TRAMWAYS IN ENGLAND.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18235, 20 November 1924, Page 3

TRAMWAYS IN ENGLAND.

MR A. S. TAYLOR'S

OBSERVATIONS.

LONDON AND LEICESTER ';, .'..■"' 'SYSTEMS. ; . At yesterday's.meeting of the Tramway Board, the following letter from j the, chairman (Mr A. S. Taylor)'to the |j General' Manager. (Mr Frank Thompson) .'"dated .London. October 9th, was. _read: — - • ■-.,;■• ' ' "Since writing you, I have.been in ; London doing Borne final sight-seeing. ' I called on the L.C.C. tramway people, and was very well received by Mr A. : L.. C. Feli, the General. Manager. Like Mr Dalrymple,'of.Glasgow, he. was surprised to find us in Christchurch making a financial success of so large a system with so' small a population. He said he did not know of a system anywhere operating, under like I went out with Mr Welling, his permanent way engineer, and inspected their methods of construction, and also a depot on the Thames side where they take delivery of their cement, stone, etc. While there I also inspected their tramway printing works, quite a large concern in itself. They, have three machines going all the time printing tickets. Besides this, they colour their paper for the various tickets, print all posters, direction signs, etc. Mr Welling gave me a plan of their method of pcrmanent'way construction, which I am bringing with me. He seemed to think that with our comparatively light traffic, the essential thing was to anchor the rails on concrete, and then fill in with, say, tarred macadam instead of the expensive wood blocks or stone sets as they do." Mr Taylor saw the All Blacks-Leices-ter match, and makes the following comments on the tramways in that citv: —• . , . "The tramways in this city seemed to be well kept. Permanent way good: The usual stone seta. The football ground was about as far out as Lancaster Park, and it was interesting to note that the trams could make very little effort to cope with the crowd after the match. They don't run trailers, and no system can spare a largo number of electric cars for such an°occasion. I have seen no system anywhere capable, of handling a sudden rush of traffic such as we do at race meetings, etc. I am enclosing a report re. motor-buses, etc., also some cuttings which you may be able to use. "We have had a splendid time/ hut are now pleased to think we are starting back —no place I've seen so far can offer such fair conditions of life as New Zealand." '