An Electrical Omnibus.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5461, 17 December 1892, Page 1

An Electrical Omnibus.

Mr Radcliffe Ward bus invented an electrical omnibus. The London Daily Telegraph, in a long article on the subject, says'his experience has demonstrated that an ordinary omnibus driver can in 10 days acquire the necessary skill to handle an electrical vehicle with perfect precision and safety. In the immediate future London is to be provided with improved electrical 'buses, so that, however, popular the now conveyances may become, drivers need not be doprivod of their means of livelihood by their competition. Probably in a fortnight tho latest electrical omnibus will be running. Compared with the lirst 'bus of the kind constructed —a cumbersome affair weighing 4 tons—the new pattern-will bo "a thing of beauty"—if any omnibus can bo said to possess beauty. Tti all outward respects it will closely resemble fcho modern road-car, with its garden seats on the roof, and its protected stairway ; but it will have this advantage, ib will give more comfortable seats with greater elbow-room to the inside passengers, as it will be of greater width than the ordinary 'bus ; and, as electricity will aivo light, there will be a distinct, improvement upon the present mode of illumination. Instead of the driver's box seat, a platform projects from the front of the 'bus, and below it a kind of "small-boy catcher," or guard protects the first pair of wheels, which are for steering, the other and larger pair being for driving. The electric 'bus will carry 12 people inside, and 14 outside, exactly like one of the ordinary typo. To each 'bus will be allowed three sets of accumulators, the electrical energy being stored in them.