Discover how engineers measure rolling resistance to improve electric streetcar operation.
This book presents the problem of train resistance in electric railways and the need for accurate measurements to guide line expansion and grade revisions. It explains how previous tests used dynamometer cars and the challenges in reading velocity and resistance, then introduces a new method and apparatus designed for precise, practical testing.
- A drop or drifting test approach to determine resistances by tracking velocity and distance on known grades.
- A robust measuring system capable of withstanding car-wheel impacts while staying sensitive enough to capture instant changes.
- Development of timing and recording devices that synchronize velocity readings with the car’s passage at multiple stations.
- Steps toward separating velocity resistance, wheel resistance, and grade resistance through careful experimentation and calculation.
Ideal for readers of early 20th‑century engineering research, this edition illuminates the process of turning theoretical physics into practical railway testing methods.