Imperial Valley press., 1908-02-22
GASOLINE MOTORS
 FOR IMPERIAL VALLEY
Southern Pacific Solves Pas
 senger Service Problem
Success of lnterurban Line An object Lesson--sIxty Motor Cars for Branch
 Lines Now On Way Westward
 Change Will Come In Two Months.

Oficials of the Hartman system in San Francisco confirm the report that gasoline motor cars are to replace locomotives and cars on all branch lines of the Pacific system of the Southern Pacific. Sixty of the new gasoline cars are on the way to the Coast, and the first will go into ser vice within two months. Where there is no trolley competition the gasoline cars will take the place of trains on short runs, greatly reducing operating expenses.
 The gasoline motors will be power ful enough to handle several cars of freight in one train. The change will Fevolutionize the handling of business pn hundreds of miles of road.
 It has been known in Los Angeles for long time, says The Times, that Ehe Southern Pacific contemplated a change in the manner of handling passenger and freight business on it's branch lines, and that it would be a question of only a few months until gasoline motors would perform the ervice of locomotives. Experiments b that end were made in this vicinity ast year, but the type of motor car hen tried out was found unsatisfact- ny.
 Motor Perfected.
 Now a motor has been perfected hat is said to be capable of handling Il the traffic that may present itself, Especially on short lines.
 The new gasoline cars will be of 150 orse power, and capable of making a peed of thirty to forty miles an hour trough late improvements the maxi lum power will be developed at the minimum of fuel consumption. An ther innovation is the perfection of arrangement by which the gasoline hgine can 5e stlrtei quickly from l landing position overcoming the 6e- bet that in the past has made such
 
 hgines inferior for use on railroad be, where speed ir prime requi- te.
 Imperial Valley Line. ! Another big project pertains to the ,eration of the gasoline motor cars the Imperial Valley branch of the puthern Pacific, extending from I'm < srial Junction on the main line to hlexico on the Mexican border, a stance of forty miles. Passenger d freight business is exceedingly avy on this branch, but the rail- ad men have argued that the returns Pre not great enough to warrant g public demanded. The new cars Il solve the problem of fast and equent service
 Already a gasoline motor line is in eration from Fl CentrO to Holtville, the HOlton Power Company, and success has had some weight in polling the Southern Pacific to make, ~ important change now pending. Owing to their power, the gasoline tor car will be able to handle sev- J cars of freight, which will mean ter service for many points that lw are obliged to wait until "a train be made up before freight can be { ved. This freight traffic, it is said, be handled lI ostly at night where ;senger business is so heavy as to Ike operation of the. slower trains dyisable by day.
 Saving In Cost.
 he saving in cost of operation of
 new cars as compared with tha running trains and engines is ob- lls Instead of the engineer, fire h, conductor, baggageman, one or
 brakenaen and a flagman now re- red to run almost any small pas ger train, the gasoline car handling sengers will require only an engi- and a conductor.
 has been the dream of railroad ;ials for years to perfect gasor
 or other motor car capable of o oino 1onnunOffuac On email ond