COLLISIONS AND THEIR CAUSES.
Railroad statistics show that the cost of operating and maintaining the present through express trains is very great, as all other trains must be hurried through at a rate of speed that is neither wise nor economical, in order to reach some particular point where these trains may be sided to allow the passage of express trains. The result of all this is soon apparent on trains and road beds, entailing additional expense for repairs, to say nothing of the danger attending this system of dodging. It is estimated that from fifty to sixty per cent. of the accidents on railroads ensue from collisions, and this in spite of the most improved system of signaling, numerous dispatching stations, and facilities for sending messages by telegraph.
Collisions occur, not so much from the speed of express trains, but from the various rates of speed of the different trains. It is readily apparent that no collisions could occur where trains running in the same direction maintain a uniform rate of speed. This cannot be, however, and therefore, in order to facilitate transportation, more lines must be accessible to perform this with safety and economy.
With the Bicycle System this can be accomplished much cheaper than with any other, as we have shown. As certain as it is that it costs ten times as much to move ten tons as it does one ton, it is just as certain that a corresponding ratio of proportion between Bicycle and standard gauge trains must reduce the cost of operation ten-fold, as they are one-fifth the weight and twice the seating capacity. When this is taken into consideration, with the additional factor of safety, which is desirable above all else, surely the Bicycle System should be entitled to great consideration.
Aside from the question of speed and safety, this system should commend itself to all railway managers who have other than personal interests to serve, from the fact of the important bearing the question of economy has upon it.
It may be asked if it is really true that the trains may be run on this system so much cheaper than any other, and supposing the weight of trains are equal, could this high rate of speed be maintained? To this we say emphatically, yes! Two things must be borne in mind, however; first, that in order to carry weight at a high rate of speed, an additional expense must necessarily ensue, as much from the damage done on the road bed and wear on rolling stock, as the actual consumption of fuel. Second, the amount of gain, providing the weight of trains were equal, would be the actual friction saved by Bicycle trains, as we have shown, from the action of the single wheels on the rail. That this would be considerable will not be questioned, and yet this is not all, Light cars may be run on this system at very high rates of speed with the greatest safety, and because they are light, with wonderful economy.
May not cars of the same weight be run on standard gauge roads? It is impossible; as in running at any considerable rate of speed, they would inevitably leave the rail; and from the tendency to lateral motion, and also from the inequalities of the rail, they would be tossed up first on one side and then on the other. This danger would be greatly increased from a light construction.
Not so with the Bicycle trains. Supposing from the inequalities of the rail these cars should bound, from the fact of their having received a direct impelling motion in a vertical direction, they would not be thrown off, but would fall back squarely on the rail. This would be the natural tendency, but in order to prevent any possible chance of leaving the rail, the overhead structure is so gauged that the cars and locomotives cannot rise far enough to clear the flanges of the wheels.
The present standard gauge cars must be constructed heavier in order to stand the great strain resulting from their oscillating motion, and also from the fact that they are supported only from the base or platform of the car.