Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-04-07
TROLLEY PROGRESS.
Development of Electric Railroads
in Twenty-Five Years.
Middle West states Taking the Lead
I'm Long Distance Lines-Fine
Equipment and APP
pofntments.

The year 1904 brings us to the quarter
century mark since the Siemens COM
pany, of Berlin, first connected an cleo
trio motor to a truck and initiated the
electric railway, says the New York Sun.
The car was crude and the railway a
small affair, $50 yards long, and Of three
feet three inches gauge, the third rail
being used. A species Of sliding troll
ley on an overhead rail was invented
two years later.
In 1885 Van Depole invented the I'M
der running trolley wheel. making feas-
ible the use of overhead wire condue-
tors, and Wellington Adams mounted
the motor directly on the car axle-the
practice up to that time having been to
mount the motor on a separate frame and
connect with the axle by chains or
belts.
These two inventions, the under run
ming trolley and the direct connected mo-
tor. are perhaps the only features in
electric car designing which have sur
vived the contest Of changes and inn
proyements In the equipment Of electric
lines
In the early cars a couple of IS horse
power motors were thought to be ample
To-day an electric locomotive Is in oper-
alton on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
propelled by eight 225-horse power mo-
tors. a total Of 500 horse power. The
first cars built had a seating capacity Of
16. Sixty is the number Of passengers
that can be seated in the latest de-
signs.
In arrangements for long-distanee
trolley lines the rSddle west states are
taking the lead In Indiana five roads
each over 100 miles in length, are fin
ished or in course Of construction
A 2O0-mile road is in operation be-
tween Columbus, o. and indianapolis
equipped with sleeping and dining cars
Of the most advanced type Extensions
Of this line are being pushed through to
Wheeling. W Va. and to Pittsburg, and
plans are being made for connections
with Cincinnati This service in an
other year will cover stretches in various
directions Of from 200 to 500 miles in
length
Solid trains are run. consisting Of
sleepers. dining cars and day coaches
all Of the most improved design and con-
struction, the sleepers costing $4,000
each Staterooms with two berths are
used. instead Of open compartments
The roadbeds and tracks are built as
substantially as on steam roads. and
speed Of 65 miles an hour is regularly
made on some stretches. Indeed. the
Chicago, Elgin & Aurora railroad is
planning an equipment capable Of 100
miles an hour for everyday schedule.
Trains leave the indianapolis and Co
lumbus terminals az 1890 o'clock every
night, and finish the 200-mile run at six
o'clock in the morning. The operation
OF the road has shown that there Is no
smoke. einders or dust. and that sleeping
car passengers will be able to open their
windows in summer. The charge for
berth and fare between the two cities
Is FIVE dollars. which is less than the
day coach fare on the competing steam
railroads.
Although in the eastern states the de-
velopment Of the electric railway has
not yet reached a stage where sleepers
and dining cars are in use. still the i'm
provements in the equipment and fit
tings of the ordinary service cars are
keeping pace with those Of lines in 9TH
er parts OF the country The Fonda,
Johnstown & Gloversville railway has
put on new palace cars. which are said
to be the largest and most expensive ever
seen.
They are So feet in length and weigh
43 tons. High back reversible seats,
finished in plush. with roll head rests
and footrests increase the comfort Of
the passenger. Each car seats 56 per-
sons. On each seat is an electric light
and the electric push button keeps the
passenger in close touch with the con-
duetor. A telephone connects both plat
forms, so that the motorman and con-
ductor can talk with each other and also
with the general Offices Of the company.
The cars are geared TO As miles an hour.