Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-01
Speed Trials of Electric Locomotive

The first OF the new electric loco
motives constructed for the New York
Central railroad was subjected to
speed trials at Schenectady, N. T., one
day last week in the presence OF rep
resentative body Of railroad men ana
electricians. An account of the affair
in the New York Herald says:
The most exciting part Of the pro-
gram was race between the electric
locomotive and three steam engines.
and the ease with which the new en-
CINE beat the others was the greatest
surprise of the day.
The electric locomotive, with the
train of cars attached. 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
to wait for the New Yorker, one Of the
fastest 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 q dead stop as the New
Yorker swung by.
The engines began the squirt neck
and neck. Owing to the fact that the
others had a flying start the electric
locomotive was greatly handicapped,
but It picked UP speed with wonderful
uuickness, and before a mile OF track
had been traversed 1t 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
It was necessary to slow up In order to
let the others catch Vt and make the
race more exciting.
It then dashed ahead at a speed OF
nearly seventy miles an hour, and cas-
ily showed its superiority to the steam
engines.
The air was filed with smoke from
the locomotives, as the engine drivers
nut on full steam in an effort to beat
their formidable rival, and as they
dashed around the curve at the substa-
ton they were almost hidden from
view. About 100 OF the visitors who
had collected about the substation to
witness the race took of their hats and
cheered as the contestants swept by.
Another pretty race was between
the electric motors and the New York
Central engine Mohawk 1t was the
closest Of the day. Nine heavy cars
were attached to the electric bcomo-
tive while the Mohawk was run alone.
For the first two miles neither could
gain, but as the racers neared the sub
stations the electric locomotive slow
ly pulle dahead and gained so rapidly
that despite the heavy train behind IL
the steam engine gave up the race, at
ter another mile had been run.
According to the figures taken OF the
run. a rate of more than flfty-five miles
was reached, while the electric loco
motive was attached to 60o-ton train
and when drawing 500 and 400-to
trains the speed attained was nearly
seventy miles an hour. With the short
stretch at the service Of the company
for the tests this considered more than
satisfactory.
Another official test was held in 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 reach
ed and every test was successful.
During all tests the electrical loco
motive was in charge Of John e. Sick
les. an old steam locomotive engine
driver, who has been at the throttle IN
many. exciting runs in former years.
He spoke highly Of the electric locomo-
tive and Is satisfied that IT Will soon
be employed exclusively in railroad
traffic.
The use for which these electric 10
comotives are Immediately intended 10
to haul heavy express trains into and
out of New York City. thru the tunnel
approaches, and that they can be made
to. perform this service admirably, now
admits Of no question. Some thirty OF