. The street railway review . matters of efficiency and general utility mustdetermine the desirability of electric power for any particular rail-way service. If traffic is such that a large number of trains must be operated ona division, the electric power will have an advantage in point ofeconomy, over steam locomotives; and if the trains are few, thereverse will be the case. This condition holds good independentlyof the weight of the trains or of the speed attained. The length ofthe line is in itself no bar to the successful operation of an electricrailway system, as, by using alternating cu
. The street railway review . matters of efficiency and general utility mustdetermine the desirability of electric power for any particular rail-way service. If traffic is such that a large number of trains must be operated ona division, the electric power will have an advantage in point ofeconomy, over steam locomotives; and if the trains are few, thereverse will be the case. This condition holds good independentlyof the weight of the trains or of the speed attained. The length ofthe line is in itself no bar to the successful operation of an electricrailway system, as, by using alternating current apparatus, the powerstations may be located favorably, and at long distances apart. For roads operating on their own right of way, there is really noserious objections to the third rail, and all of the difBcuIties encoun-tered at crossings, switches and in yards can be overcome by methodsalready in use, or by other devices that have been proposed. Theexperience already gained also justifies the statement that a reliable. METROPOLITAN SYSTEM, CHICAGO. overhead or conduit system for heavy service can be constructed ifthe conditions favor the use of such methods. The Metropolitan Elevated Railroad, now in its second year ofoperation, is the largest road in existence employing exclusivelyelectric power for a heavy passenger service. The structure has four tracks, from Market street west to Marsh-field avenue, at which point three double track lines diverge. Thenortherly branch divides again near Robey street into two doubletrack branches. From Market street to each of the terminals, thedistance is about six miles. (See map, Fig i). Current is conveyed to the trains by the third rail system, the trolley rail being placed 20s in. outside, and 6I4! in. above the run-ning rail. It is of the common T section, bonded with leaf copperbonds, divided into sections to provide for expansion. The insula-tion for the third rail, on all but a very small section of the road, con-sists of ha
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Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectstreetrailroads
