NEW TRAMS TO BE BUILT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 662, 14 May 1929, Page 11

NEW TRAMS TO BE BUILT

Open Design Not Popular IMPROVED CLOSED TYPE IT was suggested by two members of the Transport Board this morning that open tramears should be given a trial in Auckland. After the board had discussed the merits of open and closed ears it was decided to adhere to an improved type of closed tram similar to those now in use. Twenty-five new cars are to be built at once.

The question arose when the chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Arum, moved that in pursuance of the board’s declared policy and following a recommendation by the manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, the board proceed with the building of 25 cars, and that tenders be called (returnable by June IS) for 20 bodies, the tenderer to submit separate tenders for 10 and 20 cars respectively in accordance with plans and specifications submitted, the remaining five to be constructed in the board’s workshops. Mr. E. H. Potter was of opinion that no cars should be built by the board but should all be tendered for by outside manufacturers. The tramways workshops were fully occupied with repairs. The cars should be built as cheaply as possible. Mr. Allum said the workshops had been equipped some years ago with the appliances necessary for the building of cars, and it would be wise to utilise that equipment. “We have two great principles to keep in view—provide work for the men and deliver the car,” the chairman said. Mr. Potter would like to see open cars given a try-out in Auckland. They were very successful elsewhere, being sanitary and expeditious in loading and unloading. Wellington cars were comfortable and seemed to be of a better type than Auckland’s. Mr. F. E. De Guerier, chief engineer to the board, said the tendency was toward closed cars. Mr. E. J. Phelan: Don’t give us Wellington’s, at any rate. CARS TO BE WIDER Describing the proposed design, Mr. De Guerier said the new vehicle would

be considerably wider than the present type. There would be an extra inch to the length of eacli seat and the passage would be four inches wider. To a suggestion that side doors located in the centre might be advantageous the engineer pointed out that the plan had been considered and rejected during the regime of the old company. He believed the people did not want open cars. The only time the management could induce the public to keep the windows open was during the influenza epidemic. The latest Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington cars were after the style of Auckland’s. “I don’t think open cars would be popular,” remarked Mr. A. J. Entrican. “We might butfd one and let Auckland find out what they are like.” The manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, said that to get a doorway in the centre would involve a special type of girder, which would greatly add to the weight of vehicles. A car of the design now on the road weighed about 16 tons, and the centre-door type weighed 22 tons. The scoria-ballasted track would not stand up to the additional weight. In Adelaide the corporation built 50 open cars, which the people christened “toast-racks.” The travelling public would not countenance them in winter, and the management had to rebuild the vehicles. “The question of loading and unloading is a very important one,” said Mr. Ford. “In Sydney, where there are numbers of open-sided cars, there has recently been an agitation for their rejection because of the laige number of conductors and passengers injured and killed.” Mr. Ford recommended the present type be adhered to. Very few complaints had been voiced against the cars except in the matter of speeding up the loading and unloading. Mr. M. J. Coyle twitted Mr. Potter with lack of observation in connection with Wellington’s cars. Although those vehicles were open in the centre, they were closed at the ends. “I noticed that people always made a dart to the end compartments, and those that were last were left in the cold centre.” Mr. L. E. Rhodes had often travelled in Wellington cars when visiting that city, and generally came hack with a cold. The recommendations were adopted after further discussion. Tenders will be called forthwith for truck frames, wheels, brakes, and electrical equipment.