Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-17
MOTOR CAR THAT IS PERFECT
Eighth Product Of Union Pacific Chops
Meets MoKeen's Satisfaction.
COMMENT MADE AFTER THE TRIAL TRIP
Car Makes Average Speed OF
Fifty Miles nm Hour from
CoIumbus 90 Omaha
Saturday.

Il am perfectly satisfied With this latest
production and now consider my work
complete. For I'VE months we have worked
on the engine of No. and have now an
engine which Is perfectly satisfactory"
Nqhese were the modest words OF w. r.
McKecn. ir., superintendent OF motive
power aud machinery of the Union Pacific,
ne motor ear No. pulled into Omaha after
a most successful trip from Columbus. on
which an average OF running time OF nearly
nifty miles an hour was made. This engine
was irst made 10 run seventy or seventy
I'VE miles an hour. but change was de-
cided upon by Mr.. McKeen to give the car
moro power, as II Is the intention TO run
IL with a trailer for baggage and mail.
No. is surely a beauty and every part
OF Il was made In the Omaha shops Of the
Union Pacific. The speed Of the CIR is en-
tirely controlled by the. engine whether
running at one or sixty miles an hour, up
hill or down, II was designed by Mr.. Nc
Keen, who has been working on these
motor cars for over year and who is now
satisfied he has built a car which will
answer all the requirements for suburban
or branch line service. On the trip in from
Columbus Saturday no special effort was
made at fast running the effort being 10
keep II exactly In the schedule Of No 2,
the fastest eastbound passenger train on
the Union Pacific. and this was done.
Large sums Are spent.
The Union Pacific has spent large sums
OF money IN the construction OF these cars,
and has the other seven in operation. ex-
cept one which was sold to an eastern road
and is used by that road In regular ser
vice. Many experiments have been made
along various lines and Mr.. McKeen has
been working out the steel car problem at
the same time he has been building these
motor cars, and they are built entirely OF
steel. Just enough wood Is used to hold
the steel sheets in position except the floor
and the remainder IL OF steel
Motor car No. also made a trial trip
from Columbus to Omaha Saturday which
was very successful. This car is different
from No In that It has 1O0-horse power
engine, whereas No has a 2oo-horse power
engine A new trailer. also was taken "a
Columbus for a tryout and this is a gem NJ
mechanical ingenuity. 1t is built entirely
of steel with ball bearings and two men
could push II around. II is intended for
mail and baggage. The engine of No.
is operated by a double ignition system
both battery and a magnetic spark beins
available and either or both may be used
No. similar TO No. 2.
The car body and trucks OF motor cal
No. are similar In design to those OF
motor car No. 7, the windows being round
and equipped with rubber gasket seats
making them absolutely impervious T.
water, wind and dust, which adds materi
ally to the comfort Of passengers. the dis
comfort experienced in leaning against al
Alrdinary window. on account of the colo
draft in winter weather. being entirel!
eliminated with this new window. But tn,
most advantageous feature of the roun,
window is in the Increased strength OF tn
car frame, permissible by means Of thf
round aperture, the side OF the car beinl
in reality plate girder. the depth beinl
from the car roof TO the car sill. The sid
door entrance ADDS Sn1ateriaIiy TO the com
fort OF the passengers without In any wa!
weakening the strength OF the car frame
The side door permits Of an inside STEP
which avoids the trouble due to the &C
emulation OF Ice and snow in the winter
usually experienced on outside car steps.
Very few changes have been made Il
the mechanical Transmission on the from
trucks from that used on the previou
cars, except to substitute steel gears 4
place OF bronze The engine proper wa
built in the Omaha shops. II is of specls
design; 1oxl2 cylinders with jump spar
ignition and especially designed with lii