PETROL TRAMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 11 April 1912, Page 8

PETROL TRAMS

"JUST ..ARRIVED" FOR ENGLAND

FOR COUNTRY DISTRICTS

The utility of the petrol engine is not confined to motor-ears, commercial mo:ors, motor boats, and tho stationary engines (snvs the Sydney '" Daily Telegrn.nh"). There is a much bigger field ahead of it, and, unless many experts are sadly asfray in their calculations, the day is not far disrant when tho patrol motor will oust the steam engine altogether from the position it at present enjoys. The electric moor has practically ousted the steam tram in this city.

Only a few weeks ago the Victorian Government landed two j>et"o! trains, which arc to he used on their lines in outlvinsr. districts, and the Queensland Government has also int'maed its intention of purchasing several. The experiment of the Victorian Railway Commissioners is heincr. Mnsely watched all over Australasia, and. if it nroves Rncec^fnl t^>» other P+nf-ns. including New Soii+^> Wales, nre* r>r?<-'t>pnllv certain to follow their lend and run pet-

rol trains. In America petrol trains have been running for some considerable time, and doing excellent work, and it is.only reasonable to presume that, if they are a success there, they will be here.

In England the petrol tramcar has just arrived. The la rest- files to hand show that a new system of tramways was recently inaugurated at Heysham. When the Morecambe Corporation took over that part of the tramway company's undertaking, skua ted within tho borough, the company was left with "the little bit of line in the country" running from the Battery to the Strawberry Gardens at Heysham. . The directors realised that expensive horse haulage, with the maintenance of stables, horsemen, etc., was impossible fo;' so short a length, and attention was therefore directed to some new form of haulage. After some thought and discussion, it was decided to introduce an altogether now type of car, viz., one driven by petrol, running on tramlines —an adaptation, in fact, of the motor-driven 'bus to tramways.

Much interest was created in the scientific and engineering world by the appearance of the petrol tramcar. It is of the {yingle-dioeked typo, of y.j horse-power, and has seating accommodation for 37 passengers-. An illustration of the car in the possession of Mr. Alex. Kerr. of Merrylands, shows it to be of a high-class type, its linos being correct and elegant, and its appearance is very fine indeed. The general particulars are as follows; —The transmission is from the four-speed gear-box through universal joints to a gear-case on ono of the axles. The two axles are. connected together by a roller chain, and the axle gear-case contains heavy spur and bevel gears, and reverse gear, the whole running in oil on ball bearing*. The ordinary pattern tramway hand-brake is fitted, and a large diameter external band pattern foot brake is fitted immediately behind tho gear-box. The car, which is completely controlled by tho driver, fro'n father end. at will, is built up.of angle irons and timber on the nsuai traniwav practice. The body is well finished, all the side windows being made to rai<=e and lower by screw operating gear. The length of the ear over collision fenders is 31ft., width over all 7ft. 7in.. length over pillars 21ft. Gin., total height 10ft. Uin.. gunge 4f.\ B£in.. wheel-base Bft.. weight of oar complete. 7 tons 6 cwt. The car is lit by elestnV light.* by means of a number of metallic filament 10-candlepower 6 volt lamps, supplied by current from a dynamo driven from the engine. The approximate cost of the car was £1.050. On the level it attains a-speed of 30 miles an hoar with ense. In its trial triy*. with full loads, it fairly romped up all the hills. Tt travels eijrht miles on n gallon of petrol, or at the rate, in England, of a penny per mile, for fuel. Mr. Alex Kerr, who is an old railway contractor, who built the Zig-zag near Lithgbw. and constructed many other lines in the early days, is recommending five new petrol car such as that recently inaugurated at Heysham, to +-h.e attention of the railway commissioners hero, and he points out how excellently suited they are for opening up country districts.

Several English firms in the mo or industry aro now paying na"ticular attention to tho design and construction of petrol-engine tramcars. and, ouite rerentlv. ono cf>nt away, two, each to accommodate 3; pn.«ensrcrs, to Curn--n t%ov "-PW of Oi2 horsepower, and tho three changes of gear nrovided for «r>pe'l«. of, five, ten, and fifteen miles

per hour