The Morning News

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE SPEEDED.

Railroad Men in General Studying the B. and O. Tunnel Equipment.

Baltimore, Md., Sept. 7.—The first speed test of electric locomotive No. 1, which has been used to draw trains through the Belt line tunnel, was made yesterday. A speed of 61 miles an hour was developed. This was made on the heavy grade of the tunnel, and the engineers say it was equivalent to 75 miles an hour on a level track. Representatives of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and of the General Electric Company were in the cab of the electric giant and are well pleased with the result. Since Aug. 4 locomotive No. 1 has been hauling the entire freight service of the Baltimore and Ohio through the tunnel, and it has been daily ready for the operation every hour of the twenty-four. The average speed maintained in hauling heavy freights has been fifteen miles an hour. Two more of the locomotives are now in progress of erection at Schenectady, N. Y., and in a few weeks both of these will be brought to Baltimore for service. The original plan for the overhead structure in the tunnel and for the locomotives have been adhered to and Engineer Parker stated that no departure from them is contemplated. A large number of railroad officials and electrical engineers from other cities have been inspecting the new service in the tunnel, and it is now generally regarded as a practical success. Arrangements are being made for a visit to Baltimore of a delegation from St. Louis, including the officers of the Terminal association of that city. The object of the trip is to study the operations of the tunnel equipment here, with a view of installing such a plant in St. Louis for hauling trains through the long tunnel entering that city.