o. 8 B. & S. copper wire be wound on the lower leg
of the motor field-magnet. "By doing this the resistance was put
where it would take up the least room, and where it would serve as an
additional field-coil when starting the motor, and it replaced all the
resistance-boxes which had heretofore been in plain sight. The boxes
under the seat were still retained in service. The coil of coarse wire
was in series with the armature, just as the resistance-boxes had been,
and could be plugged in or out of circuit at the will of the locomotive
driver. The general arrangement thus secured was operated as long as
this road was in commission."

On this short stretch of road there were many sharp curves and steep
grades, and in consequence of the high speed attained (as high as
forty-two miles an hour) several derailments took place, but fortunately
without serious results. Three cars were in service during the entire
time of operating this 1880 railroad: one a flat-car for freight; one an
open car with two benches placed back to back; and the third a box-car,
familiarly known as the "Pullman." This latter car had an interesting
adjunct in an electric braking system (covered by Edison's Patent No.
248,430). "Each car axle had a large iron disk mounted on and revolving
with it between the poles of a powerful horseshoe electromagnet. The
pole-pieces of the magnet were movable, and would be attracted to the
revolving disk when the magnet was energized, grasping the same and
acting to retard the revolution of the car axle."

Interesting articles on Edison's first electric railroad were published
in the technical and other papers, among which may be mentioned the New
York Herald, May 15 and July 23, 1880; the New York Graphic, July 27,
1880; and the Scientific American, June 6, 1880.

Edison's second electric railroad of 1882 was more pretentious as
regards length, construction, and equipment. It was about three miles
long, of nearly standard gauge, and substantially constructed. Curves
were modified, and grades eliminated where possible by the erection
of numerous trestles. This road also had some features of conventional
railroads, such as sidings, turn-tables, freight platform, and
car-house. "Current was supplied to the road by underground feeder
cables from the dynamo-room of the laboratory. The rails were insulated
from the ties by giving them two coats of japan, baking them in the
oven, and then placing them on pads of tar-impre