Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
ITS WONDERFUL SPEED
Car That Goes a Hundred and
Thirty Miles an Hour
ON A GERM AN ROAD
SMASHING ALL RECORDS FOR
FAST TRAVELLING.
How It Seems to Go So Swiftly
Don't See Much
Scenery.
ON A GERM ROAD
Written FOR The Evening Star.


The long dream ed-of but apparently I'M
possible idea OF electrical scientists and
engineers-that of almost instantaneous
Transports ton from post to post-has now
become not only possibility but a prob
ability, and its realization as an everyday
affair will probably be ushered in with the
year of 1871.
The realization came with the marvellous
speed made few days ago by a German
trolley car, a successful rival to the won
derful Siemens- Halske car, its trial trip
over the military line between Berlin and
Zossen, when it smashed all previous
worlds records by covering the distance
without accident at the rate of over 100
miles an hour
No wonder that engineers and scientists
say, why make any limit at alp At
this rate the present generation will soon
witness the arnhilating of space by travel
ing ca rriages, a feat that but short time
ago even the most sanguine believed would
not come to pass during this century or
the next, if ever.
The speed attained by the Allgemeinde
Elek;ricitats car means the propelling of
trolley cars so fast that an observer can
not tell whether the cars are open or closed,
green or pink. as they pass by something
like bolt of lightning in terrible hurry,
To give an illustration of their enormous
rapidly. some pictures of the German ears
were taken while tipping along at that
10 2-5 miles hour clip. One picture,
with a 1-5O second exposure, gave Just a
dark blur across the plate. Another. with
1-2nn of a second exposure gave
blurred outline of the car.
The First Record
When. some time ago, record of 1875
miles an hour was made on the same line
by the Siemens- Halske electric car the
news few around the world ard was her
aided cverywhere as one of the greatest
achieve ments of the twentieth century.
This spurred their rivals. the inventors of
the AlIgereine- Elektricitats car, to greater
effort. and the result was the phenomenal
record made Il few days ago~of over 80
miles hour.
Germany has in the Berlin-Zossen mill
tary line what no other country in the
world possesses, a railroad line devoted en-
tirely to the trials of various electric cars,
principally for speed. In consequence, it
has been the scene of a number of cleo
trical experiments. but none have created
the tremendous furore among engineers and
scientists that has marked the success OF
the marvellous Allgemeine- Electricians
trolley car and It's former rival, the Sic
mems alske car.
The Society for the Study of Rapid Elec-
trical Railways, composed of many of the
foremost electrical engineers in Germany,
was the means of instigating the rivalry
between the owners of the TWO cars, in
order TO discover the extent of electrical
power used in passenger travel
The Rival Cars.
The cars were built in 1902 and submitted
to the society for its approval, when it was
found that great altera lions were neces-
sary In the turnplate before the hoped-for
success of either car could be realized. The
owners of the Allegemeine- Elektricitats car
took this opportunity to make additional
alterations, and the Siemens-HalSke ear
taken on its trial trip late In the fall OF
Ef taa.V eth dor
way to completion.
1t was matter of immense qualification
to the owners of the latter when the Sic
mems Halske car made 126 miles hour
for though it was worlds record, and put
all other rapid transit vehicles deep in the
shade. they felt assured that their own ears
would far outstrip the first in not only
speed, but the perfection of construction as
well
Because of the great responsibility which
is attached to the trials. and because of the
high speed, the journeys of the ''Allge-
meiEe-Elektrcitats' were naturally al first
started with less speed, which only
raised by degrees, and then only when the
car had been examined after each trip by
order of the authorities, and found to be i'll
perfect condition.
After testing the trolley until the speed
of two hundred kiloneters had been
reached. IL was decided 10 give 1t the great
trial OF its fun powers.
Won the Record Trip.
inventors and members of the Society for
the Study OF Rapid Electrical Railways"
were invited To be passengers in the car,
and a short time ago, while the world was
still wonderstruck by the achievement of
the Sicmens- Halske car, that OF Allge-
meme EIektricitats Gesellschaft started
the trip which was to eclipse the first ones
success.
With Engineer Otto to control the motor,
and Herr Geheimrat Lochner, we'll
known German electrician, the superin-
tcEdent of the trip, the car. filed with in
terested ard rather excited passengers,
posts on the road. started from the Marien-
felde end of the military line amid the
cheers of the huge crowd that had gath
cred there.
The car started smoothly and easily, and
when added power was applied ii did not
jump forward with jerk, but ran into a
high rate of speed almost imperceptibly.
In this case particularly the engineer found
that the electrical arrangements were per
fectly able TO fulfill ali requirements es-
ments. arranged by the ''Allegemeine' The
liquid faucets were found TO be of great
value. for 1t is this arrangement that makes
possible slow rise of the power and with
scarcely any shock. to the CENTRAL genera
tors. Throughout the ride the great
smoothness of the running of the car was a
noticeable feature.
AT Mahlow Station they reached the first
turn in the road. and. although every one
held his breath in suspense the turn was
made easily and smoothly.
Trees and houses seemed to be flying past
at terrific rate, while the car remained
motionless.
After a few moments Engineer Otto
turned the brass handle on the motor to