Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-25
ADYNAMOMET
(. IS BUILT BY THE
|. SANTA FE
Car for Carrying Crew and
n Making Exhaustive Tests
Of Locomotive Performance
Built in Topeka Shops.

A new type Of dynsmomeser car
for recording all the facts OF interest
In connection with the performances
Of n locomotive. has been designed
by santa Re engineers and buIlt at
the shops In Topeka. This IL believe
ed 20 be the first dypamometes car
ever constrnctnd II. It's entirety by
the railroad
On its Initial trip q via visit Law
renee, Kan, where the university
students will examine and study IL
Tor several days.
The car IL fiuy fees long. The
under frame. side frame and roof
framoNhre constructed OF steel. This
car IL required to stand heavy blows
In service as Il u made 10 run be-
tween the engine and the train. The
frame II OF such size that Il Will
Withstand a blow OF one million
pounds. The rigidity OF the car II
greatly Increased by means OF n SIS
Inch steel plate covering the front
end OF the under frame.
The front section OF the car r.
taken up by a working room. This
contains two large pieces OF appar-
ntus--the dynamometer proper ana
the recording apparatus The dyna-
mometer consists OF 8 double end cyl.
inder with a chamber for liauid
(Elycorlne) al either end. The pis-
ton which h directly connected to the
draw bar by lever arms IL. IN order
TO reduce friction. suspended by
knife edges in the cylinder. When
there Ii a pull exerted on the draw
bar BY tho engine the end Of the pis-
ton IL pressed against sheet OF
rubber which n between the draw
bar and the liquid. and transmits tho
pressure TO the liquid The pressure
Ia transmitted from here through
pipe connections 20 tina recording APP
paratus
The recording apparatus consists
essentially OF a moving paper. chart
rs inches wide which passes under a
series Of ~ operating pens The
pa per IL driven by a flexible connec-
ton TO an auxiliary truck which II
shown IN the outside view Of the cat
just behind tho front truck. When in
service this truck 10 lowered and the
wheels run on tho rails.
The pressure from the dyna-
nometcr passes 90 an ordinary steam
engine Indicator on the recording ep-
paratus. TO the lever OF this Ind.
Gator Is attached pen. When "A pull
Ia exerted or the draw bar a record
II made on the chart Al the same
time various other records are made
on the chart including the speed
tfrom a Boyer speed recorderl. all
pressure In the train line and brake
cylinders. location OF mile posts. time
(from an electric clock), amount OF
coal fired. position Of throttle. re-
verse lever. engineers valve and 9TH
err features.
A series OF gauges on the side wall
also shows all the various conditions
such a. air preasuses IN various parts
draw hpr pull. etc. This gauge board
contains also a Haushalter speed re-
corder which is driven by a chair
from the axle.
In case OF special air brake test'
the recording apparatus paper n
driven BY means Of motor Instead 81
the auxiliary truck, Three speeds
arc provided for both auxlllafy truck
and motor drive.
The power for al the magnets. mo.
tors, etc,, II obtained from storag'
batteries The batteries are charged
b means OF a generator belt driver
from one of the axles Of the ear
Power for lightiag the car NJ obtained
also from this source.
The small cupoia on top OF the cas-
In used for taking running observa.
tons. such as the location Of mile
pasts. stations, etc.
In making an engine test such nj
rating work, IN which II IL desired
to determine the proper foad for ths
engine over a definite division. the
car In placed between the engln and
the test train. which Is usually a reg.
ular train. A regular run 10 made
all the observations being taken. The
ehart then 10 removed from the re-
cordlng apparatus and calculation
made to determine the horse p0wei
developed and tho efficiency of ths
Locomotive under all conditions, Aftci
making a number OF runa with tbs
various loads II 10 possible 10 glve thu
engine the proper rating.
The procedure In various othei
tests. such as testing new types 81
power ana comparative tests Of ans
two types Of power. n practically ths
same. except that the results ars
worked up In slightly different form
The rear half Of the car II taken
mp with the living compartments. in
Guiding four double berth sections
j i tln6arn ana ntaa.aaa Z