New-York tribune., 1906-10-01
N. I. c. ELECTRIC TRAIN
REACHES GRAND CENTRAL
Speed of Serenity Miles an Hour on
Portion of Run.

The first locomotive driven by electricity glided
into the Grand Central Staten yesterday after
noon. drawing eight OF the heaviest Pullman care
The New York Central Railroad thereby success
fully began fits change from steam motive powe:
electricity.
The OF yesterday afternoon was in the nature
OF test, the train being from Highbridge to
the Grand Central Station No effort az fast time
made, but various parts Of the viaduct a
speed OF seventy miles hour was reached.
For the test OF the electric locomotive yesterday
the officials of the company and the engineers VINO
fer three years have been working night and day
on the Improvements invited. There were
about hundred aboard including Vice. Presi-
dents A. II. Smith and J. Christensen and Electrical
Engineer E y. Katie. w. ]. wflgus. the chief
engineer. who has had charge CT the work. operated
the locomotive.
Tbs start was made from Highbridge at 1855
O'Clock. Some Of the guests little fright
ened while the train going through the tunnel
They were jostied about and few. who were
standng, were thrown TO the sises. No one was
Injured, however. The cause Of this unexpected
.ostling was explained by Mr.. Wgus.
Between 5eth and 54th streets" he said. the
road is not equipped with electrical power, and IL
WIS necessary for TO glide over that part OF IT.
We had TO attain high speed to do so. as IL Is ]
per cent up grade The locomotive passed switch
In the two blocks very easily, but some of the
heavy Pullmans jostled and lurched about BIT.
II had succeeded in getting these two
blocks we would have found ourselves stalled
A feature of the trial yesterday was the ease
with which the locomotive pulled the cars. There
eight of the heavy PUllmans used for long
distance travel attached 10 the train. The engine
worked smoothly II only pulling its own
weight
equipped with electric power is known by the Of
0cials as the initial zone" This includes the
Park avenue turnel and much better handling Of
traffic is expected by the doing away OF much
switching. When the electric trains are used all
switching engines will be done away with.
part of November. allow for the use OF electric
locomotives on ali trains Of the New York Central
from I highbridg9 and Wakefield to the Grand Cen
stop st these points to change engines The change
VIII be made in two minutes This loss OF time Is
more N S than AMI mace up 1t is said by the y shortening
nearly mile has been saved.
Another feature which the officials announced
on the left track far Spuyten Duyvil has
been ended The change made few days
far as Mott Haven. Within a month. It is ev-
pected. the signals will he so fixed that the
trains will not have 10 cross at ell 10 the
left tracks and will run direct 10 the station
the usual right track
While the New York Central viii operate IT'S
usins ,th % eectlety aT & N NoVemper ana 90 away
for about six months. the eectrifying of the
New York, New Haven & Hertford's system is
time VIII ''O' 'e iO' 7OOu' ''i''
The company is endeayorfng TO get the permis-
sion Of the State Railroad Commission to the
elimination Of all grade crossings ss far as Gro
ton, that the work OF preparing the second cleo
tric gone for electric traffic may be undertaken
On Friday permission granted ionkers
and work will be rushed as Gar as that point
When the permission desired IS received. the
peny Will be able to operate electric trains as far
Piaias the Harlem branch. II VIII take nearly
two years for this work after permission IS Sc
cured.
Before we are through said Mr.. wilgus 'ft
will cost from SO 100000 to S0,0o00Oo."