view without the Objectionable smoke
of the locomotive, and that regular speed
is maintained throughout the journey. Gra-
dents and curves, which are numerous. are
easily surmounted and there is the salts
faction to the shareholders of the RAILWAYS
of increased dividends.
The general success of the underta king
can be readily gagged 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 possihle