GLANCING BACKWARDS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 722, 22 January 1910, Page 13

GLANCING BACKWARDS

~ , , , THE MUNICIPALISED TRAMS. s GROWTH OF THE UNDERTAKING. SOME REIIAEKABLE TIGOTES.

siffiji K*">: : '^^ei^^shold;of ,1910 is : an/appropriate

trani\ray-'undc!rtaking- aid sub-;' : ; W;' they present f^iS:4«t\P??iuon--;ilthough /the/old h'prse-car sys-, ■i%-•^fS^W. : '?^p«uicipalisea,on}' October l;-1900,-lppi; '■■ that /the' : $$ i section' of;~ thei; electrified "system..' Yjas'; S ; '#-y*?%^''^! :^SoKsKe ;firai::ie<!tion:: w-ai; ■: running:--fo'f : £yi«.»;the;c6nstruotibn; of;;the' tracks;was :com-'«;-';';i .γ-pleted;';■additional f eectionsv,were" opened ;;Si'v-:''/».™ r;; ™ ffi P' :i^By;cJanuary,:a9os^the-wholo, >:;;; ; ':yft:ofjthe original-:scheme-had!been , ,finally , ■;/;Sv*;;;'ojp^ed.;; l -<: j:ysi v i;<i-20^mil€8fof /single/.'linea; 'and'.the- rolling ■St :v* stooki6on>prised-i ; 3 ; v «^y. ; ;^TWrej-pf.; the/bbi^type;^^^ and '&,Wi' generating, plants originally; installed in "'' '2.*K*s* ; V e " o ? 3 .;Qpay t ;rrtwerhonse:consisted':bf; ttoe total <i .V. : r, ; is oa P ao . lt yAof Slsoorh6rse-powefWarid .'-: four' >S7i=^generatin»i;eets;'capable/of ..'a total output" W&ttsk:. the /authorities ''at ■■ ?^■&£ 3K-^demandKfor^eome:■• time-, to ■■ come.,«i ;'*i-' : W;Simulfeneously '}. with \: the )'■ opening■' of : the : ;i:W^s : SiW^;t fl e£<>ltyV-tttere;;was':av demand■oflthe';system tb. ; the-Bub;' ■'iV, ; IpW •i.irbs -boroughs, /and'.'as -a : ; track extensions: have been/opened' jf_.;f*.;><»•;the. ; ; £:% h£ ; - Wand Say^November; 1905; ->;V /'^f i c^ , rßrb^yn;-aiay-:9,.v1?06;'v?:./v.-.'. ■■; ■&■& /,?:;' mm Austin Street, ;November ■ 1908* ■•' - \si i&i a:ft;<Kaiori;'March :iS, i ;:a--^=^Kilbirm«V\!Aßrilrl6^l9o7,E-P*t;v"^:r,:: l 1907iS ; S;l-'--?:'^ ; ; ■■ i-': ! j!KvWsK^f^^ a j> i'y-f.;:] $i^</i:olMi^spem£g:et^^the : I(yaU : svx>¥-v «^pnilast!nionth,'. l the:.;total , mileaße-now : :bf ■ single ~«iv'.- *ra<fk-J:vrhe,EroTrta;of; tie', undertaking ;is ; , ; . Ie 6tat«d^9iat''i l «W-'S^-feS-' St^^t^ C3(l2 ' 6 ¥' ! !to ! > 1909.:;:,;„■. ■:..<_?/ :}:■■ Swisiiv i Some -, interesting I detaiih as '-\(i:. tte : .' li' ;.; J^vf;Brease ,jn- the;city ; >bii3ineisf of /the tram-' , ;:i ;;^ «e:^ : betgleaned?fMin r the:-follow- ; ;tW)le,;-the, figures,>in'>;i»aohv ca'ss beins ; ;:i; *--:"-,>.•; *°J -vthe.-'year;. cnaiiig,' MirV,<v;' ■■ %£:*--. ;;,:>?:Kys;;|sM;¥^^:gr|^^^^;^-S----iillil|i|ii|iißiSil «;""ii: '.-;■■•>■'t".-.------iV;v, ::.''>i.?;-P->te'.l».«'• ■".>;-,■■:■■;':,- ■■ :■: -,v.i- ---: L>.-"•-■-■..-.-.v;-.i-- ---.*.' .v:-'-.p r0,.»j.. '■;■-;■ to-------:■■ .1' •■ r^£^."Sv :^?."ys\Si§.iA! .~; ; 9-.-.??'?s'e» , '■'!'" i !,V'iv.V? : 'i'' ?j- :?■:"■! 1 i:! , * ■>( (J assongers. 1 ■•' S-i':"feWA*W^'^';?f^to?fpa6^gOT^cifned , - J,"- .'. ':;■■• A?^ i&ty i lffi?? -'sincevthe, inception;of. ;^V , '^"''^.--:^^-'-ee^ee >; "- : itt i ' i '-'Jiaiei;-'!-190i;'--''.to •;,':■;;<«; they end vof ;'l9M¥ brings/ ; the i grand i total ■ ;il- ■:;;.;.*,sp; tb; , .?5428,857;vand-it: ie'esthna'ted'-vthat-><|h.ej;eMrmpn3'';tdtal; of' 100,000,000/ for). tSe :;'.'•:^^^ : ;^ci,ty''will'-.be reached before'tie'end'ofvthe :i;;::v;/:the;addition;pf tiie;passengers carried/on ;;Hs ,^^e.cpor6^hjline3^to: ''l)e^ember!'3r;last; : the- totals-is -already' made ,H>;Svj;.tnp''itp i i9B,B67isil,';br;iSil l ihead;:of" . '■',' yteiha '.- popolation of 'the ■ city "'and : suburbs. , thai*the P 10,000,000 -'fdr. v: , S:V*';,^X!^!^'*^HTice;;"T^-'-: : be ; '-'rea6hed ,: lthis; electric ;gr;j?|eeryicaiM;strifingly:bTonghtiout/by.vthe >:T! , f?P/?^?*^i J VM~'tHeV. , aTe]^e?-ioiiineyß-''per' i - ? > i-sfei**^v^;tte , -',;p^^'ti(m:!pei.v'uMiun : . ,, as': /; c --;vr ?ngs:a';fair; margiiViof /increase'.'dTieVto r the Styvrfjopening'; of f 'extßnsions;; the: table'- still. in-' Acates ,'Uat;V resident//of:' the':; citySare: , j'v. ;i : -/'- knaking/more ,-;tisb.. of., the/cats ; every- yoar.'.' in : ;;'';, S3wad per;, aiiitim f reach '•,a.' ';j^;yy^fttiitjnin , j*f6t.';tha^piijt^rßagd(Mi''- ; tli8 '■a weffigurea /for/; 1907 : :T7ero/5 213/. and-v fprJlTO ;-:"C:Vv^W i ..T^^2U';';^ ! .r , ':s'|,;.'>;\'vi.:: : :i!i .;;■>; ■':;)'',; r-. , ;

In addition to the 80 ears shown in tht (above table, the local'rolling stock intcludes a watering car and a new car, Tfhichs will be placed in commission iinjmediately the electrical equipment comes 'to hand from abroad. The volume of "traffio at rush, hours has increased sapidly during the past few years, and about 70 cars are now required to cope "with, the evening rush. Over 80 cars leave the Lamhton Station beUeen. 5 pm. and 6 pjn., and spread out all ever »the city laden with homeward toilers. i ' The following table gives an interesting i comparison of the rolling stock of the /tramways in the other principle centres *f the Dominion:— -- i v Motor cars. Trailers Auckland mti««m.i 02 —

-?-'•%:; 60 ' V ' r>Y:';tent ;i bM^^^ ;-Svf^;phMoli':linei..?. ( : ; .i/,;i-;;J;;;;; ; -5,v.' ; ,■ S.; J? 'The /Power,: Houso-ibuildings "• and V gen-' derating.-plant:iat, ; .Jer'vois< Quay have .'been : /'V ;:/.;.■;.• ;.,ment; of :"th'f:i.ystem/ih;l9M^;:.Tho.building ;an,;ongine-room" :140ftr. in : %0 - length,! andf, 36ft.' 'in : width;. and-a : boiler *,;?;; tropin y;l4flft.; ; .by/68ft:;:'■ IheVboiler ;plant Lancashire, boil::i;: ';/ers;,Bft :byy3oit.. .working.; at a pressure ■:.;.'j;, of-4601b. vpcr.i ■ fed'by ;,:.■' ■,Erith l ':Underied'.maclianioal stokers; 'and ;i- i']!? 1 ' 00: down-t»^;snperhcaters.::):Colleo- >;■■• -.: i ove]yj:.these; -hoilers '.- are capable •' of an JS S-.gßHmj.-'' ! .4500 V;horse-power. - Forced '■;,%&! orangtttviS; : pr6vided' by means of ! motor-' /•■ i f;>;»'i*™^^»:Vandi-:Ayeir-/puinps' v 'aro iri- , .;,;;;->•;Btalled- f or.feeding■'th'&.bo flors. ; The food \~iS-. ■; j™**??-before.reaching theboilors, passes ;.. •,',; through,av.Greon's.'econo'miser,. having 040 ■v-:;';;\t.ubesj-whichxbring":tho'.tcraperatuTo- close ;-v; ; v>;up;tp,boiling.pointy: the' ;./,;: "mecnjnical stotes,are: charged by '.means '■:,: ■..; : .w:a.i.scresv. v convjDyer.*> i The plhnt in the i ; '•■:; Yl! 'f ngjne-room.;consists?rif-TSelliss '•Mprepm ■'■;;.". i.H'iP'O/ expansion,-high-speed: selMubrieat- - '■: .;,;'.:-ing;- engines,* 'coupled' ; to ' direct'■ current -bniltuby; tlip:-Electrical. Con;.:.;>;•vstruction•Company, one: iat* v 150 , J K;W., ■i r*} W^?,. 111 WlaV.Vtivo.of COO K.W., -and SWi™*! 0 *- (50. K;W-:; giving: a,total of- 3000 A;> J ' JV V.'l ".■There; is fstill Sufficient'"room ■ in-,;:;-..the t jongine-house;:for> the installation of ''- <&:■ : cd ?densiii K .;plantVc6niists' of': Kort- .;•%■,;•:', ■V>S:'.'ejeetor-Kcpiidensors,J-;anclv'- r circulatinß :.', ; .- •■: ™ter-i9 .; obtained.- from' .".the .-'.harbour. ':by -':f:// :^a^ s '°} -mowrrilriven,Centrifugal- pumps ■;;,':. ; ,:locate(l..m:ii: pump-room ?abutHng ouJer-■■/.•-.■■■■.vow' Quay.|t:;-;,-:■..■.;.■.••.•:;->.;•-.•..■■ P.-.... -.. ~-.

'vk4 f/^Long: : Distance'/Feeders. * :"• v- ■"-; - ci'r The ■:mairi:vswitcii'i "board ■■' consists" of ;■ seven■■• machinev panels,o : brie;': : Board of .Trade, ;;: -Ctwelvo ..feeder panels 'for .dealing with- the tram- ■ way ,circuitß. ; .:;As\the Vhohuof .the -trdctfaonr distribution;system, is supplied at a ;; pressure:'of. 550 iyolts,'if> has, been ■ neces-' i-.tav}-, to:, provide'...boosters'-, for- the lon«-'Vdistance.line-and "rail; feeders.:ln-all nine i; : positive... and; negative -boosters,: : varyiug ■in-capacity, from.lß to 40 K.W.';are inand- controlled .by'special- switch ;i'panels., : ;A:6o>K.W.-.machine, known as a ;-, motor redncer, ; and :inotor "gen-;-rerato"r.-' have been, installed, for ■ tho pur-' ■i«p3e'.:of:.supplying curront. to; the ; Tdwa

;Hall, ;;'! fourteen >:;■ motors':, : . nro ■ - used in" 'athe•:'.- station-; \■■ for,.'., various./ purposes,"':i three K. of,' them,/-'' having ; a : papacity bf,2l:h'.p. each, ;\dnying: circu'lat-, iiigOpumps. . y A'.speoial' plant 'consisting of .two .HO' fc.w, • motor..alternators and a high'tension switchboard was'installed in the ipump.'-room, in-:190p,-'when-the citytook over -the street.: lighting /fronv the lighting Syndicate, .but :-as fho lighting, station , now,-, provides' the ..current ':O, for street lighting: this plant is retained as tf ,stnnd-by/V/-: ;:■■;;;':.■■■.;■..;■;■; : ,;Bosi(lcs .supplying,.the for the itramway-systeni' tho/gehbratihg plant has ;tordeal'with a.'heavy'/demand from; private:,consumers/iupwards of! 1500 h.p. in motors being connected-to.a .special system/of feeders which articulate tho business- area of,the. city.: ; These feeders have' ■ a .lerijthiof over.;2o miles,-/and-are -.controlled■', by. • 20, : .street; - switoh/. pillars; . terminating at a' speoial;{switch-b6ard installed at :the,opposite.end;pf ! -'the 'engine room-from. the main-switch-board.-..80th, .the'pumping'fstatfons-'for.-'Kelburnoy.and; 'Brooklyn,y.which , .are .electrically, oper-; a ted,obtain> power.,;: froinv the. tramway power : house. . The > total < ourreht gener-V iybsr ended .March .81, ',1909, was" considerably over, five and la'■■ half mil-;-lion OTits.; i .Th6','oapaoity,-'of / the: plants.

installed. i splely /purposes, in .the .other/three; principal cities- in'/ the: Dominion we/as/followr-Tri'-'.' ■:,'.:/'■;.•■•■■:.;.';,■ ; --i:/i1.(V2725 Eiw.!'' •'?■' :r - "i■''■''■ j:-; Christohuich':;'/ilsoo/r,: ;'/':v\';:'>/, a : |.; ;Dmwdin,/ : /^u;v ;^9oo/:/,,; ;/;.feibßtationY; i:^ : ..V'ffi : v^;;v^VV^- : [ ; ;' l ; , - : //.;'/^. ; :< : plant)-4 ,, ;/' '/-vThe- opposite/ the. tambton i Station'; which' used 'to do duty. ,; as a/pay-in/office..was-demolished in' 1908, and: the/, present substintial building 'was emoted ;on ; .the/site, ;been:bproyided;:in \ this- building ./for ■ the ;floorv.:-has.- j Vbeen'i , i6etiilai)art"ll'OT : use i.' of ( : j.' motormen'i.K ; and! conduot'brs?' During -'.Silast? .'winter V ;'-' '.a'' .commodious ireoreatioitroom :for -the use , of employees ,was/'erected.";in;/;:fronti ! of.. , "the -Neirtown'. carsheds.'/,'.;At:p v the:';'/ important ;plapeV ; .alpng:/the' t tram-'':Toute'-'in'.the l city. some, : ;'v'lß//; waiting.- Shelters ; ' have / been : erepted.';'- One " ; o!i /these,.'at/'leland: Bay/ terminus," is /being,/pfpyided- with' "apart-* .meuts/for. a : caretaker.C."'-' :>."';: ■::'■.'.; .■':.-.-.•.; //

V';THiß , :^eid-.-pffi-oe v re'moye^dVifrom.vNewtown-itoVthe 'Town Ml/during i 1905,;'and'at'remained'there' until;/tp\vards' ; ;tlie;end v of 1908,- when the ; ,' and;.. -lighting '. p staffs ; were /amalgamated; when' 'another change-was made to/ the present; Harris' Sfreet biSces, . which> adjoin vthe, lighting station. - ; ; ...;

The Future.

■■:vTh€re';J9;6till';a good'.deal .pi; extension .jfotkito': be pushed: onVdnririg; the present: .year.''; ; -.The.;..90 ; ;0dd oh'ains;.6£i:line, whioh are ;; to .obnaect..Wadestowii'- , iwith.--th , e\<jitj : i have beeh v auth6rised,: and: : will. b^;pushed on ;,as ' : soon'-'as.-; tho: Order-in-Conncil and' other ■. preliminaries ; i i are' ■ disposed ;of. ■;•'.'■lncreased 1 iaccoriimodation.. for .oars, is -.arioHier:: matter .that .will■ have to .-receive'attention: ! iii.neit y.eai's'estimates'. ;-I| , or;; ; tom : ■ment;has;been.forccd."to'fallow;.a number' ,of-Tits 'cars..-to "■ -stand ; out.;in",the open!:yard • at "the^NewtownU'sheds,'..'-because v i6 r ;no fropm," ; for:.' the' : cars .inside;" and the result 'has-been*-, heavy: expense in' the Bpkeep of'these cars. the ehd.'of;last ; year: the city ■purchased'Bonib land- at; Th'orndon.: for; an additipnal' car-,' shed.'.and.tlie question of buildipg!on.the site.this.year-will)havei to be considered. :Tho .:Charlotte^Streef:looc ;■■ is,j-' anpther: ■ work;of-',the..immediate future, and it is ,quite;',™ssible .tKat'.'.it -tina'y'vbe 'put,' in hand :before 7:many. '.weeks have '■ passed. : TM9:Adeviatioii;will,' ; facilitate. the hand- 1 liiig-; of.:■ the." traffio,!'at;the ■■northern end 6f-..the:city, , -and will shorten .theVnin'toJ theiißotanical , ;Gardenfl''.and vKarori,..' aa well "as enabling : he.present service to be , 'maintained, r with;.less.;cars; ,: '.The ■ length; of .itiine; taken ...to -reach:; town yfrom' the' .Gardens': has: been exercising l 'the minds, of; ; the vKarori; people, tp such jan'extent; .of. late; that "they •: have :urged. .'a '; new route, altogether.::"Another : very:necessary UnWng.:, Bp. \>w'ori ;Ywhich ■-.lvill;i have; to:. be : ■ undertaken - •'; is, : the j laying of..';lines ■'•' 'Quay, , : connecting. Willis-Street'with the:'Jeryofs, ;Quay. lines opposite' the .Post Office; : As pointed out some time ago by! the electrical;engincer,.thi3.wou!d: enable a trnmway.. centre to bo created-at tho Post.Ofiice as a-terminus for some routes.'.This'.would , obviato the necessity .of -running, to tlie Government station;.and at thesame.time. allow the 'department to run cars along .the shopping route whore; the -heaviest traffic-exists.-"Still;- another'.work:-wnich 'will probably have, .to;,be .faced owing .to Cuba 'Street r being : too enarrow.: to allow: of the track being'duplicated is. the laying ;of a double: lino of -track from,\tne corner of Cuba, and. Ingestte Streets along .Upper Ingos.tro''.Street.' .This line would, connect -with Upper. Willis.' Street, : which, track.'. wpuld noes to ;he '. duplicated down' tb\-the;-Mannprs Street junction.:. Such' , a line,, it is poijiiedout, would givs a more direct run ;thnn; tho: present' one,, as tlio sharp curves at , the top and bottom : ends '. oi■ '-.Cuba Street would Jx avoided and-.-.a-higher'rate of specd:cpqld thus-bo-main-' tamed.'':Th6.liitldnß'up .of 'Ingestre and. Upper Willis ;.Strpets would .also .provide an outlet {or.all through- traffic irivth'o. eyent of a■' blockage .'o'cc'ur'rih{f .at" theEpyal Oak corner, where prnclically all. converge at present..'. I'he increasing -holiday;traffic 'oh tho eastern suhurbnn lines has ;brought lip the question of oxteniling .the' Constable, Street track on. tollCilbirnipi. aud if, 'thq?j. is money to' 'spare this work may receive '.Attention. '•■-.'■■ ; ,Jt.will-lie.seen that great' as ore tho . preoant dimensions -of the city,-; tramway ''undertaking,vthcrc/is still, extension work in sight,;, which '.will; keep the Tramways Committee, busy for a long time to come.