LXXXVI. HIGH SPEED ELECTRIC RAILWAYS TRIALS. 
THE HIGH SPEED HLECTRIC RAILWAY TRIALS on 
THE BERLIN ZOSSEN LINE or 1901, 1902 anp 1903. 
By C. O. BURGE, . Inst. 0.5. 
[Read before the Engineering Section of the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, 
November 18, 1903. ] 
(Abstract.) 
THIS paper is a Sequel to that read by the author last year, 
before the Society, on *“‘ Recent developments in high speed 
railway construction and working,’”’ and contains informa- 
tion regarding the trials referred to in it, not then available. 
The trials took place in 1901, 1902 and recently, on a line 
near Berlin about 14 miles long, having very easy grades 
and curves. An existing power house 8 miles from the 
line was utilized for the supply of the 3 phase alternating 
current required, this being conveyed by 3 overhead feeders 
to the line wires, the return being through rails and a cable. 
The rails, laid to the standard guage of 4 ft. 8}in., were 
67°33 Ibs. to the yard, and the road was of the ordinary 
pattern in useinGermany. For the first experiments, two 
single cars were designed, in friendly rivalry, by the Allge- 
meine Hlektricitats Gesellschaft and by Messrs. Siemens 
and Halske respectively. They were generally alike, as 
regards the power, of four 250 HP motors, capacity for 50 
passengers, and form, of about 70 ft. long by 9 ft. 4 in. 
wide, and in resting on two six-wheel bogies, the wheels 
being 4 ft. 1:°s in. in diameter, and making 853 revolutions 
per minute for the speed aimed at, viz., 124 miles per hour. 
The bogie wheel base was 12 ft. 55 in. The motors, in 
both cars, actuated the leading and trailing axles of each 
bogie. There were, however, important differences in 
detail which will be referred to later. 
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