Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1917 — LOST ENERGY IS CONSERVED [ARTICLE]

LOST ENERGY IS CONSERVED

In Going Down Hill Electricity Is Generated by Reversing Motor on Certain Western Road. A western railroad in its newly electrified line over the Rockies not only utilizes tW ordinarily lost in holding back trains, but on the numerous down grades actually generates power that can be used to help pull other trains up. It does It by applying the principle that a motor when reversed becomes a generator. The locomotives are so constructed that on reaching the top of a grade the em gineer can brake his train down grade by reversing the air brakes for an emergency. Reversing the motor in the locomotive transforms it at once into a dynamo flrat is run by the weight of the train as it descends the grade. Virtually file same amount of "electricity is generated that the motor would consume in pulling the same load up-grade. The current is fed into the overhead trolley wire and so is added to its store of energy. ;