ELECTRICITY ON RAILWAYS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1904, Page 5

ELECTRICITY ON RAILWAYS.

—«■ CALDJORNIAN EXPERT'S ADVICE. | START WITH SUBURBAN SECTIONS Reporting to the Government on the question of electric power for railways, the Califomian Engineer, Mr. L. M. Hancock, refers to the progress of eleotrical railways since the breakdowns and unreliable service of pioneer days." "The heaviest service now in operation is probably the Baltimore tunnel; -the heaviest under construction is the New York Central tunnel in New York City. The largest straight-away electric railroad is probably the Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo Traction Company, with headquarters at Hamilton, Ohio. This system spans a gr^at part of the State of Ohio. Both services in operation are, beyond a doubt, very successful. The method usually adopted where a road is being operated by steam is to instal on the busiest portion a system of electric traction that will not interfere in any way with fhe steam service; then gradually diminish the steam service and increase the electric; then gradually extend t-he electric equipment to other parts of the system as the demand and other local conditions dictate. "The New Zealand . railway systems would have to be thoroughly studied before any definite outline of a plan could be recommended. There is no question about the water-power of the colony being ample to handle the whole system, nor is there any doubtful engineering question involved. It is purely a question of business policy. I have ho doubt that there are numerous places now where it would be very wise and good business policy to equip with electric traction. Some of these places are the suburban sections of loads near Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dtfiiedin, and the Christ-church-Lytlelton fcunnel. lliesc would be excellent places to begin; then as traffic increased, wliicu it is bound to do, you would be well situated to handle it. The energy for tuis service is abundant, and with the progress in view for your excellent colony, these matters should be put into condition to meet the demand in sight."