The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-01-17
MOTOR CARS FOR STEAM ROADS.
Illiuots Central Gives Motor Service he
tween FreerDrt and Madison

s : 8 4
Illinois, Central Gives Motor Service he.
tween FreeDrt and Madison.
& Beginning this week the Illinois Gen.
trail railway began giving motor car SER
vice between Freeport and Madison and
the first car over the line carried 80 peo-
pie into Madison.
In appearance it is strikingly different
from anything ever seen heretofore in
railway coach architecture. The front
end is wedge-shaped to afford the least
resistance to the air in running, and the
entrance is on each side "amidships." In
fact the entire structure smacks more of
marine equipment than of railway. The
side windows are portfolios, about %
inches in diameter, each provided with
rolling shade similar to those in use in
ordinary coaches, while the rear win
dows are of the ordinary pattern, and as
the rear end is semicircular in form,
with window seat curving around in
side, the nautical effect is still apparent,
resembling the rear cabin in small
steamer. The she'll of the car is con-
structed entirely of steel plate, and the
inside is finished in mahogany, making
very pleasing effect.
Car IA will comfortably seat IS pas
sengers; the seats are upholstered in
pantasote, and their commodious width
affords ample room for three persons of
ordinary size to each seat. The car has
two compartments, divided by the en-
trance corridor, the forward one of which
is for smoking.
The engine is Union Pacific stand
ard, six cylinder, gasoline engine, water
cooled, and is capable of maintaining a
mile minute on good track. The mo-
torman's apartment is in the front end,
and is very commodious. He has right
at hand his complete engine placed on
the floor of the car, the air brake, and
all necessary appliances for the success
full operation of the machine. 1t would
seem that the makers had in mind the
marine idea here also, for the hand
brake to be used should the air fail, is
very similar in appearance to the pilot
wheel in the texas of a steamboat. Pro
vision is made for carrying 120 gallons of
gasoline, the consumption of which is
about one third of gallon per mile,
which is vastly cheaper than the cost of
operating by steam.
Light is furnished by a number OF
acetylene gas lamps placed in the sides
of the car, and shaded by opalesceht
oval shaped globes Of a very pretty de-
sign. The lighting tank is placed I'M.
derneath the floor.
To man the new car requires only
three men, a motormon, a conductor and
"a fagman.
The performance of this car will be
watched with considerable interest by
every railroad manager in the middle
west, for s.ould it prove successful, it
would seem to have solved the problem
of competition between the steam roads
and the ever increasing interurban lines;
and the owners of the latter lines will
also "sit up and take notice" for with
each car power station in itself. the.
cost of operation of the interurban lines
would be materially reduced. "
In Wisconsin the experiments with
these motor cars are being watched with
especial interest. The Wisconsin state
railroad commission some months ago
suggested their use on branch lines
where the railroads find it improbable
to keep the regular train in service.