ELECTRIC LIGHTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5356, 6 September 1895, Page 3

ELECTRIC LIGHTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

1 The Mariawatu Railway Company hay* ing decided to light its express trains with electricity, and having the installation of some of the carriages completed, a trial was made last evening. A telegram fiom Wellington says that the directors and a number of influential gentlemen, many of whom are experts in the matter of electricity, were invited to a run to Forirua, some fourteen miles frcm town. Three or four carriages were connected to I the locomotive, and at 7.30 a start was 1 made. The power is obtained from a dynamo placed under the floor of the luggage van, and worked by a belt from the wheel of. the car. In this car ia aleo an accumulator, the latter precaution being necessary to ensure the light bum'- ' ing when the train stops or in the event of j any accident to the machinery. Last night, | after running about six miles with kerosene ! lampß alight, the latter were shut off and the electric light switched on. The effect was at once, apparent, and the improve* ment over oil was generally remarked. I Lamps of ten and sixteen-candle power ! were used. The authorities state that | sufficient electricity can be stored on the trip to Palmerston North to light the train for the whole of the journey, even should an accident occur to the dynamo. It is eaid that the coet compares favoutably with that of oil. The wires conveying the current, are carried underneath the carriages, and the connection is easily made by the insertion of a plug, much in the same manner aa connections are made in the annunciators of the telephone exchange.