DUNEDIN'S CABLE CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27276, 30 December 1949, Page 6

DUNEDIN'S CABLE CARS

Sir, —I wish to comment on statements made by “ Facts First ” on Dunedin’s cable cars. Firstly, whoever said Dunedin’s cable trams were the last in the world is misinformed, as there are still lines in operation in San Francisco. Concerning the Hongkong cable cars, I’m afraid these are not true cable tramways but counterbalance lines. It is possible to have a counterbalance line with an assisting engine as in the case of the Wellington cable (counterbalance) cars. There are many counterbalance cable cars in the world, i.e., Bergen (Norway), Chungking (China), Llandudno (Wales), plus many others. So this makes Dunedin and San Francisco the only ones operating true cable tramways. The Maryhill line is the . steepest cable tramway in the world, being 1 in 3J. But should the Hongkong cars be working a steeper grade it will make them a funicular railway, which alters the whole picture. Any grades greater than 1 in 3 are considered funicular railways. The Roslyn (Rattray street) line was the first built outside the United States, commencing operation on February 24. 1881. It is to this line that most of the world’s cable tramways owe their existence because of the problems solved on it during the course of construction. It has the largest wheel In the southern hemisphere, and it is probably the last steam driven plant in the world. The Opoho car Is the steepest electric driven tramway in .the southern hemisphere, being about 1 in 8. It won t be there much longer.—l am etc Kapukatau Mobaka