Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

128 ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD. principle the cost under this and other heads would be reduced considerably. Current for the lines is supplied from the main Elberfeld Generating Station, which is well equipped with powerful reciprocating and turbine en- gines driving large alternators. The car motors take direct current at about 550 volts. The line includes many curves, some of them very severe. There are two of 250 feet radius. The principle of suspension permits even these curves to be negoti- ated safely at speeds of over 30 miles an hour ; in fact, it is said that at high speeds the cars appear to travel round curves more smoothly than at low speeds. At the terminal loops curves of only 30 feet radius are used, but on these the cars move very slowly. The track runs slightly downhill from the Barmen terminus to Sonnborn, and from that point climbs to Vohwinkel up gradients as steep as 4 per cent, in places. Between sta- tions the normal maximum speed is 20 miles an hour, and the average end- Speed. to-end speed, inclusive of the stops at the eighteen intermediate stations, about 14 miles an hour. The signalling is of the electric automatic type, a train blocking the section immediately behind it. The inhabitants of the Wupper valley are able to travel on their suspended railway at the very moderate charge of one and a half farthings per mile. Luxurious folk, who prefer first-class seats, have to pay slightly more than a halfpenny. Though the main railway from Düsseldorf to Hanover and a number of electric tramways take the same route, the “ suspended ” is well patronized, especially on Sundays, when the valley world and his wife and children are on pleasure bent. Within eighteen months of completion the monthly traffic had risen to nearly 400,000 passengers. TRIAL CAR PASSING ROUND A 250-METRE RADIUS CURVE AT A SPEED OF 37 MILES AN HOUR. Observe how the car swings outwards.