The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-04-13
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY
Saving of Two Hours Between
Hamburg and Berlin.
COST OF UNDERTAKING
Considered Practicable - Heavy
Cars Required-Curves, " Un-
avoidable Must Have a Radius Of
Not ess Than Mile


Frank H. Mason, United States
consulgeneral at Berlin, writes to the
Department of Commerce and Labor
on the high-speed railway PROPOSE
tions in Germany. He says that ever
since the experiments on the specially
prepared line between Berlin and Zoo
sen, the question of an electric rail
way for rapid service between Berlin
and Hamburg has been a topic of
earnest and constant discussion In
both the daily and technical press Of
the country. "The Zossen expert
ments," he says, demonstrated clear
ly that, given a straight, well-laid and
well-balanced track of the best mod
ern construction, a speed of l20 miles
an hour was possible and safe. 1t
was shown that to propel single
motor car CARRYING the requisite
transformers and motors, with room
to accommodate sixty passengers, re-
quired, for speed of 10 miles an
hour the expenditure Of 1900 horse
power, and that this consumption of
energy was increased to 1000 horse
power when the speed was raised to
120 miles an hour. at which velocity
the head-end air resistance alone con.
sumed about 1000 horsepower
1T was also found that in order to
keep the rails and run steadily the
car must be heavy and its running
gear skilfully adapted to slurring
ovar with cppnth alactjcitv thn pIiobt
but unavoidable Irregularities OF the
track. 1t proved for this reason, i'm
practicable to use light trail cars for
any speed above eighty miles an
hour; at higher velocity the lateral
oscillation became so great as to com
promise the comfort, if not the safe
ty, of passengers. Another point
clearly demonstrated was the impor-
tance of a practically direct line.
Curves, if unavoidable, must have a
radius of not less than mile, other
wise they must be passed at a reduced
speed. In other words, no steam rail
way of any important length now be.
ing operated in any European coun-
try. except, perhaps Russia, is suHi-
ciently straight to meet the require.
ments of high-speed electric service.
Whether the new system be adopted
sooner or later the lines will have to
be resurveyed and specially built.
with these fundamental condi-
tions clearly established. public and
technical interest has been concen-
trated on a high-speed electric rail
way between Berlin and Hamburg,
distance by the present steam rail.
Z ways route of III miles, which could
be shortened by a new direct line to
about 155 miles. The country be-
tween the two cities Is generally level
and as well adapted to the construc-
ton of a high-speed line as could be
found between any two large cities
in Europe. The ordinary passenger
traffic between Berlin and Hamburg
now includes about 1,2OO passengers
per day, or 43S,000 per annum, whose
fares average l6 marks $3.50 each.
The best steam train makes the dis
tance in 3 hours and 80 minutes, but
accommodation trains take from to
6la hours.
will the proposed Berlin-Hamburg
line be built; and, if so, when? These
are the points on which public and
press opinion varies all the way from
eager confidence to hopeless doubt
To build and operate such a line
would reduce the present first-class
double-track trunk line, with its ex-
cellent equipment and terminal facil-
tiles, the property of the Prussian
State, to the status of a freight rail
way, with local passenger traffic be-
tween intermediate points. There are
no important cities, and comparative
ly few villages on the most direct
steam railway between Berlin and
Hamburg, so that an exceptionally
high percentage Of the whole is
through traffic. Will the Prussian
Government consent to sacrifice the
bulk OF its passenger business on an
important trunk line, and encourage
the expenditure of from s16,0Q0000
to S30.000,000, in order to enable the
public to save from one and a half
to two hours in the transit between
Germany's capital and it's chief sea
port? There are many who gravely
doubt 1t.
"On the other hand, there is in this
country, and particularly at Berlin, a
spirit Of lofty and enterprising am
bition, which will stop at no effort or
sacrifice to keep Germany in the front
rank Of progressive development. This
spirit was especially manifest at the
memorial exposition recently held in
Berlin to commemorate the twenty
fifth anniversary of the founding of
the Electrotechnical Society. Having
at great cost and labor carried
through the Zossen experiments to
demonstrate what will happen when
electrically driven trains are run from
100 to 120 miles an hour, it is felt to
be incumbent that this heightened
speed, which opens a new chapter and
era in the history of transportation,
shall be first carried to practical re-
aijzotion by German enterprise and
technical ability Having proved a