Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-24
TRACKLESS TROLLEY is HERE
Experimental Line Operated in q
Mountain Canyon in Calf
foFnia.

We have had considerable to say about
"trackiess trolley cars IN Germany, and
now we learn that a ''traclCless trolley"
has been In operation near Los Angeles
for two months, with entire satisfaction"
r. w. Shoemaker, an electrical engineer of
Los Angeles, IL the constructor OF this line
that will reduce his brother shoemAkers'
business He writes to the Literary Digest:
From an article about a year ago on the
trackless trolley in Germany, was con-
ceived the idea of using one in Laurel
canon near Los Angeles. from the end OF
the Los Angeles Pacific railroad at the
foot of the canon to Bungalow Land"
real estate subdivision in the heart OF the
road is mostly curves, there being only
about 1000 feet Of straightaway, and the
grades ranging from to II per cent, hence
the road Is well suited TO test the prac-
tfeability Of the system. The cars, how
ever, glide around the curves with marvel
lous ease, first on one side Of the road
and then on the other Germany's expert
encs with the trackless trolley has been
that they are best suited for use in steep
mountain grades where speed Is not essen
tial. On the Laurel canon route q maxi
mum Of twenty-five miles an hour IL pos
-sible where the road is straight, but ten
miles is all that is attempted on the curved
portions OF the line.
Automobiles were used for transporta-
ton previous TO the installation Of the
/ trolley. but these were too uncertain and.
owing 20 the grade. too expensive to main
tain. The expense OF constructing a track
/ and overhead as for a regular system would
have been excessive. and It would also
have ruined the road for automobiles, as
/ 4 fa IN ~ 10 al
have marred the scenic effects. which are
especially attractive In this locality. For
these reasons the trackless trolley IL the
logical solution, as # combines simplicity,
reliability and economy. both In the first
cost and In maintenance
| Two buses were fitted with especially
designed and constructed motors OF fifteen
horse power rating. 800 volts, each motor
driving one rear wheel by chain, thus elm
mating the differential. The control IL by
means Of series parallel controller
mounted on the dash. 20 the left OF the
steering wheel, the reverse switch BEING
operated by a handle 20 the right Of the
wheel. The usual expanding and contract
Ing brakes are fitted a. In the regular auto
mobile.
The trolleys are mounted on the roof Of
the bus. approximately twenty-four inches
pack OF the uont axe ana placed forty
eight inches apart, which is the spacing Of
tho trolley wires The polesare Of wood
fifteen feet long. and carry = special
swivelled form OF collector at the end
which u arranged TO slip off without dam.
age In case the pole should leave the wirs
and the collector catch on the overhead
These trolleys allow total variation OF
eleven feet on each side off the center Of
the roadway, and AZ slow speed will op
crate when making an angle Of seventy,
five degrees with the trolley wire and viii
also allow the car to be completely re
versed In direction under the wires without
change although II Is OF course necessary
TO turn the poles after the car has turnet
and before II can proceed, as the poles ar,
crossed and projecting forward. The troIle,
wires are suspended from pipe arm brack
cts fastened to the telephone poles alonl
the road. The cars always obey the rule
OF the road and pass to the right OF al
preaching vehicles regardless OF the Ioea
tion OF the trolley wires.
The system has been In operation nov
for two months and gives entire salts
faction.