The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-11-21
Motor for New York Central
Beats Steam Machines.
RIVALS ARE OUTDISTANCED
Six Hundred Ton Tram Drawn at Rate
of Fifty-fve lilies an Hour
Lighter Trains
Faster Yet.

One Of the most important events
that have taken place III railroad aud
electrical circles in years occurred the
other day, when the official trial Of the
electric locomotive which has been
built for the New York Central rail.
roads service into New York city was
held near Schenectady, N. u. says the
New York Herald
The tests were most successful IA
every way. and it is declared they fully
demonstrated that the electric loco.
motive is the coming power for rail-
road traffic series Of races were
run during the day, and In every In
stance the electrical engine proved
more than the equal OF the steam en-
gines, picking up speed IN a manner
little short Of wonderful and easily
understanding its rivals
Guests Of the New York Central
company were brought from New York
to Schenectady on special train Of
Pullman cars. which were drawn to the
stretch OF equipped track near Hon
mans Ferry and attached to the eiec.
trio locomotive.
The most exciting part of the pro
gramme was a race between the cleo
trio locomotive and three steam en-.
gines, and the ease with which the new
engine beat the others was the greatest
surprise Of the day. The electric loco
motive with the train Of cars attach
ed and two steam engines with no
weight TO draw were run to the head
OF the course near Hardin's Crossing
and laid over there 10 wait for the
New Yorker. one Of the fast trains OF
the Central railroad The two steam
engines were allowed some distance In
which to get under Roadway and the
electric locomotive started from dead
stop as the New Yorker swung By.
The engines began the squirt neck
and neck. Owing to the fact that tho
others had a dying start the electric
locomotive was greatly handicapped,
but ii picked up speed with wonderful
quickness and before mile Of track
had been traversed it was running
more than sixty miles an hour and was
on even terms with the other trains.
So fast did it gain from this point
that 1t was necessary TO slow up In
order 10 let the others catch il and
make the race more exciting II then
dashed ahead at o speed Of nearly sew.
enty miles an hour and easily showed
its superiority to the steam engines.
The air was filed with smoke from
the locomotives as the engine drivers
put on full steam In an effort TO beat
their formidable rival, and ais they
dashed around the curve at the substa-
ton they were almost hidden from
view.
Another pretty race was between the
electric locomotive and the New York
Central engine Mohawk. 1t was the
closest Of the day. Nine heavy cars
were attached to the electric locomo-
tive. while the Mohawk was run alone,
For the first two miles neither could
gain, but as the racers neared the sub
station the electric locomotive slowly
pulled ahead and gained so rapidly
that despite the heavy train behind ii,
the steam engine gave up the race after
another mile bad been run,
According to the figures taken Of the
run, rate Of more than ffty-fve miles
was reached while the electric locomo
tive was attached TO a 600 ton train
and when drawing 500 and 400 ton
trains the speed attained was nearly
seventy miles an hour. With the short
stretch Of track at the service of the
company for the tests this is eonsld
cred more than satisfactory
Another official test was held III the
afternoon under the direction Of the
General Electric company officials. who
had as their guests prominent electrical
men from All parts Of the country
High speed was again reached. and ev
cry test was successful
niyested 81 technicalities the new