Taken from the Kearney Files
Clapham Observer 27th December 1918
For some months past there has been considerable curiosity on the part of the local residents as to what was going on in the upper portion of the building at the corner of Storming Road and Lavender Hill. Distant rumbles were occasionally heard and there were mysterious comings and goings of important looking people from red - capped Generals and Colonels to the local Special on his beat. There were rumours ----- but we have no space for rumours in these days of interesting facts. Let it suffice to say that the upper portion of said building is in the occupation of Mr E. W. Chalmers Kearney, inventor of the Kearney high - speed railway, of which much will be heard in the future and he has turned it into a very attractive experimental laboratory.
Inspection at the Railway Club
Round the room runs a model track ( one - sixteenth full size) of the Kearney High - Speed Railway. The line s 120 feet long and has gradients of 1 in 7 (which is steeper than Latchmere Road) and curves of 10 feet radius which would frighten any ordinary railway engineer into purple fits. At least that was the impression gained at last Saturday's demonstration given to the Railway Club, the members of which turned up in force. The Railway Club had already listened to a lantern lecture on the Kearney System six weeks before by Mr. Kearney and had come primed up with well - thought - out posers for the inventor. But Mr. Kearney, standing very much at ease on the improvised platform, dealt with these questions one after the other in the manner of a man who knows his business from A to Z -- as our American cuisine would say. As for the few objections which were raised these were bowled over like nine - pins, a bomb - full of facts being thrown at the head member of the Club concerned who perhaps for the first time in his life realised that he did not know guitar everything about railways. The other members enjoyed themselves immensely at the unlucky objector's expense. The fact is anyone who wants to trip Mr. Kearney up n the subject of railways will have to get up before daylight and then run grave risks of failure.
Run on a single rail
The model railway constructed at Stormont Road is a beautiful one and demonstrates in excellent fashion the advantages of the Kearney system. For the information of those who are not aquianted with Mr. Kearney's proposals, it should be explained that Kearney trains run on a single rail and are kept upright by means of an overhead guide rail. Between these two rails the cars run and are so attached that security under all ordinary conditions of operation is assured. This is simply demonstrated by the extraordinary seed at which the model cars race round the 10 foot radius curves after having rushed down the steep grade of 1 in 7. One of the three stations is equipped with cable track and automatic points and electric signals. The platforms are lighted by a number of tiny electric bulbs. There are two cars and on Saturday each was subjected to various tests such as climbing from a standstill from the bottom of the hill; stopping on the worst part of the grade and re - starting etc. They both passed the tests without so much as a click. At the conclusion, Mr. W. Parker the editor of the Railway Magazine , spoke to the assembly, eulogising Mr. Kearney's work and the manner in which he had dealt with all comers that day. " It had been a great pleasure ," he said to be present and see the very remarkable performances of the model Kearney railway. He had listened with great interest to Mr. Kearney's lecture with great interest and had expected great things the model, but what he had seen that afternoon surpassed anything he had anticipated. He was quite sure the system had a great future before it and wished Mr. Chalmers Kearney the best of luck, in which he felt that all those present would join him (Applause). A cordial vote of thanks was then passed by acclamation.
Opportunity for our readers
By request, Mr. Kearney has kindly consented to give an exhibition of his railway to our readers. Anyone wishing to be present should send a stamped addressed envelope (1/2d stamp will do) to the Kearney High-Speed Railway Co, 100 Victoria Street S. W. 1, when a invitation card will be sent.
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