ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1632, 26 December 1912, Page 4

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

WHAT THE EDISON STORAGE BATTERY CAN ACHIEVE.

CHEAP TRANSPORT SYSTEM.

(By Telcffraph.-Special Correspondent.) ' Auckland, December 23. 'In New Zealand you have an excel* lent opportunity of making your railways the most modern ia the wu'rld," said Mr. Buckleton, M.1.C.E., of London, to a "Herald" reporter. Mr. Buckleton is at present touring the '■ world on behalf of several London engineering firms, and he has watched with a professional ere the rapid progress of the railways in the various countries he has visited. He remarked on New Zealand's opportunity while explaining that he Had been very much interested in the adoption in the United States of the electric locomotive, which was becoming increasingly popular on the big passenger routes. "There has been a great deal of doubt cast upon the alleged success of the latest storage, battery invented by Edison," he said, "but on my way to Australasia I was given the opportunity of seeing the trial of a train propelled by electricity derived from the latest Edison storage cell, and I was very favourably impressed. If the rates of cost as submitted by the engineering firm who had the trial ia hand can be taken as correct, then I think with some experience and practice l this typo of locomotive will shortly be found in most countries in the world."

The trial was made, Mr. Buckleton continued, from Pennsylvania to Long Beach on the Long Island railroad, a distance of about 25 miles. The train consisted of « number of carriages (if he remembered correctly, five), each equipped with an electric motor, but the whole five could be controlled by one motorman in the front vestibule of the first car. -Each car was equipped with 220 cells of the Edison storage type, giving a current of about AOO volts; to-each motor..Sufficient power was forthcoming from the cells to drive the train for the whole distance, and the journey from Pennsylvania to Long 'Beach 7 was cbvered~in r 'less''than an" hour. This could have been done more quickly if the line had been clear of the ordinary traffic. , .._.,, ~....,,. On arrival at Long-Beach the cells were. recharged, and it was' in the recharging. that the advantages of Edison's, invention were manifest. Only 20 minutes was occupied in recharging the whole, of the five cars, the current being ob- ; tained from tho Long Island Railway' Company's "third line, this being a part' of the overhead electric system in operation on this line. "Tho journey back was covered in 50 minutes," said Mr. Buckleton, "including four stoppages of a minute or so each, and all the engineers who had seats on the train were unanimous that the trial was a success. The comfortable riding, easy stoppages, and free gliding motion were all that could be-de-sired, and these were all tho mqre re-< niarkable for tho first time the cars had been on the rails." "Bat it was when we. alighted at Penn« sylvania that we got the biggest surprise, for the officials showed us papers indicating that the power consumed for the whole 50 miles cost only Bs. Moreover, they said that there had been no need to recharge the cells at Long Bench, as their capacity would carry tho train for 80 miles at the top speed of 45 miles aa hour." . . "When this system has had more severe tests," said Mr. Buckleton, "I have no doubt that it will become the most popular one in the States. As for the New Zealand railways, if it is a success,, there is no doubt that it would be by far the most economical for your suburban services. I understand that your Govern-, ment has several hydro-electric power schemes in hand, and in my humble opinion careful inquiries should be made regarding the adoption of the system for the. shorter lines. Tho cost of installation would no-doubt be a difficulty, but the economy of running and the rapidity, and ease with which the-cars can would make it the best system for your suburbs."