Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1917 — LIGHTING TRAINS AT NIGHT [ARTICLE]

LIGHTING TRAINS AT NIGHT

Axle-Driven Unit System Appears to Be Most Sensible Device-Car Made Independent. When you ride in an up-to-date railroad train at night you invariably notice the electric illumination. Once — in our grandfathers’ day—lt was produced by the evil-smelling oil lamp. Then we had, and still do have to some extent, the gas-lamp supplied by a high pressure gas tank supported under the coach: But toduy we find all the best railroad passenger coaches equipped with electric lights. There are three systems for securing this modern light. The storage way calls for a very large battery on each car which has to be charged at terminal stations, a cause of no Inconsiderable delay and bother. Another device is calied the head-end system, where there is provided a special electric generating equipment' on the engine for supplying the lighting energy needed by the cars trailing along behind. This is cumbersome and so open to other objections that the pluu is seldom adopted. What appears to be the-most sensible device is the axle-driven unit system, which makes each car an independent unit, goes about, its own business, charges its own battery en route and is In every way sufficient unto itself. The operating department handles cars and trains oblivious of lighting problems, as it has only to couple the cars and airhose. There are no special switching of cars, no interference and no delay.