ONE-MAN TRAMS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20610, 28 July 1932, Page 11

ONE-MAN TRAMS.

SPECIMEN CAR ON VIEW. The specimen one-man tramear, prepared by the Christchurch Tramway Board, to demonstrate tie type proposed under its new traffic scheme, was on view yesterday at the Cathedral square depot. For the purpose of comparison one of the one-man cars ; at present in use on the St. Martins line was in the depot beside the new type. The car which has been converted is one of the newer four-motored Brill type, of which the Board hps 25, used mostly on the Sumner, Biccarton, and New Brighton lines. It differs greatly ' from the St. Martins cars, which have been converted from trailers, and are on a four-wheel chassis, and have only two motors, in being much more stable on its two powerfully-motored fourwheeled bogeys, and in being . much heavier in construction. The .internal arrangements are also different. The .car is driven from one end only, so that a loop-line will be necessary on the routes where it is used. In -addition to the ordinary driving, equipment, the motorman has a cash and ticket tray before him, ■ and a- lever which enables him to open and shut -the ■ doors at each end of the- <ear. Entrance to the car, and exit from is normally by way of the motorman's end, but to enable passengers to ■leleve quickly, he can also operate the rear doors from his seat. To prevent ,«9i- . ges|ion at the entrance, a railing .divides the passage-way to guide' passengers, so that those entering may not be in the way of those leaving. Safety of the New Car. . i A particular feature of the ear is its ' safety, in that passengers cannot alight from it, or board it, while it is moving. The doors cannot' be opened except when it is at rest. The seating accommodation is the same as in the ordinary new cars; the seats are 'not upholstered as in those used on the St. Martins line. In the spare space at the rear rind, formerly taken up by the. motorman's cabin, extra seats are provided. The Board is considering putting t£e car on one or other of the routes, so that the public may have an opportunity of observing it in operatitni,-Ibut there are eertain difficulties come before this can be done. -" The greatest of these is that the ear can be used only on routes wjiiehiavoja loatp-line at the terminus. Otherwise the return jonrngy would have to be made with the motorman at the tear end of the car. The other is thaithe one-man control reqtdres a 'special-ayi-~ - tem of tickets. By running, the the lines which at present havs Ipojw, and by having ar conductor fohasraJe ' the 'tickets, it may be" able to v ~m»' it for demonstration purposes. ' ,'i The car was inspected' y lsy members of the executive of -the Canterbury Automobile Association, " who were particularly interested in . its safety features. Beforti the, inspection - - the 'members of the Boads Committee of the Association met the chairman rOf the Tramway Board (Mr E. "H. rAi-' ; drews) and the General Manager - (Mtr / ■ Frank Thompson), at a luncheon,, air which Mr F. W. Freeman presided* U3 discussed the-Board's traffic proposals. : particularly in relation to. the new tramcars. The question'of ?afety-zones afld other general business - was. also discussed. •