Those great mountain-hogs that draw most of
the mountain railroad trains are very powerful, aren't they? And
they are speedy."
"Locomotives that use coal or oil have been developed about as
far as they can be," said Mr. Swift, quietly. "A successful
electric locomotive has many advantages over the old-time
engine."
"What are those advantages?" asked the business manager,
quickly. "I confess, I do not understand the matter, Mr. Swift."
"For instance," proceeded the old gentleman, "there is the coal
question alone. Coal is rising in price. It is bulky. Using
electricity as motive power for railroads will do away with fuel
trains, tenders, coal handling, water, and all that. Of course,
Mr. Bartholomew will generate his electricity from water power--
the cheapest power on earth."
"Humph! I've got my answer right now," said Ned Newton. "If
there is no other good reason, this is sufficient."
"There are plenty of others," drawled Tom, smiling. "Good ones.
For instance, heat or cold has nothing to do with the even
running of an electric locomotive. It can bore right through a
snowbank--a thing a steam engine can't do. It runs at an even
speed. Really, grade should have nothing to do with its speed.
There is a fault somewhere in the construction of the Jandel
machine or the H. & P. A. would have little trouble with those
locomotives on its grades.
"Then, all you have to do to start an electrified locomotive is
to turn a handswitch.
Pages:
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65