Detroit
Detroit & River St. Clair Railway
This was a car built by Kinetic Power Co., of New York. It was a cross between steam and compressed air.  In place of a steam boiler was a "receiver" charged with superheated water, heavily jacketed to prevent radiation.  Steam was generated as needed from this heated water and, passing through the driving cylinders, worked like a regular locomotive. The car was charged periodically from a stationary boiler, presumably somewhat like the "fireless cooker" type of industrial locomotives.
This particular unit, with a Jackson & Sharp body, was one of three ordered by the Detroit & River St. Clair for their interurban line between Chesterfield and Marine City, Michigan.  The first unit was delivered in 1898, a week or so before the line opened, and was a quick and impressive failure, and the option for an additional six units was never exercized.  Don't know what happened to #5, but the line had a Baldwin steam dummy with the same number, so I would guess the Kinetic Motor cars suffered an early and ignominious retirement.
Caption data from James H. Graebner
Bill Volkmer collection
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