EXIT BOX CARS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 945, 12 October 1910, Page 4

EXIT BOX CARS.

ENGLISH V. AMERICAN ASH. The days of the small box car are past. The Tramway Department has decided to convert at least" half of the dozen cars of that pattern into 'combination' cars on bogies, which, is a very desirable type of car, though not so payable, perhaps, as • the high-stepped 'Talace." Many will hear this news with regret, for the box-car is about the most comfortable in the service. One ia less likely to get his knees locked or his toes trodden on in them than in the roomless but payable '<Palace" cars. The first box-car is already on the stocks. The body has- been placed on a steel bed the length of a combination car. The open-seated part has merely to be built and attached to the "box," and it becomes a "combination." In overhauling the., car. it ; was; found. that''the /corner, pillars' of American ash;.-.though goodifor a-good 5 deal; more', wear,' 'were, .showing' signs; of "(rot, result, it-is" alleged, "of the' exposure- they were submitted -. to;: : summer.' and:'.winter,;'.'for/ the lack of sufficient; car-shed a'ceoirimodationi which .'is. only, now'beingmet bythe. erection of 'the' new shed at Thorndon.■■; The.'water had worked; into. the'"seams', '• and,'; unable;.to get out,'' had. caused little pockets of rot. The timber usedjn; these cars—which are six years old—is.American ashi'a>softer, and much"'inferior wood;to ■;English' ash;" which is "very tough; and; can stand a"lot of hard-wear. .'■ As:.a'contrast the'iforeman car-builder showed V.some' uprights 'of English.oak,from one .of the Dick,">-,Ker and; Co.-: "Hong-Kong"; cars.'.ln this; case the' timber, was: as .good as the.'day; ;it arrived,; in the Dominion, and is being' used over.again.'-Strange to'sayi -English, ash; ismore expensive,.. and at theVsame time -harder; to - get .than the;:Americaa product;' '-.-:.. ;■ -''..;■ , :. : -'',.'.-'- ■■;■:■.-"■;';*,"?. "v