HARBOUR TUNNEL

From the Kearney Files
Glasgow Herald 20th August 1919


GLASGOW AND KEARNEY RAILWAY SYSTEM

A reputation from Glasgow Corporation was in London yesterday to consult with Mr. E. W. Chalmers Kearney, inventor of the Kearney High Speed Railway, as to the utilisation of the Harbour Tunnel. Mr. Kearney has proposed to the Corporation that his company might install a single line electric railway in the tunnel the centre tube of which is at present disused and we'll adapted for the purpose. The project is not an ambitious one, as the tunnel is only 730ft., or roughly a seventh of a mile, in length and Mr. Kearney, in conversation with a "Herald" representative yesterday, estimated that the cost of installing his system in the existent tube would not amount to much more than £10,000.
Composing the deputation were Bailie Robert Kirkland, Bailie Duncan Graham and Bailie Allan Ure, who were accompanied by Mr. Thos Nesbit, Master of Works and City Engineer and Mr. Thos Picken, Deputy Town Clerk.
They had a conference with Mr. Kearney at his office in Victoria Street, S.W ,. And afterwards proceeded to his laboratory at Lavender Hill, where they had an opportunity of inspecting a model installation of the high - speed railway.
Mr. Kearney explained to the deputation that in the Harbour Tunnel there would be only one car running backwards and forwards, so that the question of collision is entirely eliminated. One difficulty was the steep gradient, which is one in three at either end, but it was not unworkable. Another difficulty was the shortness of stopping distance, which would necessitate a very short car.
Mr. Kearney said he preferred a car to accommodate 100 people, he had designed a car to seat 40.
 There would be five doors on each side, which would enable the car to be loaded and unloaded in 30sec. The experience of the London tubes railways showed that it took a second per person per door to deal with the traffic. Mr. Kearney reckoned that working at its utmost capacity, the car could transfer 300 people from one side to the other in an hour.
The tube is a circular one, with a diameter of 16ft. which admits of only one car to run in it at a time. Mr. Kearney calculates to be able to cross the short distance in 25sec., giving an overhead speed of roughly 20 miles an hour. The speed on the down gradient and the run along the level will enable sufficient power to be developed to negotiate the steep up gradient at the other end. There is a difference in level of 7ft. between the two platforms and it is claimed on that account that the current will only be on for 10sec. for the double trip.