The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-08
RAILROAD NEWS.
New Form of Motive Power Ac-
CELEBRATION Proposed.
Train to Be Run at High Speed
by Electromagnets.
TEST RAILWAY BUILT.
Scientists Say the Scheme Has
Serious Defects.
TEST RAILWAY BUILT.
Magnets Tend to Reduce Weight
of Train.

An interesting experiment in high
speed electric raiIroading is about to
be made in New York, the outcome
of which will be keenly watched by
electrical and mechanical engineers,
for whom, if it succeeds, it will upset
several theories hitherto regarded as
axioms in the utilization of electric
power.
The experiment is being made by
the electromagnetic Construction
company, incorporated about a year
and a half ago to develop the system
of magnetic railroading invented by
DR. Albert c. Albertson and hitherto
never put into practice except in COM
paratively small models by way of ex-
pertinent
two-mile stretch of elevated railroad
along the shore in Staten island be-
tween Midland and South beaches, 10
be used solely for experimental ana
demonstration purposes The con-
tract for the construction of the road
has been let 20 r. s Bishop & Co..
and work is to be begun at once The
road is expected to be finished by
August or soon afterward-
The inventors train is planned TO
run on an elevated steel structure.
A small electric motor, insufficient I'M
der ordinary conditions to draw so
great a weight as a fully loaded train,
pulls the cars Beneath each car,
however. and attached to the car by
a steel frame is suspended double
set of electric magnets connected with
storage batteries under the car body.
The face of these magnets is set an
inch or two below the under surface
of the steel girder of the elevated
structure on which the train runs
Suppose. for the sake of illustra-
ton, says the New York Sun in speak
ing of the invention, that the car
weighs $500 pounds When 1t is de-
sired to start the train sufficient sur
rent is turned into the electric mag
nets from the storage batteries to eX-
ercise a force of. say, 1000 pounds
This force, eXerted by the magnet to
reach the steel girder above it, is
subtracted from the weight of the car.
The face of the magnet does not reach
the steel girder or it would adhere
and the train would stop But
force of 1000 pounds is pressed up |
ward, tightening the weight of the |
car so much reducing the coefHcient !
of friction on the wheels and leav- |
ing the electric locomotive only 500 /
pounds to haul.
The thing, in effect, is the principle |
of the captive airship to which the
locomotive supplies what is practical !
~ only a guiding force. The train |
cannot leave the rails, for there is
still Ito continue the illustration) 500 !
pounds pressure per car upon them. |
and, anyway, the steel supports of the |
prisOning the train to the track so |
that derailment is impossible
Assuming that the magnets are |
charged with sufficient power to exert |
an upward pressure equal to nine !
tenths the weight of the train, there |
is only one-tenth the weight to move, |
and a comparatively low-power loco |
motive can move the train at great
speed-speed to which 100 miles an
hour will be a trif1e-
TT looks nice" a well-known en- |
gineer told a reporter. but I am
afraid IL won't do in practice. If il |
cheering fraternity. In the first |
place the friction on the wheels, which /
DIR. AIbertson's magnets are designed /
to overcome, is almost a negligible /
quantity when a train is in motion.
In starting a train the compar- |
alive coefficient of friction is about i
-135; when the train is in motion it /
is only .0OS. That is, il has decreased /
from one-tenth of a pound to eight /
of a pound. The real /
friction is caused by the air pressure /
on the front and sides of the train |
and though DR.. AlbertSon'S motor and /
cars are constructed with a view to /
minimizing this the gain is very small
indeed
There is another factor When |
the train is stationary and the power |
IS turned into the magnets the lines
of this magnetic force are exerted YER
tically upward in straight lines But |
when you move the magnets forward |
at a high rate of speed, say. 100 miles 1
an hour. the lines of magnetic force I
ward drag on the magnets and the /
train
But the most important factor is |
this: Magnetic force decreases in in
verse ratio to the square of the dis /
lance between the magnet and the |
object to which it is attracted, in
this case the steel rail or girder- It !
will be impossible, I believe to get