The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-22
This Is Opinion OF General Elec-
trfcian of Pennsylvania.
CHEAPER in THE END.
Danger of Fire After Wreck is
Avoided Altogether.
Other Items of General Interest
i'm Railroad Circles.

|
| regular meeting of the Central Railway
Club of Buffalo, J. r. Sloan. of Altoona,
| Pa, general electrician of the Pennsyl-
vania. exprt ssed the opinion that the
time is near when all steam equipment
| operated in passenger service will be
electrically lighted. and that the great
er portion of the lighting will be done
by axle generators, although the Head
End and Straight Systems will still
be used when the conditions are such
as to make them applicable.
Th1s was tie conclusion given In a
carefully prepared and thoughtful pa
per presented by Mr. Sloan on the sub
ject of Electric Car Lighting" In the
discussion of his topic Mr.. Sloan said
that while electric lighting, consider
ing solely those items which go to maxi
ing up the cost of producing the light,
Is undoubtedly more expensive than
other forms of illumination, it is a
question in the minds of many railroad
OFFICIALS, whether, this cost really is
taken Of the damage both personal and
property resulting, from wrecked cars
taking fire; when using other forms OF
illumination, such damage resulting di-
ants. However this may be, the fact
remains that the public now is de-
Lnanding electric light, and it remains
Tor the railroads to determine how
Describes Systems in Use.
Proceeding to a description in detail
of the three general systems in use
and their technical features of installa-
ton, power and operation including the
merits and dement's of leach from its
viewpoint Of trial and experience, Mr.
Sloan followed with this reference:
When electric train lighting was in
troduced in this country, the carbon
hlament lamp used required As watts
per candle power. this was later de-
creased to 3.5, and then to 81 watts per
candle. The Gem or metalized filament
was then brought out in which the en-
ergy was cut to rs watts per candle
power followed by the tantalum lamp
which reduced the energy consumption
to watts per candle power.
LAS late as 1897, the standard equip
ment of a dissection drawing room
state room sleeper was 35-12 candle
power lamps, and 6-12 candle power
candle power These were used only
when called for by the passenger. To-
day, the same car would be equipped
with two berth lamps of candle pow
err in each upper lower berth, and 44-12
candle power lamps for the rest of the
car of 967 candle power, or an increase
of almost 100 per cent. The light from
the tunsten lamp now used is much
whittier and brighter than that from the
carbon filament lamps used in 1897, so
that the apparent increase in illumina-
tion is even greater than would appear
from the figures.
Shades to Protect the Eyes.
"In 1897, all lamps were used clear,
generally in combination gas and cleo
trio fixtures of such design that it
was impossible to use a shade that
would protect the eyes from the glare
of the lamp. Later frosted and opal
dipped lamps were used, but it is be-
coming the practice to use a clear
lamp in a fixture designed so that the
shade screens the lamp bulb from the
eyes.
"In the past very little attention was
given to equipping the car with lamps
and fixtures which would give the best
results, from the illuminating stand
point, that is, taking into account not
only the light produced but also it's eff
feet on the eye. Some work has been
done lately along these lines but much
remains to be DONE"