The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-09-02

ment that dennlte plans nave Deen
completed and contracts signed fol-
the operation Of 113 miles of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st. Paul railway
by electric power.
The turbulent rivers of Idaho and
Montana are to be yoked to powerful
turbines and huge electrical genera
tors. The electrical power thus de-
veloped will be transmitted for long
distances across country to the rail-
road, where it will take the place of
steam in hauling passenger and
freight trains over the mountains.
The st. Paul's project covers the
electrihcation of It's Puget Sound line
between Harlowton, Mont. and Avery
Idaho. 440 miles, This takes in that
portion of the line penetrating the
Rockies, the Big Belts and the Bitter
Root mountains. The first installa-
tion of 113 miles will be between
Three Forks and Deer Lodge, Mont,
and men already are at work erecting
poles II is expected that the project
will be completed by 1918.
A Vast Expenditure.
All this work involves the expendi-
ture Of approximately s13,OOO,OOO, and
the electrical construction will pro-
coed at the rate Of about 100000 an
nually This program foreshadows the
aIa frif HOT - he
Harlowton to the Pacific coast, main
line distance of $50 miles.
This will be the most extensive rail-
way electrification in the world, and
the first to employ as high potential
as 5000 volts direct current. The most
powerful locomotives ever built will
be used. It will be the first main line
transcontinental mountain grade cleo
IRRIGATION, and the first undertaking
where entire engine districts are COM
pretended.
The power will be furnished by the
Montana Power company, whose prin-
cipal plant is at Great Falls Mont
From this and other plants of the
power company large feed wires will
carry the current to substations az
four different points along the line in
Montana. Each substation will con-
tain the necessary apparatus to regu-
late the total peak load demand OF all
the several substations connecting to
the same pilot wires and under the
control of one train or power de-
spatcher. The equipment consists OF
motor generator sets, transformers for
stopping down the current, lightning
arrestors, line switches, power limit
ing control and air eompressors.
Power Of Locomotives.
Contracts have been awarded to
the General Electric company for IL
5000 volt direct current electric loco
motives. On per cent grade for so
miles. freight locomotives will pull
$500 tons at 10 miles an hour. Pass
enger locomotives on the same grade
viii pull 800 tons IS miles an hour. on
a 2 per cent grade two freight locomo
tives operating in multiple will pun
$500 tons II miles an hour One pas
senger locomotive on 2 per cent
grade will pull $50 tons 80 miles an
hour. The freight locomotives are
composed of two units connected by
erticulated Joint, so that they may be
separated Each half comprises four
power axles driven by twin geared
motors and a four wheeled guiding
truck. Passenger locomotives will be
he same as the freight locomotives
Except the gear ratio will be arranged
o provide greater speed. The engines
will be about 112 feet long and weigh
S2 tons.
Resenerate Power.
A novel feature of the installation |
Fill be regenerative electric braking |
ontrol to hold back the trains on long
grades and to return power
the line. When the train drops /
own a sharp grade the locomotive
iotors are Immediately turned into
Iectric generators. and they begin
reducing current and returning 1t to
ne line In this way train going
own a mountain grade will help an
Their coming up. 1t is figured that rs l.
so per cent of the energy required
up grade movement will be re-
lrned. Ii
The air brakes will thus be needed
lly in case of emergency, so tina. be-
des economizing In power this meth IL
OF holding a train on heavy grades Ig
fers marked advantages over ortiin-
y friction braking owing to TIL 1
eat saving in wear on the ira TX. :
heels and brake shoes.
Economy Of Electric Power. d
The electrification of this road is ID
Idertaken purely on economlcI
ounds. with the expectation that SUI d.
rior operating results with elec.rlcI
will effect sufficient re IP
ction In the present cost of steam
Grafton to return an attractive per- let
ntage on the large investment. ASH
ere viii be no delays for coaling. lC'
King on water, cleaning fires or 81
'iting for steam It is expected that
tonnage will be handled with few
locomotives and higher average
led and regularity Passengers also Tsp