The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-03-18
SOON ELECTRIFY GAP
AVERY TO OTHELLO
WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT OF
MILWAUKEE IN APPLYING
ELECTRIC POWER.

When the gap between Avery, Idaho
and Othello, Wash, is closed a dis
lance of 1926 miles, the Milwaukee
railroad Will be operating main line
trains from Harlowton, this state &c
Tacoma with hdyro- electric power
Entering Montana in the northwest
corner of Mineral county. passing
through Butte to Harlowton, the Mil
waukte has had nearly 500 miles OF
its line electrified for a number of
years. Two divisions in the Rocky
mountains have been operating cleo
trically since 1916, and the Pacific
division is the third link in the cleo
trificaton system of the Milwaukee
line. The intent If the Milwaukee to
supplant its steam engines with cleo
trio power was demonstrated in jan
uary. this year, when massive new
electric engines were given test trips
through Butte from Deer Lodge to
Harlowton, says the Anaconda Stand
ard.
Coast Service Begins.
These new Milwaukee electric en-
gines have 1900 horse power and
weigh 275 tons. One of these engines
can handle the heavy transcontinental
trains over electrified sections between
Eastern Montana and the Pacific coast
including the intervening mountain
ranges. The newly electrified opera
tion on the Milwaukee was begun Fri
day, extending from Othello, Wash, to
Seattle and Tacoma, distance of 22U
miles, in addition to the other electric
zone including Butte, as the Rocky
mountains are crossed.
These are the most widely known
sections of railroad track in the
world" said F. H. Sheppard. director
of heavy traction of the Westinghouse
electric and manufacturing plant.
The eyes of the world are on them
today. and for several very important
reasons:
First Electric Only Road.
1T is the first identification of any
stretch of railroad of considerable
length on which the operation is ex-
clusively electric, that is, not combined
with steam locomotion operation. 1t
is the first extensive railroad of cleo
triffcation to use hydro electric power. /
"The nations throughout the world
are all intense in their desire to utilize |
hydro electric power and to electrify /
their railroads to conserve coal Small |
wonder therefore, that the example of /
the Chicago. Milwaukee q ST Paul |
exerts an important influence on their /
consideration in this srespect alone. /
Consider some time in the future the /
release Of % per cent of the country's .
out put of fuel, the amount used by
the railroads. Consider also the divert
ing of movement necessary to haul
this fuel to revenue tonnage and its
effect on the railroads thmselves, and
eventually the capacity released due
to this fuel being hauled behind the
steam locomotive in its tender
Commissions or representatives,
from England, France, Italy, Poland,
Belgium and even South Africa, Bra
I'll, Java and Japan have officially
visited the Milwaukee identification
in the interests of railway electrifica-
ton in Their respective countries
This demonstration of great pow
err suggests, in fact, the solution of
the railroad problems in America.
The demand for traffic movement
seems Unsuitable, it having doubled 3.
generally about each u years, and we
all know the country must not stand
still. There comes with this increased ,
demand the necessity for great power
to move trains in order that the ut
most from track capacity and facili-
ties may be realized"
The greatest actual electrical oper-
alton Of the Pacific division of the ,
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul rial
road the firht road in the Northwest ,
to electrify its lines, took place Fri
day when the transcontinentl Olym-
plan left Seattle for Chicago, pulled
by a gigantic electric locomotive, the
firstato push aside the "steam horse"
on the Pacific coast.
Preceding the electrically pulled
Olympian on its trip across the Cas-
cade mountains was a special electri-
cal demonstration train carrying
officials, electrical au- il
thorities and press representatives,. g
This demonstration carrier speeded in n
advance of the Olympian train, Civ o
ing its guests an opportunity to OBJ p
serve the big electric locomotives ne o
gotiating the sheer grades in the Cas- 4
cade mountains. The demonstration p
proceeded as far as Gle Elum, while il
the Olympian continued its transcon- il
tinental trip.
War Delayed Engines. II
Thus was inaugurated electricity as a
a motive power on the Pacific division Z
Of the Milwaukee. Test runs had t.
been made every day for week be- d
fore the big flyer started on its initial Il
trip. The trolleys, d
lines and substation p
had been completed for il
several months, but construction OF s
the locomotives, each of which COM p
mands as much pulling power as three a
steam locomotives, was delayed owing