RAILS BLAZE FOR MILES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12853, 29 April 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

RAILS BLAZE FOR MILES.

ELECTRICITY MELTS IRON TRUSSES. The Central Railroad of New Jersey was v tied up at Soiriferville for three hours recent- , ly as the result, of a trolley wire charging the rail with electricity and disarranging the block system for eight miles. The trolley line of the Public Service Corporation passes under the railroad by a subway. An overhead wire in the subwajr, in some manner ' that is still a mystery, was placed in contact with the iron trusses of the central's overhead bridge about midnight. The bridge became so heavily charged with electricity that one of the iron trusses was melted and the rails of the main track became redhot. An electric current, spread through the rails /or a distance of live miles on either sidfi of the bridge that endangered the lives of passengers and railroad operatives. The heavens were brilliantly illuminated for miles around by great flashes of blue fire. *"* as the strong current of- electricity played tag along the rails in the open country. A still alarm was sent in to the fire department, and the firemen responded with ft chemical engine and finally shut off the electric current by passing a wire over the trolley wire a short distance from the bridge and pulling it to the ground. The rails and trusses of the bridge were so badly warped by the heat that it was necessary to replace them to resume traffic.