ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 188, 28 December 1912, Page 3

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

WHAT THE EDISON STORAGE BATTERY CAN ACHIEVE. CHEAP TRANSPORT SYSTEM. Auckland, December 23. "In New Zealand you have an excellent opportunity of making your railways the most modern in the world, said Mr. Alfred 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 eye. the rapid progress of the railways in the various countries lie has visited, lie remarked 011 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 lias 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 \v:'.s given the opportunity of scciii" the. trial of a train propelled by electricity derived from the latest Edison storage cell, and I was very favoiably impressed. If the rates of cost as submitted by the engineering firm who had the trial in hand can be taken as correct, then I think with some experience and practice this type 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 a number of carriages (if _h<! remembered correctly, five), each equipped with an electric motor, but the whole five could be controlled by one motoraian in the front vestibule of the first'ear. Eacli car was equipped with 2-20 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 foi the whole distance, and the journey from Pennsylvania to Long Beach was covered in less tlijin an hour. This could have been done more quickly if the line had been clear of the oidinaij tra flic. On arrival at Long Beach, the cells were re-charged, and it was in the lecharging that the advantages of Edison's invention were manifest. Only 20 minutes was occupied in recharging the whole of the live cars, the current being obtained from the Long Island Railway Company's "third line." this being a part of the overhead electric system in operation oil this line. "The 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 j could be desired, and these were all the move remarkable for the first time the cars had been on the rails, ''But it was when we alighted at Pennsylvania that we got the biggest surprise, for Hie 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 cell* at Long Beach, as their capacity would carry the train for SO miles at the to]) speed of 45 miles an hour." ''When thin system lias 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 Government ha* several hydro-electric power schemes m hand, and in my humble opinion careful enquiries should be made regarding the adoption of the system for the shorter lines. The cost of installation would no doubt be a difficulty, but the economy of running and? the rapidity and ease with which the cars can be handled would make it the best system for your suburbs."