THE OPOHO TRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19270, 6 September 1924, Page 15

THE OPOHO TRAMS.

STEEPEST GRADE IN DUNEDIN. OPENING CEREMONY TO-DAY. There is no surer way of opening out a city, and increasing tho population ol certain districts than that of providing means of comfortable transit. Confident in this knowledge the city fathers some time ago decided to lay tram rails to Opoho, and the residents of that delightful suburb have now arrived at tho time when they will he able to avoid many a tiresome climb up tho bill. With tho opening of the Opoho tram lino to-day, it is interesting to note a few particulars concerning that work. The actual work of forming the ground and laving the foundation was commenced some time ago, and this entailed making a cutting and a bridge. When this had been completed the special work of patting in the points at the gardens had to be undertaken. This portion of the work was commenced last Sunday morning, and it is a noteworthy fact that it was completed by noon of tho same day, and the first car was taken over the lino on Monday. Tho distance from the gardens to the terminus is 69 chains, and the line is constructed on sleepers from Blacks road to Opoho road. 1* rom Opoho road to Arden street, through the deviation, the rads are laid on concrete, with a bitumen cushion between the rail and the concrete, and from Arden street to Signal Hill road concrete forms tho foundation.

The grade, for a distance of five or six chains from Blacks road, is 1 in 8.81, and from the bridge to the upper garden gfites, a distance of 27 chains, it is 1 in 11. Tho grad o i s the steepest, as far as electrical trams go, in Dunedin, and is probably the second steepest in New Zealand. The steepest grade in the dominion is found at Parnell Rise, Auckland, and this is 1 in 8.83.

This line should prove a popular one not only from the residents’ viewpoint,, but also to those people who wish to visit Signal Hill, or roach the upper gardens where, it is understood, a gate way has been made at the Signal Hill road stopping place. It is the intention of the Tramways Department to run a 15 minutes’ service during rush hours, and thereafter a naifhourly service. The line was constructed under the supervision of the tramways engineer (Mr H. T. W. M‘Lennan,p