LIGHTING OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 10

LIGHTING OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES

Reply By General Manager PROVISION OF BETTER ILLUMINATION The general manager of railways, Mr. G. 11. Mackley, in a statement to “The Dominion” expressed surprise at the article which appeared in yesterday’s issue about poorly-lit railway carriages, with special reference to the new airconditioned cars. Mr. Mackley said he thought the heading "Poorly-Lit Railway Carriages,” under which the article appealed, was hardly fair to the department because it could not be stated with any degree of accuracy that the cars were poorly lit. The article referred to was the first intimation that the department had had that the lighting was not as bright as that available in the older type of car. However, as the result of inquiries he had had initiated he did find that the matter had been commented upon by some passengers. Mr. Mackley stated that the fittings provided in the cars for lighting were the same as those provided in the older types of car except that diffused lighting shades were being used instead of the older type of clear glass. It was expected that this method might not give the same luminosity as the clear glass, and provision has been made for strengthening the illumination to counteract any loss caustd by the use of modern fittings, which had many advantages. To describe the lighting as “an attempt at ultra modernity” is as unreasonable as the heading to which he had taken exception. It was recognized that the light available from the lamp might not be sufficient to offset the difference in the transparency of the lamp fittings. Provision was accordingly made for an additional bulb to be provided, if, a s the result of actual experience, this was found necessary. Because of the absence of any reports to the contrary, an additional bulb had not been fitted up to the present. But in view of the comment which had apparently been made by some passengers, and which was not hitherto known to the management, it had been decided to equip the cars with the additional bulb for which provision had been made. Mr. Mackley further stated that he took a great personal interest in the new type of car because of the’improvements made in its general comfort and riding qualities, and he had heard nothing but high praise for the improvements effected in these directions. The most complimentary references had been made as to the design and construction of the new type of car, and it came somewhat as a surprise to him to learn that there had been any complaint made about the lighting.