TRAMWAY BREAKDOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 8

TRAMWAY BREAKDOWN.

ALL LINES AFFECTED. A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. ■INDIGNANT PASSENGERS. Fob some considerable time tramcar passengers at rush hours, such as between five p.m. and 6.30 p.m., and after the theatre, have been subjected to much vexatious delay. Last evening again the delays became more pronounced than ever, and all circuits were affected, numbers af passengers being so disgusted at the frequent stoppages that they alighted from the cars and walked home. Some people who boarded the cars at the terminus about 5.30 p.m. arrived at their destinations about seven p.m., and one of the cars travelling the Parnell route stopped seven times before reaching St. Stephen's Avenue, apax-t from the regular stops, and three of these stops were on the steep Parnell Rise. " '\* . The Ponsonby via Newton service suffered even more severely, as in addition to the stops through failure of power there was a bad breakdown of the overhead gear near the corner of Ponsonby and Karangahap« Roads, one of the car poles bringing down both trolley wires and supports. ' A young lady crossing Kaiangahaps Road had a narrow escape, as one of the , live wires fell behind her, just at her -heels. This break caused a stoppage of all cars at that point from about 6.20 to 7.30. . About 6.30 the cars on the Symondsstreet route, affecting the ivingsland, Newmarket, Epsom, and Onehunga services, were stopped for 15 minutes,' and one prominent citizen, after waiting some time, hailed a passing cab and drove home, declaring his intention of sending un account to' the Tramways Company for cab hire. Some curious- experiences befel the passengers of some cars, the electric current playing tricks with the nerves of the more sensitive; switches went off with loud reports more than once, and those on board one car at the- Karangahape Road break relate that the vehicle seemed to be surrounded by blue fire, with electric sparks flying in all directions, and other brilliant effects. It was stated by one of the passengers that several of the windows were smashed as the wires came down, and, in a panic, the occupants of the seats made for the doors, but the motorman and conductor promptly barred egress at either end, warning the passengers that to leave the car at that stage might mean instant death.' ../» 'i'..\

The general manager of the Tramways Company, Mr. Walklate, stated, when interviewed by a Herald representative last night, that the service had sustained unfortunate delays through two causes. . Just as the rush traffic set in a tube in one of the boilers at the power-house burst, thus throwing. that boiler put of.. action, and leaving only four to cope with the work. To make matters worse one of the cars brought down the overhead gear near Ponsonby Road corner, causing the worst smash in the overhead construction the company, had yet experienced. The repair gang was at once despatched to this break, and was able to restore the construction, sufficiently to enable the service to proceed after an hour's delay. The break; would be thoroughly repaired by the morn T ing.''.;.'■ llr

Asked about the power at the generatingstation, Mr. Walklate said the company had just installed an additional boiler, making five now in commission. Another), boiler had been landed, and: it would !be> erected as rapidly as possible. Of course* the bursting of a tube threw one boiler out of commission, but' the damage would ; be repaired during the night. When the sixth boiler Was in commission the station would be able to avail itself of half as much power again as it had a month or so ago>' the boilers all being of equal capacity.