THE PROBLEM OF RAPID TRANSIT SOLVED {f) 499 



plated. The first train may, in honor of the event, be silver-plated, but the gen- 

 eral idea is that, for the preservation of the cars, they be covered with sheets of 

 metal or be constructed of metal throughout. The general shape of the convey- 

 ance will be that of a cigar. 



For the engine which is to travel over the rails at such a tremendous rate of 

 speed, Mr. Abbe has devised several improvements in cyhnders, valves, seats, 

 etc., which, as they are of value to him and he hopes to have them patented 

 some day, are not described here. The general appearance of the engine is that 

 of three huge wheels preceded by a sloping frame and followed by a tank, from 

 the top of which rises a short smoke-stack. The tank contains the water which 

 is scooped up in transit from huge troughs between the rails. Through the tank 

 to the smoke-stack runs a pipe which, coming from the fire within the boiler, 

 heats the water in advance. Beneath this tank is a center-pin truck, with two 

 pair. of weels, a companion to which supports the head of the locomotive. Upon 

 these trucks rests the huge framework, which is bowed like a bridge and whose 

 oscillations, according to Mr. Abbe, will therefore be vertical, and not horizontal. 

 The driving-wheels which propel this piece of mechanism are to be three in num- 

 ber, resting upon three rails. The center wheels runs quite ahead of the other 

 two, but the pistons which operate it work from the other side of the same steam- 

 chests that furnish the power that propels them. The driving-wheels may be 

 flanged or not, according to the desire of the passengers. The engine will be 

 held upon the rails by the action of small wheels running horizontally or at angles 

 of 45° on the sides of the middle rail. The diameter of the truck-wheels will be 

 nine feet. The three driving-wheels will be twenty-four feet in diameter, giv- 

 ing a piston speed of 1,470 feet per minute to make the three miles which Mr. 

 Abbe expects his machine to cover in that time. "The shaft that has the 

 two wheels," according to Mr. Abbe, "has cranks on the inside of journals, the 

 center of pin corresponding with, the center of engines. Then when engines are 

 placed midway between the single and double drivers allows the double pair of 

 drivers to govern the machine when running, while the single wheel, running on 

 the center rail, is allowed an easy motion in conformity to the engines." 



The engineer who manipulates rhe reverse and the cut-off for the ideal ex- 

 press will occupy a position of some prominence, his domicile being placed be- 

 tween two of the big driving-wheels and behind the third. The fireman and 

 engineer will be widely separated, the fire-boxes being close to the ground and 

 extending on either side of the forward driving-wheel. Thus the engineer will 

 have to be his own lookout. The peculiar advantages of the position given to 

 the cab are said to be the vertical control over the engine and the superior view 

 of the track. 



The engines will have cylinders 30x42 inches in diameter and the open por- 

 tions of the skeleton frames will be filled in with a non-conducting substance of 

 asbestos and plaster-of-Paris, which will retain the heat and prevent condensa- 

 tion in the cylinders. The boiler will be pl?.ced on the lower frame under the 

 crank shafts. The coal bunkers are in the extreme forward end of the machine 



