Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-05-12

WOTKlnR unu6E COuulIlUHb Which,
formed the most severe test to which
their plans could have been subjected,
the men who work out the motive
problems of a great railway system
have just completed one of the most
remarkable chapters in the history of
transcontinental transportation. And
L1the caption on that chapter, set out in
The boldest type, Isl "ELECTRl-
FTCATION."
BY highly successful operation of
electric locomotives over a part of the
mountain division of the Chicago, Mil
waukee & st. Paul road, throughout
winter whose severity made steam
I traffic almost an impossibilty, engi-
neers declare they have proved beyond
a doubt the efficacy of the latest step
in the evolution of the first locomotive.
From every economical angle the
new engines were tested. In speed
they were found to excel the old pow
err; uphill they could handle a greater
load; in cost the figures Of operation
were reduced; no matter what the
weather. the motors were always on
the Job; in the comfort which comes
from cleanliness and smooth running,
they approached perfection.
But from C. A. Goodnow, assistant
ines the greatest praise for the cleo
Uic engines. He watched closely the
operation of the giant motors during
the severest cold spells of the winter,
and from him have come many inter
esting facts regarding the electrifica-
ton project. He states that electrifi-
rafinn in has axpaado6 the
expectations of the roads officials.
This is true particularly, in regard to
the amount of tonnage the electric
engines can handle, the mileage they
can make and the regularity of oper-
alton.
The maximum load will be 5000 tons
over the mountains, 3400 tons between
Deer Lodge and the mountains, and
1900 tons between the Bitter Root
mountains and Deer Lodge. This haul
will be made with one engine except
over the mountains, where a helper is
used.
Electric Engines Mileage Greater.
The mileage made each "a hours is
a1out 200 miles, as against about la
Miles by steam locomotives; at the
end Of a run, coal repletion and the
cleaning of fire boxes is thing of the
past. On the division covering the
Rocky mountains they already have
been released "a steam engines and the
same service is being performed with
nine electric engines; locomotives
formerly used were mallets and other
heavy types.
In computing the comparative cost
of operation, it is estimated that the
electric locomotives will cost in their
use 10 to IL cents less for motive pow
er to handle 1000 tons a mile than for
steam locomotives. With only one
half of the regular division of lis
miles under Identification, the esti-
mated saving Is placed at S175,000
year, or four times as much on the en-
tire 440 miles over which the new sys-
tenn is to be operated.
The past winter has given electrif-
cation on the st. Paul a very severe
test. It was the bitterest winter within
the memory of railroaders. There were
lSssimes when every steam locomotive in
Me Rocky mountain district was fro
zen, but the electric locomotives went
right along.
Giant Motor Prevents Blockade.
One day, with the mercury at 40 be-
with a complete tie-up. One steam To-
connective hauling a heavy freight train
had frozen and two others following
were halted long enough to freeze.
They were on the main line and pas
senger trains hid to be given the right
of way. The engineer of one of the
giant motors was appealed to. His re.
Spouse was to run his electric locomo-
tive out on the line, couple it onto the
three trains, of three engines and 10
cars, and haul them in.
The electric locomotives also are
wonderful Snow hackers" and do not
offer the resistance of steam engines
when they are cold. The cold weather
fsGESo proved a thorough test of the
4 roads overhead installation system
With this the engineers had no trouble
4 whatever.
One of the most interesting features
of electriheation is the regenerative
braking. This system, so to speak, is
working both ends from the middle"
and has proved a great economic factor
4 in railroadiI@
Engines Become Power Plants.
Regenerative bral.ing is used on the
downhill movement of trains, and each
engine becomes a power plant in itself
The weight of the train pushes the To-
connective and by reversing the current
| the locomotives become generators
That. in effect, controls the speed of
the train and sends back by the trolley
| power to help other trains climbing the
grades. II there are no other trains to
use the power, 1t goes back to the near
est substation, turns the meters back
and automatically gives the company