The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-30
ELECTRICITY To
RUN RAILROADS
ELEcTRlFicATIoN or CASCADE
TUNNEL SAID TO MARK TRANS
PoRTATIoN EPocH-ls A PRO-
NouNcED SUCCESS - TO BE
ADOPTED FOR HEAVY GRADES.

The eIectFification. Of the Cascade
tunnef by the Great northern is be-
lieved by many officials to mark an
important era in railroad operation on
the American continent. After several
weeks operation the scheme mas been
pronounced a success. and 1t isi be-
lieved that other similar tunnels will
be similarly equipped and that electric
power will be utilized on heavy grades
on which an immense volume of traffic
has to be hauled. Other railroads nave
been watching the experiment of the
Great Northern with great interest
and Investigations now in progress In
dicate the probability that the next
few years will see electric power ap-
piled quite extensively in the handling
of trains in the west.
The main. object of the Great North
ern in electrifying the Cascade tunnel
was to abolish the smoke nuisance. In
a tunnel two and half miles long. It
is unavoidable that smoke snould
gather when steam locomotives are
used. 1t was necessary to wait specified
intervals for the tunnel to be clear
enough for the next train to enter.
Considerable delay in traffic resulted
| and passengers were subjected to
great discomfort.
Experts Visit Europe.
The problem was studied from ali
sides, and the Great Northern officials
finally decided to employ an efficient
engineer to draw up plans. He not
only looked into the possibilities OF
developing water power in the vicinity
OF the tunnel and other phases OF the
problem but when on a trip to Europe
where he was sent by James j. Hill to
investigate railroad operations in gem
eral. he got pointers on what the old
world was doing In the way OF elec-
trification OF railroads.
The three phase alternating current
system has been an important factor
in electrification plans in Europe for
several years. It was regarded with
marked disfavor In his country until
few years ago. The double overhead
contact wires, which the three phase
system requires, appeared to be OBJ
jectionable to American engineers, who
were not familiar with the experience
of European engineers. The adoption
of this system by the Great Northern,
therefore, was an important step, and
from the success which this big rail-
road has had with 1t there is every
indication that great advancement
has been made In the electrificAtion
OF railroads In this country. It il
a recognition Of the merits OF the
three phase system for trunk line pur-
poses.
Grades are q great consideration in
handling trains not only through the
tunnel but on the entire Cascade divi-
sion, and 1t is probable that the divi-
sion will be electrified from terminus
to terminus. There is continuous
grade OF 1T per cent in the tunnel,
while at either end there are several
places where the grade is per cent.
Giant Locomotives Bought.
The operating department has found
itself severely taxed In the handling
of the constantly increasing traffic. II
was found that the standard consoli-
dalton steam locomotives we're In
adequate and expensive TO operate
from the point OF fuel. Three years ago
1t was decided to experiment with the
NA a1ASS 81 bsSu1hlcu COAupD una steam To-
comotives Several of these monsters
were purchased They could handle
a I.500 ton trailing load through the
tunnel at q speed OF eight miles an
hour--a great Improvement over the
| 450-ton trailing load that the consoIi-
dation locomotives could naul But
| operation expenses continued to be
heavy. and while there remains some
doubt as to what can be saved by
| adopting the electrifcating plan. there