New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-03
ON ELECTRIC RAILWAYS
Plea for Adoption of a Uniform sys-
tenn by George WESTINGHOUSE.

IRON the address of George Westing-
tcal Engineers and the British INSTITUTION
Of Mechanical Engineers, 10 be delivered in
London this month.
Although the facts clearly show the con-
trary, there exists a popular impression
that the identification OF RAILWAYS is =
simple matter. and that II REQUIRES onIv
decisions Of boards Of directors to insure
the immediate substitution of the electric
for the steam locomotive But the great
difficulty in the electrifcatiCn of standard
lem: II Is the financial question. requiring
q combination OF the highest engineering
and commercial skill.
To insure interchange of traffic. the fun
damental REQ Ctrenlents so far a. the opera
ton of a steam railroad is concerned. with
full regard for safety, speed and comfort
following: A standard gauge of track, a
standard or interchangeab BILE type OF coup
ling for vehicles. uniform Interchange
able type Of brake apparatus. interchange
able heating apparatus and uniform sys-
tenn OF train signals.
The additional fundamental requirements
supply Of electricity of uniform quality as
to voltage ana periodicity, conductors to
convey this electricity so uniformly 10
Gated with reference TO the rails that
without change Of any kind, an electrically
fitted locomotive or car or any company
can collect its supply Of current when upon
the lines Of other com anies, and uniform
apnaratus for control Of electric supply
whereby two or more electrically fitted
locomotives or cars from different lines
can be operated together rom one locoro-
tive OF car.
Outside Of economy in capital expenditure
and economy and convenience in operation
BY steam or electricity, It matters not
whether each locomotive and car and the
apparatus upon them differ from every
other locomotive and car in size or details
of construction so long as the cOnstruc-
lions are operative and the materials en-
ployed are used within safe limits.
7 became thoroughly convinced that the
al 5{strfhlTri0n IF electricity for in
dustrial purposes could be secured only by
the generation Of alternating currents OF
high voltage and their conversion by static
transformers into currents or various volt
ages. Notwithstanding, therefore, the frank
disbelief in It's practical value OF eminent
scientific authorities, among them the late
Lord Kslyn Tbs t erHS1 INTO orr enf
system of generation and distribution OF
electricity which Is now almost universally
accepted as the ideal
the practica bility OF his induction motors.
Oliver B Shallenberger had perfected his
and It had been proved that direct cur,
rant motor with laulinated armature and
fields could be operated either by alternating
OF BY direct currents then became moi moi
invention and discover would IN time
make alternating current apparatus prac-
In the twenty years that have elapsed
three important electrical systems for the
operation of railways have been put into
practical operation. all using alternating l
current in whole or in part. These sys-
TENS are
~ The continuous or direct current sys-
tenn usually spoken or as the third ran
system which employs alternating current
for transmitting power when the distance
IS considerable ~ The three-phase alter
mating current system Win t%o 0Vernea i
Il mating current high tension system with
single overhead trolley wire