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equal to two-thirds that of the current-generating machine, at 

 which time more than fifty per cent, of the power of the stationary 

 < 1 1 trine is actually utilised. 



This little railway has been in operation daily for several 

 months, affording great amusement to the visitors at the Exhibi- 

 tion. The magneto-electric engine exerts 5 horse-power, and it 

 / ravels at a velocity of 15 to 20 miles an hour. Crowded trains 

 left the station every five or ten minutes ; and the pennies paid 

 for the privilege of a seat have produced a considerable sum for 

 the benefit of charitable institutions. Many who were not so 

 fortunate as to secure a seat on the train, amused themselves by 

 touching the centre bar and one of the two rails after the train 

 had passed, when a succession of electric discharges was distinctly 

 felt. 



The success attending this toy railway has given rise to the 

 idea of useful applications upon a larger scale. An elevated 

 tramway to connect one end of the city of Berlin with the other, 

 has been projected, but its execution has hitherto been delayed in 

 consequence of the objections raised by the inhabitants of the 

 streets through which the tramway was to pass. These objections 

 would not apply, however, in many cases ; and I have little doubt 

 that before long we shall have electric tramways in connection 

 with our mines, and for the conveyance of passengers along the 

 roads between populous centres. 



In passing through an adit or tunnel, the entire freedom of 

 smoke from the electro-motor is a matter of great importance ; and 

 the administration of the St. Gothard Tunnel contemplate seriously 

 the application of an electro-motor for conveying trains through 

 that gigantic tunnel. Circumstances are in this case highly 

 favourable to the employment of an electro-motor, because at 

 both ends of the tunnel turbines of enormous aggregate power are 

 actually established (having been employed in the operation of 

 boring the tunnel), and all that has to be done is to insulate one of 

 the rails, and to connect dynamo machines of sufficient power to 

 the turbines and to the train itself. 



Instead of the central bar, a copper or other conducting rope 

 may be used to convey the current from the dynamo machine to 

 the train. This conducting rope would rest upon wooden or glass 

 supports, to be picked up by the train in order to pass over one or 



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