The general name “electric railway” is applied to all railways employing _electric motors_ to supply power for the propulsion of cars. On all electric railways in commercial use to-day, the electric motor is used to furnish power to the driving wheels of the car or locomotive, the electric motor being the most efficient known means of transforming electrical into mechanical energy. Electric railways are usually classified according to the methods by which current is supplied to the moving car. Thus, where an overhead trolley wire is used, as on the great majority of electric railways, the term _trolley road_ is applied. Where an insulated steel rail is laid alongside the track rail for supp…
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