Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-01-08
Attractive Trolley Cars.
For Comfort and Convenience
They Excel All Other Designs.

They Excel All Other Designs.
The two beautiful new steel cars OF
the Annapolis Short Line which have
lust arrived from the WATSON Manu-
featuring Company, -of Springfield,
Mass, are attracting great deal OF
attention as well as favorable COM
ment. They are said to be the finest
inter-urban electric cars south OF
New York.
These cars are of the most modern
style and equipped with every con-
venience and comfort for the passen-
gers. When they are put into SER
vice the Short Line will indeed be an
all-steel infested cars, steel rails
and steel trolley wire.
Ten more of these cars are to he
delivered within the next few weeks,
making twelve in all at total cost
of about $50, 600, or about Sl5, 900
per car.
A decidedly unique and attractive
feature of this new equipment is the
side entrance, which divides the car
in half, one end being for smokers
and the other for ladies and those
who do not wish to smoke, This ar
rangcment is distinct advantage
over the old type of car, as the ladies
are not compelled to pass through the
smoking compartment in reaching
seats in their section. While the cars
are in motion, the side entrances are
closed by folding doors, manipulated
by the conductor by means of lever.
These steel cars have a seating ca
pacity of 50, with additional facilities
if the pressure of business demands
it, the capacity being about equally
divided between the two sections. The
ladies section has the distinction OF
also being what might be called an
observation car, as the motorman Is
so placed at one side that most of the
car front, being of glass, permits a
clear view ahead, seats being 50 ar
ranged as to give the passengers the
benefit of the outlook as the car speeds
along.
Especial attention has been given
to making the cars thoroughly sani-
tary. The floors are laid with noise
less rubber tiles of attractive design,
and the heating and vcntilating sys-
tenn has been worked out on scientific
lines.
The plate glass windows move east
ly up and down, and are adjustable
at any height that may suit the pass
enger, while the art glass above them
adds to the beauty of the car.
At night the cars will be lighted by
40 electric bulbs placed above the
seats to make reading easy. Each
seat is provided with an electric push
button for the purpose of signaling
the conductor to stop when a station
is called.
The motorman's comfort and con-
veniences for handling the cars with
the greatest safety have not been for
gotten. An adjustable seat that may
be quickly folded out of the way or
used as the driver desires is provided,
and in the corner OF his house is the
emergency hand brake, within easy
reach of the paragraph or trolley
control, and behind him the cupboard
in which are all of the switches con-
trolling the head and car lights.
When the new cars are put in SER
vice there will be very radical inn
provement in the system as the pres
ent alternating current of $500 volts
will be eliminated and direct cur
rent of only 1920 volts utilized over
a steel trolley wire, thus reducing the
possibility of accident.
Then the Short Line will be one of
the highest grade electric inter-urban
railways in the country.