HIGH SPEED RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING. XLIX. 



the tyres of which were shaped like the top table of the 

 rail. The 16 rollers, which were mounted on a strong 

 frame, were free to revolve at any speed. In this way the 

 motors could be driven at full speed in the workshop, with 

 the desired frictional resistance of the rails, represented 

 by the rollers, but without any motion in the car itself. 



To move each passenger at the rate of 140 miles per 

 hour, as proposed by this scheme, will absorb 60 HP., an 

 enormous increase on that expended in conveying one 

 passenger that distance at ordinary express speeds, at the 

 present time. Though there may be some economy in the 

 production of a HP. through electrical means, it is very 

 doubtful if there is a sufficiently numerous class of the 

 travelling public, whose time would be so valuable as to 

 justify them paying for such an expensive luxury. It is 

 probable therefore that, unless supported by Government 

 subsidy, the Berlin trials will have no effect beyond the 

 record of an interesting experiment. 



The new London to Brighton express electric line now 

 before Parliament, is to be an ordinary bi-rail one. The 

 present express service occupies 1 hour and 10 minutes in 

 running 46 miles. By the new line, it is proposed to have 

 a half -hourly service of 32 minutes. Unlike the Manchester 

 and Liverpool however, there will be at least one stoppage 

 on the route which gives, to some extent, a risk of accident. 

 Heavy viaducts nearly 7 miles in total length, and 14 

 tunnels, having an aggregate length of 19^ miles, one of 

 them being 7J miles, are necessary for the purpose of avoid- 

 ing sharp curvature, valuable property, and various obstruc- 

 tions. Hence, though the comparatively moderate through 

 speed of 86 miles per hour will not require such costly 

 power per passenger, as in the Berlin line, the interest on 

 capital will be so high that the expectation of the pro- 

 moters as to patronage must be very great. The present 



