Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1889 — Where Cars Are Run With Sails. [ARTICLE]

Where Cars Are Run With Sails.

lAwns looking at some models, in the Nißional Museum, of curious cars used in the early days of railroading in this country, when Mr. Watkins, the curator, pointed out one particular one that had a mast and sail. Experiments with such cars were made on the Baltimore & Ohio and on-tho South Carolina road. It was then a serious question whether the motive power on railroads would be sail, horse or steam. The steam locomotive was looked upon as an experiment. Sail cars are used today on a guano railroad on the island of .Malden, in the South Pacific. They are, in fact, used nearer home than that, for railroad men at Barnegat Beach, when the wind is favorable, frequently ride over the road on construction cars, sloop-rigged. “The wind has a good deal to do with railroading even to-day,” Mr. Watkins said. “If you go to the Board of Intelligence at the Board street station. Phi 1adelphia, and ask if sometrain, say from New York, is likelyrto be ou time, you may be informed that it is likely to be jour or five minutes late because there is a strong wind from the west, Winds make considerable difference in tho running time of trains.”—Philadelphia Telegraph.