Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-13
GASOLINE MOTOR CAR BEING
/ BUILT AT THE AURORA SHOPS
o. ALMOST COMPLETED.
hcar VIII RehembIe a Street Car and
( VIII be Operated BY One Man -
I: Ready For Trial Trip in Few Days
T. Railroad Notes.
EFrom FRIDAYS Daily.

EBurllngton shops at Aurora, Ill, is COM
fpleted with the exception of few
Eminor details and will be ready for
6 the first trial trip in few days. 1t Is
s1s expected that the car will be used
eon the Ottumwa-Ft. Madison branch
sand If 1t proves the. success that is an.
tlc1pated similar cars will be built for
eother branch lines. &c ss
While no official announcement has
been made it is the general opinion
among. railroad men that the motor
car Is to be used between Fit. Madi-
son and Ottumwa. The Burlington Of
lhclallssf several months ago asked the
consent of, the railroad commissioners
to establish motor car service on
this branch. Exclusive passenger SER
vice which was to have been establish
ed on this branch July i was DELAYED
until a few days ago. 1t is believed
that the company, was: waiting until
the motor car was completed before
establishing a new service but there
was unlocked for delay in building the
car on account of the trucks not be-
ing. 1t is stated that the trucks have
been shipped from the east and that
the car will be ready for trial trip in
a few days.
Description of the Engine.
The. Aurora News gives the follow.
Ing description of the new car:
The engine has been placed within
a coach 70 feet long, the latter being
built IN the local shops and resembles
street car IN general appearance. The
engine takes UP about ten or fifteen
feet of the. space in the car. The re.
mainder of the space will be used for
mail or baggage and no passengers
will be allowed within the coach. The
large gasoline tank is under the car
ana ana near it is large water tank used
as q cooler. 81
The engine itself weighs thirty.two
tons and is massive in appearance It
operates large fly wheel which
weighs 5000 pounds and sits at the
head of the engine. The car is run in
about the, same manner as a street
car, large controller being at the
front end of the coach and operated nv
one man.
Rushing the Work
The new engine is now in the coach
shopHand men are rushing the worl,
through. only the minor fixtures being
necessary for it to start on the first
trial trip. The trucks. are now on their
way here from the east and as soon
as they arrive the car will be turned
ont of the shop. A passenger coach
will be made as q trailer and the com.
many officials will probably take the
first trip.
It can not be learned from the 10.
cal officials to what purpose the new
conveyance will he used. If it is a
s11rress similar motor cars may be
used to haul suburban trains.
The new train when turned out will
no doubt creeta . great deal nf curl
osttv as it is tho first one that has av
er hnnn run in this mart or the country
andisifSit proves encnasefr1 the othe,
I. railroads will rrnhah1v follow the ex
y annie Of tho Burlington. The f. ot
.fhat rart of the car has been SGT aside
for mail service would seem that the
officials IF the road mean to run the
oar on lone trims. probably for thei,
own nse fro same as the inspeciinr
eneine* or for carrying special partie!
over the line
Jap Studies Railroadlno.
yeshitaro uaradn 2 Jananese VIII,
has been in the country hut sror
trio. tho first four months of whic,
wern rpent Fl lombard college Is a
present watching american method
nf railway engineering in the C. z. &
q round house Of Galesbure. He i
gold tn he p tireless worker an,
Thought hut . short time in this conn
trv he has picked up much of the Ian
guaee,
After adpcnting himself in Amer
can methods he evnects to return t.
Taran who're he will take IN a resnor
sih1e rosition with his government. II
goes about with evae ears and mout
open. spends. week in this depar,
ment end then in that. savink yer
little. but learning very much: gentle
manly in all his ways. he has ouickl
made friends with many of the me
|. who are pleased to show him tn
tss.