THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ON THE RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9919, 7 September 1895, Page 5

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ON THE RAILWAY.

[Br TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. The Manawatu Railway Company having decided to light their express trains with electricity, and having the installation of some of the carriages completed, a trial was made yesterday evening. The directors and a number of influential gentlemen, many of whom were experts in the matter of electricity, were invited to a run to Porirua, some fourteen miles from town. Three or four carriages wore connected to a locomotive, and at half-past seven a start was made. The power is obtained from a dynamo placed under the floor of the luggage van, and worked by a belt from a wheel of the car. . In this car are also accumulators, the latter precaution being necessary to ensure the light burning when the train stops, or in the event of any accident to the machinery. After running about six railos with a kerosene lamp alight the latter was shut off, and the electric light switched on. The effect was at once apparent, and the improvement over the oil was generally remarked. Lamps of ten and sixteen candle power were used on both the journey out and in, and the steadiness of the light was noticeable. The authorities state that sufficient electricity can be stored on the trip to Palmerston North to light the train for the whole journey, even should an accident occur to the dynamo, and it is said that the cost compares favourably with oil. The wires conveying She current are carried underneath the carriages, and the connection is easily made by inserting a plug, much in the same manner as connections are made in the annunciator of the telephone exchange. A. Turnbull, electrical engineer, had charge of the installation, but all the appliances were arranged at the company's workshop.