New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-01
CENTRAL'S NEW TRACTION
ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES.
Built to Replace Steam Engines
To Make High Speed.

A new type OF electric locomotive which VIII
haul passenger trains at seventy-fve miles an
hour is now building at Schenectady for the
New-York central Railroad Company by the
General Electric Company and the American
Locomotive Company.
This new locomotive will develop 2.2oo horse
power at normal rating and $500 horsepower
at maximum rating. For comparison, ii may
be said that the present large Atlantic type or
steam locomotives which haul the Empire State
Express and the Twentieth Century Limited
have an indicated horsepower of 100 when
running al speed OF sixty miles an hour.
The electric locomotive VIII he a double-ender.
running equally well in either direction. II VIII
have four motors. each OF $50 horsepower at
normal rating. At each end viii be pony
truck consisting Of a single pair of wheels
The conditions which the locomotive would
have to meet in actual service were laid down
by a commission appointed by the New-York
Central Railroad Company. Of which William J.
Wilgus. fifth vice-president, is chairman The
other members of this commission are John
+. Deems. superintendent OF motive power for
the Vanderbilt lines; 3. ]. Arnold, president OF
the American Institute OF Electrical Engineers
Frank J. Sprague. president Of the American
Institute OF Electrical Engineers, and George
Gibbs Edwin B. Katie. electrical engineer of
Inc NeW-4OTk central, Is me secretary u hA'-0
commission
Various conditions were laid down by TINS
commission providing for certain speeds. with
certain number of stops. the highest Of these
speeds being from the Grand Central Station to
Croton, distance Of thirty-four miles in forty
four minutes with a total train weight OF 433
tons. This is the present timing Of the Empire
State Express. though the latter has a some
what lighter train.
The commission did not specify whether direct
alternating current to be used IN the
motors. leaving that for the bidders themselves
TO say. Several OF the bidders. both from the
United States and abroad. turned IN bids in
which alternating current TO be used, but
the advantages in design together with the
known reliability of direct current motors from
the accumulated experience which has been had
in regard to them and other technical reasons.
turned the scale in favor OF a locomotive OF
this type. The voltage of the motors will be
COO which viii be transmitted from two power
houses at higher pressures as alternating cur
rent and transformed into direct current in sub
stations IN the usual way.
The new electric locomotive has two great
novelties in its design. Its motors VIII have
only two magnetic poles instead OF four, which
is at present the usual number on all railway
motors The armature Of each Of these motors,
instead Of working through gearing will be
pressed solidly on the axle. having been pre-
VioUsly assembled quill for this purpose
The bi-polar construction Of the field magnets
makes an engine which is exceedingly compac.
and easy 10 handle in case OF its needing re-
pairs. These poles viii be open at the bottom
and Will be attached at the top to the frame of
the locomotive, the frame itself completing the
magnetic circuit. When il is desired to remove
an armature for any cause, all that is necessary
ha mai Of E1-ba nth
the attached armature down, or 10 lift up the
frame OF the locomotive and roll the wheels out
Sufficient clearance is left between the poles
and the armature that the poles cannot touch
the arinature though they are riding on springs
and the arInature is not. Provision is also made
so mat If g spring should break the ar1nature
would not be injured.
The total weight Of one Of these locomotives,
or which between thirty and ffty' have haen
ordered, win be 10000 pounds or n TONS Eacb
OF the driving wheels of which there are eight
arranged In four pairs, Will carry a weight OF
lI'pJO pounds. This weight has been frequently
exceeded IN steam locomotives without counting
the strain OF the thrusts of the reciprocatinc-
parts In the electric locomotive there is a per
1ect rotauVe balance, and il does not require
any counterbalancng.
The length Of the new electric locomotive will
be 81 feet all, OF which the rigid wheel haea
viii Occupy ID feet. the total wheel base heins,
- Ieet The journal boxes and aXles Of rha
Jour pairs OF motor wheels viii have sufficient
Lateral play to enable the locomotive TO pass
easily around curves Of 30 feet radius The
diameter OF the driving wheels IS a inches. and
or the pony truck wheels 80 inches
Inc locomotives win have a cab rnada oe
sheet steel with freproof doors and windows
Inc end windows Of this cab VIII command a
clear view OF the track. There viii be two con-
irolers In the cab SO that the 1notoruan viii
nave one Immediately under his hand ACCORDING,
. 10 Lle erection in which he is going There viii
H I pe a DELL whistle, incandescent lamps for
me interior Of the cab. electric headlights an
eIectrlc air pump for the brakes and sanders
ela an electric heating coil.
Inc sprague-GeneTal Electric multiple unir
control VIII be installed all these engines 50
lnat TWO or more Of them can ba counIa5 To-
ee5her ana run by A single motorrnan
Ahese locomotives are designed 10 take the
pace OF steam locomotives on all through trains
a. 9 Lar olt as Croton, thiTty-fOur miles on the
5uoson DIVISION, and as far out as North White
Zion " 80 -i"i4Si'i I'i'l-
mere VIII De a separate electric service NOT
,,INo4Nlhg he use Of locomotives for an s1Ibrr !
IAN trains within these limits This viii Ia
.SIIllsheo by motive machinery on the csrs
t-euseNes' as on the elevated roads M the
,h - s uine For both the suburban trains and
tiie locomotives which haul the others the chr
familiar third rail. 9 Inv