ONE-MAN TRAMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19993, 9 November 1927, Page 8

ONE-MAN TRAMS

SUCCESS IN CHRISTCHURCH A GOOD SAVING EFFECTED In view of the intention to institute one-man trams in Wanganui, a “Chronicle” man sought the opinion of a Wanganui resident w-no has recently been in Christchurch, where this type of tram is in use on the St. Martin’s route. “Two cars are operating this service,” he said, “and the Christchurch Tramway Board claims that it is saving £l2 a week on this route. The cars, which seat 32 passengers, are very comfortably upholstered in moquette, and are what arc called in the United States safety cars. The doors are opened and closed by the motor-man in conjunction with the brake, and he cannot release this until the doors are closed. “The 1 dead-man’ handle, similar to that used on the London underground railways, is fitted to the controller, and this stops the car at once if the motorman faints and releases the pressure of his hand.” The cars used in Christchurch are so successful that others are being converted, he says, and indications are that this type of vehicle would De perfectly successful in Wanganui. Already a car in this city is under conversion, but the equipment has not yet arrived.