THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



THE EDISON ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE 



In 1880, Mr. Thomas A. Edison, at Menlo Park, 

 New Jersey, perfected a series of electric-railway motors 

 and locomotives that were actually employed in hauling 

 freight and passengers. The following year Mr. Edison 

 made a contract with Mr. Henry Villard, which stipu- 

 lated that the inventor was to construct an electric rail- 

 way at least two miles and a half in length, which was 

 to be equipped witH two locomotives and three cars, one 

 locomotive for freight and one for passengers, the pas- 

 senger locomotive to have a capacity of sixty miles an 

 hour. It was agreed that if the experiment with this 

 railway proved successful Mr. Villard was to reimburse 

 ]Mr. Edison for the actual outlay, and to install at least 

 fifty miles of electric road in the wheat regions of the 

 Northwest. 



The electric locomotives built by Mr. Edison were 

 constructed along the usual lines of steam locomotives, 

 with cab, headlight, and cowcatcher, the motive power 

 being applied from the motors to the axle by means of 

 friction pulleys. This method was soon abandoned, as 

 the pulleys slipped a great deal before the locomotive 

 actually started. A system of belts which was sub- 

 stituted proved more satisfactory. The current was 

 conveyed to the motor through the track, and was sup- 

 plied to the road by underground cables connecting 

 from the dynamo-room of Mr. Edison's laboratory. 

 The rails were insulated from the ties by coatings of 

 Japan varnish, and by placing them on pads made of 

 muslin impregnated with tar. 



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