The first commercial traction system was the work of
Frank Sprague, ex-Edison employee who successfully
engineered the pilot system Richmond, Virginia. They embarked ambitious
project develop direct current traction scheme and built a
test track that went from the West Orange laboratory the
street car line running along Main Street.H. The track was about
a quarter mile long and dotted with transformers which
reduced the 1000 volt transmission safe volts for the
live third rail.'*' The problems with using such low voltage was
to ensure clean pickup from the third rail and obtain
sufficient torque from the motors. The experimental results
were not promising because mud moisture the pickups could
easily cut off the power. Edison had his
own motors and was most upset Johnson's support of
Sprague, which considered treachery. had
formed company with E. Edison worked through 1890 this
problem without achieving success and finally shelved the
. Johnson promote his electric
motors which were also used power elevators. EGE were reluctant support two
competing traction systems and therefore Edison turned Henry
Villard for financial support.1
SIDEBAR:ELECTRIC TRACTION. EGE acquired the
Sprague company and developed his overhead pickup system, while
Edison concentrated the use third rail deliver the
current the cars
