Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-29
Electricity Crowding steam.

40 WHAT extent electricity will su-
persede steam as a motive power
on railroads Is a question TO be
ENtt1i settled by future development. At
- present interest Is centered IN the
extent to which electricity will supplement
steam a g a factor in railroad transportation.
Gasoline motor cars for trunk line feeders,
now in process OF development by the Union
Pacific. Is a factor 10 be reckoned with. In
fact the latest gasoline cars turned out at
the Omaha shops occupies considerable
space, plctorially and descriptive, in the
eastern papers. In the east, however, cleo
tricity is regarded as the power which can
be applied successfully to the drawing OF
trains now handled by steam locomotives.
Changes Of power now planned are many
and extensive.
The New York Central railroad Is equip
ing It's main line with an electric system
to run trains from the Grand Central sta
ton IN New York up into the state as far
as Albany. At recent meeting OF the
directors Il was decided to issue t5O,0oOOOO
additional stock to be used IN extending
their lines in New York by electric roads
The Pennsylvania railroad has for some
time operated electric trains on It's Long
Island division and this work is now being
constantly extended. The same company
recently made another contract for the
electrical equipment OF IT'S line from Phil
Adelphia TO Atlantic City. These lines as
IL we'll known, have heretofore been oper-
ated by some Of the finest trains that
ever ran on this continent and at speed
not exceeded anywhere. In the face OF
this the company Is now Engaged in the
abandonment OF the steam system and is
substituting electricity.
The New York New Haven & Hartford
recently contracted for thirty electric loco
motives to be installed on their lire be-
tween New York and Stamford, Conn.
They have already begun, TO equip some Of
their main tracks electrically. The power
house where the electric current Is 10 be
generated IL we'll under way and before
long electric express trains will run on a
regular daily schedule
The Erie railroad is the next road which
will introduce electricity on part of it's
main line and once the start has been
made the Gould roads will naturally fall
into line.
The Grand Trunk has recently contracted
for electric power to operate its lines under
the St Clair river between Detroit and
windsor because It had demonstrated to SIS
own satisfaction that It would be cheaper
than steam.
The Illinois Central ls making similar
preparations for the Introduction OF cleo
triclty; indeed, there Is not steam rail-
road man in the country who would have
pooh-poohed the idea FIVE years ago that
will not tell you now that the electric rail-
way era has dawned and that the electric
locomotive is the coming propelling agent
for railroad trains.
Apart from the wonderful effects which
this change will produce upon the future
method Of railroad transportation" COM
ments the New York Times, 1.-The immedl-
ate results are worthy of consideration.
There are the large amounts of money that
will be spent to effect this change. At a
conservative estimate there are now about
g6O0O00.OOO appropriated by the various rail-