ALL-STEEL TRAINS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 1, 10 July 1914, Page 8

ALL-STEEL TRAINS.

REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENTS. The •all-steel train has almost arrived. A trial trip was, indeed, mado on the Bakerloo railway, 'London, recently, by a train whose coaches were practically devoid of wood. Some coaches are at present being constructed for use on this line which will not contain a square inch of wood. The material of which they are made is-not by any means the only improvement in London's newest coaches. Each car is fitted with middle doors, which in themselves present many novel features. No railway employee is stationed at these doors, for they are controlled automatically. They can be opened by the passengers when the ordinary gatemen at the end of the platform lias opened his gates, and not before. When the end gates are closed it is LmpossLblo to open the middle doors. All this is brought a'bout bv means of electricity. Many experiments were made before it was decided to instal these "split" doors, which open inwards like the ordinary doors of a house. Great savings in seconds will be brought about bp the use of these middle doors. The roofs have, too, been improved in order to increase the inferior air 6pace. A charming moquette velvet material has been chosen for upholstering the seats, which is a great improvement on the ordinary rattan. Rests for the arms protrude from the seat-backs, which are constructed of woven wire. Should a breakdown occur, the lights will not be extinguished, for an emergency electric lighting installation is provided, which automatically comas into use when required. Even "straphangers" have not been forgotten. The old-fashioned leather straps, which neve® 1 appear to be particularly clean, have been superseded toy glistening white enamel steel covers. A tour e£ a new motor-coach revealed an interesting contrivance, which, if not a novelty, is at least little known by the general public. It automatically registers the length of time that a driver "coasts." "Coasting"' is driving with the current shut off, and would no doubt be called by cyclists "free-wheeling." The best drivers are those who can coast longest, and thereby economise current without in any way reducing the speed. One of the drivers is known as the "coasting king" and is much admired' by the others. The new coaches run extremely smoothly. Each motor-coach —of which there are two on a train—costs £2300 and weighs 25J tons.