241 



ployed in increasing the adhesion of the car-wheels to the 

 rails. 



BESSBROOK, NEWEY. 



At the Bessbrook spinning works, Newry, Ireland, there is 

 an electric tram running having a capacity for 34 passengers. 

 The trams surmount grades of 1 in 85 at a speed of seven miles 

 an hour easily. The motive power is supplied by a turbine 

 wheel, the conductor being an inserted steel channel laid on 

 insulators between the rails. 



siemexs and holske. 

 The Siemens and Holske electric railway from the Military 

 Academy at Berlin to Potsdam, eight miles distant, is in suc- 

 cessful operation on an ordinary railway, insulated wheel tyres 

 being used to take off the current. 



BLACKPOOL. 



An electric tramway has been installed at Blackpool, Eng- 

 land. The electrical portion of this line is placed beneath the 

 surface of the street, and the rails are not used as in the previous 

 case at Berlin, but the conductor consists of two copper ellip- 

 tical tubes having a wide slot for attachment to iron studs sup- 

 ported upon porcelain insulators, fixed to creosoted blocks of 

 wood. The tubes are attached to the studs by wooden wedge 

 pins. This line is working very satisfactorily. 



ECONOMY OF ELECTEICITT AS A MOTIVE POWER. 



As an economical agent for propulsion it is claimed for elec- 

 tricity that when used as a motor every pair of wheels can be 

 utilised for pulling or retarding. That by a suitable propor- 

 tion in the speed of the generator to that of the electro motors- 

 70 per cent, of the effect given out by the generators can be 

 utilised. 



It has also been demonstrated that a power equal to that 

 developed by one horse can be obtained from an electro motor 

 for every 50 lbs. dead weight of car. 



It is also claimed that when the rails are used as a medium 

 through which the electric current passes there is no chance of 

 accident from a broken rail, as the current would be either 

 broken or so much attenuated as to cause a stoppage of the 

 motor. Each horsepower of effective energy developed by the 

 stationary engine that supplies the power will produce in the 

 electro motor an effective energy equal to one-half horse- 

 power. 



The motion communicated to the electro motor being circular 

 and not reciprocating as in an ordinary steam engine, it is 

 claimed that all shocks and jars are avoided, and the mainte- 

 nance of the motive machinery, permanent way, bridges, &c, 



R 



