TRACKLESS TRAMS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 3

TRACKLESS TRAMS

SUITABLE FOR WELLINGTON? LIMITED USES. The operation of trackless electric oars was investigated at York. Leeds and Birmingham by Mr M. Cable, the Wellington city chief electrical engineer. At Birmingham these cars were introduced to take the place of the ordinary tramway oirs on a route where the renewing "of the track was estimated to cost three times the capital outlay on 12 trackless vehicles. The seating capacity of the latter, which were of the double deck type, was ac tually greater than in the case of the tianxcars replaced. Owing to the impioved service and seating arrangements the revenue from these <\n* at Birmingham showed a substantial inciease on that previously obtained from the tiM.monrs* “I found a wide variation in the types of equipment in use, *orr.e being fitted with one motor onJ v while others had two, with the power applied either to the front or rear axles. The control in some instances was by means of foot controllers and others by hand,” said Mr Cable. “It wa3 generally conceded that there is a field for the trackless car for operating on routes requiring a service varying fom 15 to 30 minutes. With a head v.ay of more than 30 minutes the petrol ’bus was able to operate more economically. “In opening up a district with a petrol ’bus the route can easily be varied if it is found that the first selection is not satisfactory, whereas v r ith the trackless car the removal of the overhead gear, involving four trolley wires, would be an expensive matter. In addition to the trackless cars the Birmingham Corporation operates a large fleet of petrol bu*es in the outskirts of the city, and in view of the experience of the management with both types of vehicles the statement that they preferred to open up new districts with petrol machines was destiving of consideration.’’