Evening star., 1934-06-24
NEW H|GH-SPEED
TRANSPORTATION
IN NEW YORK CITY
Lightweight, Quick-S Start
ing Elevated Trains to
Change Habits.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, June 23.-A new
chapter in city transportation history
was written this week with the intro
duction of the lightweight, quick
starting and quick-stopping train for
use on elevated structures. For the
public. the new type of train may
eventually bring about drastic changes
in its riding habits.
The first of the new aluminium
high-accelerating trains was shown to
the public on the B. NJ. T. lines last
Tuesday. 1t is a flve-section, articu-
lated unit, finished in modernistic
style, with a glossy exterior to keep
down air resistance; neatly furnished
interior with comfortably upholstered
leather seats. All its mechanical
equipment is controlled from the
motorman's cab, and this includes
destination and route signs and door
opening and closing. One thing which
the passengers will be quick to notice
will be the chime arrangement on the
doors. After the doors have been
open 10 seconds the chime will sound
three times. This piece of bell idiom
can be translated as "Step Lively,
Please" Watch Your Step" or any
other favorite three-word warning.
This is followed by hvelier bell as
the doors close.
These improvements, however, are
superficial, and are the least impor-
tant of the new factors embodied in
this train of advanced design. It's
outstanding feature is that 1t will give
what amounts to express service on a
local schedule. This is made possible
by the reduced time in starting and
stopping and higher top speed between
stations
Under test conditions on an "El"
line the new aluminium train made
the trip from the terminal in Brook
lyn to the Brooklyn Bridge terminal
in New York, a distance of 113 miles,
in SO minutes. The present normal
running time is 49 minutes. There
are 80 station stops on the line. Sim
liar quick runs can be made on the
subway lines, according to the B. NJ T.
engineers.
The aluminium train has a maxi
mum speed of So miles an hour. while
the old type of Ell train has a top
speed of "a. The average speed on
a run, including stops, is what the
passengers will be interested in. The
new car has an average speed of Is
miles an hour, and present type IA.
In picking up speed when leaving a
station the new train accelerates at
the rate OF 4 miles an hour per
second, which is nearly three times
the is miles per second of the pres
ent 'Er' cars. The difference in the
retardation rate is almost as great
3 miles an hour per second, COM
pared with is.
The quick pickup is provided by
twelve '7c-horsepower motors. When
such a rapid pickup of speed is used
it is essential. for the comfort of the
passengers, that the accelerstion be
as smooth as possible. This smooth
ness is obtained by an electrical con-
troll system that reaches maximum
speed in 47 steps. In other words,
the train has AZ speeds and the
change from one to another is so
small that it is imperceptible. The
present type of train has 13 speeds.
In providing quick braking the de-
signers of the new train took over
an idea from the automobile. They
use the motors as brakes after the
fashion of the automobile driver COM
ing down a steep hill in second gear
This method is effective in bringing
the train down to a speed of miles
an hour. At this point the air brakes
are applied to bring the train to a
full stop.
Solution of the problem of providing
improved operation of the eel" lines
has been hindered because steel sub
way cars cannot be used on the ele-
waited structures because of their
weight When the new aluminium
cars were developed it was found that
their weight would be not only much
less than that of the subway cars,
but also that they would be much
lighter than the wooden "El' cars
The weight including passengers)
per linear foot of the standard type
of subway car, 81 feet long, is 2,014
pounds; of the new aluminium car,
1,540 pounds, and of the "El" car,
1,760 pounds. The new cars can be
used on the present elevated lines
without any construction changes.