TRAM POWER FAILURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 11

TRAM POWER FAILURE.

EASTER SATURDAY INCIDENT.

CAUSES OF DISLOCATION.

RESPONSIBILITY DIVIDED.

REPORT TO POWER BOARD.

A report on the interruption of power supply at the Epsom substation on Easter Saturday, which caused serious dislocation of the special race ■ and oth-;r tram traffic, was made to the Auckland Power Board yesterday by its works committee. . The causes were found to be that the trips in the station were set too low and that the capacity of the tramway feeders was considerably below the required capacity. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, assigned responsibility for the former to the board and for the latter to the tramways department. There would, he said, be no repetition of the occurrence.

The report of the works committee was as follows:"While the committee was anxious to find the cause of the stoppage, it, was still more anxious to pre vent a repetition. With this in view the committee,, in company with 'the engineer, Mr. A. Wyllie, inspected the Epsom sub-station. Mr. Wyllie explained to the committee what had taken place and stated he intended to make certain adjustments to Jhe equipment and, by setting the trip as high as safety to the station would permit, no repetition need be feared. Tramway Cables Delayed. "The committee then met in conference with Mr. A. E. Ford, general manager of the tramways, and Mr. F. E. de Guerrier, engineer. The whole position was fully discussed from every aspect covering the needs of the present and th», possibilities of the future. Mr. Ford reported that the tramways had made , temporary arrangements to overcome the shortage of feeders. The permanent work would be undertaken on the arrival of the cable, which had unfortunately been on the Matatua, which collided with another steamer in the English Channel.

"The following were found to be the outstanding facts:— (l) The trips in the station were set too low, but it has been arranged that they be set on the highest point (with safety to the plant) for race traffic on all future occasions.

" (2) The capacity of the tramway feeders was considerably below the capacity required for the power demanded, and caused a considerable loss of power. According to the power board's engineer, this amounted to 40 per cent, of the power transmitted at the peak. The tramway department had, however, endeavoured to overcome this by making certain temporary arrangements, these arrangements having been necessitated by the delay in shipment of its cables ordered some time ago.

No Trouble at GTaristmas. " (3) At Christmas the high-tension equipment of the power board, with its safety devices, was not in commission. The • committee learned that the old circuit breakers were not acting properly and, consequently, reliable data had not been obtained as a guide to what should be provided for, when the board took over on April, 1924. "On August 3, 1920, Mr. Wyllie wrote to the late Mr. Walklate with reference to race traffic and the serious loss in power in the tramway feeders. In his letter Mr. Wyllie stated : 'Improvements in feeder capacity will reduce your power consumption and our maximum load.' Mr. Walklate replied on August 10: 'Your remarks are correct and the matter will be gone into.' Mr. Wyllie is fully investigating the question of future requirements and will report to the board at a later date."

Wlhere Responsibility Rested. The chairman: The report shows that the deficiency of the tramway feeders was one of the principal causes. Mr. T. Bloodworth: The tramways do not admit that. r

Mr. S. I. Crookes said it had been asked why heavier traffic had been successfully handled at Christmas when the station was not under the board's control. The explanation was given in the report. The machines did stand the load at Christmas, but at considerable risk. It was a question how much risk should be taken and there the engineers differed.

Mr. E. H. Potter: Will. the station meet future requirements ? The chairman: The works committee has the question in hand. Mr. Ford and Mr. Wyllie are agreed that the present provision is sufficient for some time. The load during the Ellerslie meeting in June is to .be watched very carefully. The report was adopted.