The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-23
CAS- TRAINS NOW
Manufacturers Develop Two
Car Gasoline Propelled Trains.
Are Used for Duty on Lines
Where Traffic Is Light.

Just how far the manufacturers of
gasoline railway equipment can go in
the development of light cars and
trains for the practical and efficient
replacement of heavy trains, is a
question. Rapid strides have been
made along this line in the past year
or two and the rail car has proven to
be the correct solution of transporta-
ton difficulties on many short lines
where traffic is light and steady losses
have been sustained thru the oper-
alton of steam trains.
Thus far manufacturers have con-
fined their efforts, to a large extent,
to the single car unit, either building
bodies right on the chassis or build
ing semi-trailsr bodies, the front ends
of which are mounted on the power
units. In many cases these methods
do not meet the requirements of the
operators. A single car unit may be
large enough to handle ordinary traf-
fic on a particular railroad, yet at
times during the season when traffic
is heavier than usual the capacity OF
the single car is inadequate.
Two-Car Train Developed.
Going a step farther than the single
car gasoline railway unit, the -Four
Wheel Drive Auto company has de-
train equipped with all steel bodies
built and mounted by the Pullman
company. This train has just been
completed and is being used for DEM
onstration purposes at Chicago.
The bodies are finished in Pullman
style thruout and are capable of han
ding forty-six passengers and baggage
The forward car of the train is the
power unit and is divided into two Sec
tons, one being reserved for a bag
gage and motorman's compartment
and the other section equipped to
a smoking section.
The rear car is devoted entirely to
the accommodation of passengers. II
contains sixteen seats and accommo-
dates thirty-two passengers very COM
fortably. The interior finish is of a
high grade.
Bodies Are Insulated.
Necessary precautions have been
taken in the insulation of the bodies
so that vibrations and their attending
noises are not communicated to the
interior of the cars. With buses
equipped with Rheumatic tires and
operated on the highways, most of the
jars and vibrations are absorbed by
the tires and springs, but when oper-
ated on rails al with the steel wheels
meeting the steel rails, the jars when
crossing rail joints and the noise OF
the vibration can only be partly alb
sorbed by the springs; the remainder
is transmitted to the body. Hence the
necessity of body insulation.
Among other modern devices this
train is equipped with air brakes on
both cars, NJ. c. B. couplers front and
rear, electric starting and lighting de-
vices, heating attachment which is
coupled to the motor exhaust, a sand
ing device for sanding the rails, q
powerful searchlight mounted on the
forward car to be used for night run
ming and 1Ocnrnntivo TYNE cow
catcher.
Altho there is no indication at the
present time of the gasoline rail unit
ever being used to replace the steam
locomotive in heavy duty service, the
place which the motor car does hold
| in the efficient and profitable oper-
alton of railroads is fast being recog-
MI