GISBORNE'S NEW TRAMCAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14347, 12 July 1917, Page 4

GISBORNE'S NEW TRAMCAR.

Tho completion of the new tram car' for Gisborne is not only of importance lo tlie future of tram extension locally, but the performances of the new unit are doubtless being awaited with much in-fero-1. by tramway authorities throughout the Dominion. Unon these results possibly I the future adoption and development of [ tlie battery system will largely depend; seeing that this is the latest and only type of its kind m Australasia. The new ear is designed on the box vestibule type, windows and sliding doors partitioning the interior off from the conductor- platform, and this providing for the comfort and convenience of passengers. Witli a total length of 30ft overall, and a width of Bft. there is seating accommodation for 30 passengers as against 20 m the old cars, together with the. regulation number standing. This has been obtained by reducing the platform and increasing the overall length hy 2ft. Witli 7ft Oin between liuor and ceiling, the new car is not Cfuito so high m the roof as the original cars, there being a greater arch. The body was. built at. Christchurch. and represents a most creditable piece of body building. The appearance, both inside and out. is most pleasing, the windows being m cedar sashes, with ash frames, whilst generally the interior is much enhanced by beautiful mottled kauri panels. Rattan seats run lengthwise through the car, and are extra wide, with high backs, and comfortable sprung. The windows and doors are of non-rattle design. The former drop tho regulation height and are all fitted with automatic spring blinds. Inspection doors are proIvided and accessibility to the. wiring and hidden gear is a feature of the construction. Not a single nail has boon used m ; const ruction, screws being used throughout. The ceiling is m Oregon, tonguedand [grooved, supported by ash ribs, and the manner m which the. ends converge is an excellent piece of work. The motorman is well protected from the weather. The under struetiVre of -the car is substantial. Red gum cross-pieces have been used, with tallow-wood sills, rc-inforced witli steel plates. The motors "(two) are of tramway type, specially developed for storage battery service, and are designed with | maximum copper fo give minimum heating at normal current draw. Approximately 25 h.p. each, the motors aro capable of overloading continuously to tho maximum h.p. of 'the battery. The h.p. of the old cars was only 10 h!p. each (approximately). The new motors are up-to-date and are designed for the special conditions. They are direct coupled to the axles by a is 1o l gearing of specially hardened heat-treated gear and pinion, totally enclosed m gear cases and filled with lubricant. This also is a marked improvement and should result m greater efficiency. The motors have ball hearings, and tho wheels are fixed to axles with ball bearing journals- (instead of ball bearing hubs as formerly), and this feature wiy result m better traction effort and less wear* and tear on the flanges. The axles are of larger diameter than In the ordinary tramway practice, because of the narrower track gauge m Gisborne. Tlie manner m which the drawbacks of the old cars are overcome Is ingenious. The. wheel base has been increased 0 inches, and the spring base by several feet, and working m conjunction with anti-gallopers will eliminate the the ! marked galloping effect with the old cars. I Generally speaking, the' motors are more up-to-date, more efficient, and decidedly more accessible, besides' heing of higher speed. The truck is more scientifically designed, and apart from being considerably stronger, the ingenious springing arrangement will give a. marked improvement m the running. The battery, which is of special interest to all tramway people, consists of 120 Al2 Edison cells, ahd has a capacity of about 33 l-3rd per cent m excess of the previous cars, and 20 per cent greater than actually contracted for. The normal discharge of the battery is equivalent, to 177, electrical iivp., and maximum of 105 electrical h;:V:, which allows (if a wide margin for overloading. Thl£ colls have a rated capacity of 450 atnp- hours, a normal of 504 amp. hours, and an over-charging capacity of 570 amp. hours. The hatteries are. a marked improvement on those that came with the two. original cars m the matter of assembling of the cells and installation generally. They are confidently expected to overcome all previous trouble experienced m this connection, and result m much greater efficiency. For instance, the batteries will be free of exterior interf rence, which previosuly mitigated against the efficiency of the old batteries. The housing inVthe latter was inadequate and Uie result was the batteries (being under tlie seats) wer. affected by rain driving m the windows and the rain off passengers' clothes, also by- hairpins falling m at the h_tck of the seats, and through poor insulation. Tlie. cells are now carried m crates on runners, and instead of the seats having to be lifted to get at them, they may now he inspected by an opening compartment along the outside of the car. This will Simplify inspection and maintenance, and eliminate previous chances of trouble. In overhauling the crates are run on to a table on wheels, thus saving the heavy lifting: that previously was required to be done. - The requirements of the service will not necessitate the new car being "boosted" during the day, possessing as it does a mileage of 100 miles on a single charge. Up to the. present the efficient charging of the batteries has been handicapped by inefficient charging facilities. This is now being overcome by the installation "pf a. motor generator m the car-barn, and will result m a decrease m the cost of running the cars. The electric control of - the cars has been brought up-to-date by the use of modern tramway, controllers, which will give easier and quicker acceleration. The hand-bralve.. are of Peacock's improved type, acting on all four wheels, the-power brakes betng of- the magnetic type, operated from <the controller hant^e. The power wiring is of larger croas-sectlon area, thereby permitting of a maximum power draw with a minimum of loss, m transmission, which was a drawback of the other cars. The lighting has been specially catered for, both Jn the interior of the car and with the head lights. Messrs A. R. Harris and C 0.,, the contractors,. have spared no expense and trouble to make the car an absolute success, and they have provided a car that In general appearance is pleasing, whilst tn the matter of construction and equipment js declared by all who have inspected it to be a most creditable piece of work. The new car is confidently expected to Overcome, all previous troubles experienced, and setting a decidedly improved standard, both of car body and equipment. Messrs Harris and Co are confident of its success and arc content for the system to he judged on its performances.