Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1895 — GOOD-BY TO STEAM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GOOD-BY TO STEAM.

Electricity Taking Ita Place in Moving Paaacnger and Freight Trains The steady whirr of the world's largest electric locomotive Is singing the death song to steam on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and electric motors a trifle smaller are Joining in the song on a branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad at Nantasket Beach. And thus a new era in railroading is being organised and that which but a few years ago was but the dream of Inventors and electricians is now a reality; and so used to wonders has the world becoine that this latest gigantic stride In the science of rapid transit will cause not the least surprise. As far as actual operation Is concerned the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad has the lead, although the line upon which the new electric locomotives have just been put In operation is only seven miles long and of an experimental nature. On the other hand the Baltimore and Ohio, which Tvill be but a few days behind its predeecessor In point of operation, will give its three 90-ton electric locomotives such practical work to do that the test will be a perfect one. The three giant motors which the Baltimore and Ohio will use to propel both freight and passenger trains through its new tunnel under the city of Baltimore are the largest In the world. The tests which have been made with the one locomotive which Is already completed have shown that Its power Is In excess of that of a steam engine of the same weight These locomotives are the triumph of the age, for they demonstrate beyond a doubt that electric traction for railroads now run by steam Is practicable. The trolley system Is employed for conveying the current to the motors, but the arrangement of tho trolley shoe is different than has ever been made before. Tho locomotive Itself la

built in the form of a double cab of symmetrical form and constructed with tho object of running either way. On one end of tho locomotive Is a bell and on the other a compressed air whistle operated from the same reservoir which supplies the air brakes. Th's reservoir Is kept filled with air at tho proper pressure by a separate motor which works automatically, stopping when the proper pressure is attained and starting again when It diminishes. There are four motors, one to each axle. They are the largest railway motors In the world. They are rated at 300-horse-power each, and require normally 900 amperes of current to oj>erate them. They are pyramidal In shape and have six poles and six brushes, and are gearless. They rest upon cross bars, hung upon springs upon the side frames of the truck. The armature of the motor Is not mounted upon the axle Itself, but upon a sleeve through which the axle passes. When the current Is turned Into the motor the armature revolves and communicates Its motion to the wheel by a novel method. Shrunk on to the ends of the sleeve is a cast steel star, each arm of which carries two cushions of rubber. In each wheel are receptacles Into which these arms are pressed. As the armature rotates, the arms of the star revolve and tho wheels on the axles are propelled forward. This method of suspension allows the armature to revolve freely and adjust Itself to any unevenness of the track.

A MAMMOTH B. & O. ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE.