New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-28
W. J. WILGUS ON STAND.
rails DID NOT SPREAD"
Central OfciaI Says Electric Loco
m0tiue TEST Stretched Gauge.

w ]. Wilgus vice-president OF the New YORK
Central Railroad In charge of the electrical zone.
was a witness Yesterday before the State Railroad
Commission when It resumed the inquiry into the
wreck OF the Brewster express ct Woodawn Road
Bridge February 16 Austen G. Fox was present
at the examination which was conducted by Joo
E Hedges
Mr. Wilgus returned from Florida yesterday to
testify, both before the coroners inquest. which
will be continued Friday in The Bronx, and the
State Railroad Commission.
After stating that he had been connected with
the New York Central for thirteen years Mr.. Wisus
told Of the organization Of the expert commission.
Of which he chairman. appointed to supervise
the electriication of the Harlem division Of the
road. He said the commission composed OF
three high class electrical experts and two officials
of the company. besides himself
He sail the commission Investigated every cleo
trio in the country and that its work extended
over period OF four years. Preliminary specif-
cations he said, were sent TO both foreSn and
American firms with the result that the commits
sion unanimous in awarding the contract to the
General Electric Company
Ihe first tesc OF Of the electric loco
motives was made October q 1891. Mr.. Niisus
said IN the presence of prominent in electrical
and railroad matters The electric locomotive ana
nine Pullman cars weighing about 400 tons. We're
used In the test and the maximum sTeed attained
was ffty-seven miles hour while the locomotive
was designed for n speed or seventy-hve miles
hour. The formal test took place a trial track
run this locomotive which was similar to the
involved in the wreck, at a speed Of eighty-thrce
miles hour.
Mr.. Hedges wanted TO know If there any
spreading OF the rails the experimental track.
The rails did not spread but there was an oscil
laton which stretched the tracks out Of gauge
slightly a. one point replied Mr. Wllgus. He said
that this difficulty obviated later, and that
safety was tive first aim of the commission in in
stalng the electrical system. The tendency OF
rails spread he said he but
the tangent.
In eply to a question by Mr.. Hedges the wit
ness said that the sharpest curve which a loco
motive running at seventy miles an hour could
round with safety would depend entirely upon the
amount Of super-elevatlOn OF tho outer rail. u
haze been around three degree curve at seventy
five miles hour he said.
Mr. Wugus added that ne considered practical
test Of speed around curves a better assurance OF
safety than any mathematical calculations
What Is the fastest speed that a train could
90 around the curve where the accident occurred?'
asked Mr.. Hedges
Mr.. Wilgus said he unable say at pres
emit as at the time the experiments were made over
the Harlem Division. where the wreck occurred he
was IN California and did not know what had bekn
done He said he had not yet arrived at any con-
c'uslon as to the cause of the accident. although
he had held several conferences with officials re-
garding the construction Of the track
He testified that an electric locomotive did not
strike harder blow going around curve than a
steam engine does. and that observation had failed
70 snow that there bic difference
IN the pressure upon the rails OF the single or
double electric locomotives in on the road
Deputy Attorney General Donnelly asked n two
electric locomotives coupled together would not
exert more strain the rails q curve than a
single locomotive Mr. WllEus said they would
not. and added that electric locomotive would
locomotive
Mr. Wlgus said that the electric locomotive rode
SO easy that the engineer. he thought likely
to underes IN. The speed but IN reply to the
IN the wreck could tell how fast he vas going. he
said II he had exercised the right amount OF mental
effort he should have been able estimate 1t with
in Ave miles hour.
Mr.. Wilgus ended his testimony with the state
ment that the actual running OF the trains came
under the direction Of the operating department OF
the road Of which Vice President 4. H. Smith
the head IL is expected that Mr.. Smith, who IL
general manager OF the road, will take the stand
to-day
Mr. WHgus was the only witness examined yes
terday II said that the inquiry would proba-
bly, last several days longer