THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

The Electric Locomotive.-The most interesting development of the overhead (trolley) system is, of course, the 96-lon electric locomotive. The following data, relating to the machine are given by the builders of the electrical part of the locomotive, the General Electric Company: Number of trucks, 2; number of motors, 4 (2 to each truck); weight on driving wheels, 192,000 pounds (96 tons); number of driving wheels, 8; drawbar pull, 42,000 pounds; starting drawbar pull, 60,000 pounds; gauge, 4 feet 8 inches; diameter of drivers, 62 inches outside of tires; length over all, 35 feet; height to top of cab, 14 feet 3 inches.

This machine has been in operation since August 4th, 1895, at Baltimore, hauling the entire northbound freight service of the B. and O. railroad. Every train has been handled promptly and the locomotive has been ready at any and all hours during the day, causing no delay to traffic.

Up to the present time no train which would hold together has been found heavy enough to cause the electric locomotive to slip its wheels under ordinary fair conditions. The capacity of the locomotive has been by no means reached.

NOTE.-Test was made to learn its capacity for running a loaded train on an up grade. For this purpose a train consisting of two steam locomotives, not working, and 27 loaded freight cars, was brought to a stop while going north through the tunnel. Here the grade is 42 feet to the mile, and the rails were damp and greasy. The weight of the train alone was 1125 tons, or 1221 including the electric locomotive. Every drawbar was tight, no slack occurring throughout the the length of the train. In this condition current was turned into the motors and movement was immediately communicated to the train. At the end of one minute the train was moving at a speed of ten and one-half miles an hour, and at this point the speed was increased to the usual rate.

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LINE WORK.

Instructions and Cautions for Linemen.-When cutting wire, grip the line with the cutting jaws of the pliers and move and down at right angles with the wire two or three times, so that you cut the insolation part of the way round on both sides; then hold your pliers firmly, bend the wire once or twice up and down with your left hand and the wire will break. Never try to break the wire by twisting your pliers, unless you first move the line out of the cutting jaws. There is no excuse for nicks in the cutting jaws of Stub's pliers, and careful linemen rarely have it happen.

In stripping the ends of wire to make a connection, always cut along the wire towards the end, in much the same manner as if whittling a stick. Never cut round the wire with the edge of the knife or pliers, except when cutting the wire.

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In making joints, be careful never to let the cutting jaws or edge of your tools score "the wire. If you do, don't cover it up, but make a new joint.

After a joint is made with not less than four turns each side of the connectors, dip or moisten with acid. If you are on the ground, dip the joint in melted solder and hold it there a few seconds to thoroughly heat the joint, then take it out. If well "tinned," dip it in water to remove any acid which may be on the ends of the wire near the insulation.

NOTE.-For very much of the following pages relating to practical electric railroading we are indebted to Jas. I. Ayer, General Manager, St. Louis, Mo.

LINE WORK.

If where you cannot dip the joint, but have to use the ladle, pour the solder frequently over the joint until it leaves a thin, smooth coating on the wire. It is not properly done if the solder is in lumps or on in a thick layer.

If you are obliged to use a blow pot," hold the joint in the flame until the solder will easily melt when held against the wire after the flame is removed. When this is accom. plished, apply the solder with the flame, and not before.

Solder is put on the joints to keep them from corroding, thereby insuring good contact where the two wires come together, and is of no use if not well applied.

After the joint is well cleaned of acid after being soldered, paint it thoroughly with insulating compound, then cover with a layer of tape, which you will start on one side of the joint, against the insulation of the wire, but not over it. Have the first layer cover the joint and bare wire only. When this is done, paint it, then start back over the joint and tape unti you have run over the line insulation about two inches, then wrap two more layers, painting each when done.

In wrapping tape, cover what you have half, or lap onehalf. After four layers are on, paint the whole thoroughly.

Whenever you find a break in the insulation on the line anywhere, paint it first, then tape and paint it. Don't forget

this.

In "tying in," never draw the tie wire so as to bend a kink in the line or cut through the insulation with the tie. A tie will properly hold the wire in place without drawing it so tight as to do either.