A MODERN TRAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1932, Page 3

A MODERN TRAIN

PNEUMATIC-TIRED COACH

SUCCESSFUL TESTS

To travel 31 miles in 39 minutes outlie first pneumatic-tired motor-coach to run on rails in Britain was the recent experience of a correspondent of the “Daily Mirror.” It foretold a revolution in rail transport. The journey which took place on the Bletchlev-Oxford line, was one ol the tests which the London. Midland and Scottish Railway Company are (arrying out with the new Michelin rail coach, designed to replace the’ costly and infrequent trains on branch lines. Weighing only five tons, and in appearance not unlike an ordinary motorcoach, apart from its aeroplane-typo radiators at the side, the coach looked strangely insignficant beside the large, old fashioned trains drawn up on the sidings. Yet, with its 27 horsepower engine, with a petrol consumption of 12 miles per gallon, it- can attain si speed of 60 miles an hour. The wheels are fitted with (hinges to keep them on the rails, and each tire has si permanent pressure-gauge. In the unlikely event of a puncture, it is stated, a hooter sounds in the driver’s cab. The small ten-wheeled vehicle Inis a seating capacity for 24 passengers, but over 30 people crowded into jt on the trial run. Luckily, is has , tenwheel brakes—and when these wore applied they drew the car up with a jerk that left no doubts sis to their power! On starting, tho pleasant Oxfordshire scenery Unwed past with an evenness that made it difficult to realist) that th(> coach was “doing 55.” Only when lli(' writer put his head out of the window was lie convinced that the speedometer was not exaggersiting. It was so silent in running that it deserved to he ( silled “the Ghost I rain —n real hush-hush job!