TRAMCAR ACCIDENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 11

TRAMCAR ACCIDENTS

PROVISION FOR LIFTING VEHICLES “CARS SHOULD CARRY JACKS” “I can’t see why jacks cannot be carried on tramcars,” said Mr. M. J. Coyle at this morning's meeting of the Transport Board when a report by the engineer. Mr. F. E. de Guerrier. was under consideration. The engineer had made a comprehensive statement about the facilities for handling accident cases involving trams. The report was the result of a question raised by a board member, who asked, in view of the recent accident in Queen Street in which a woman was pinned under a car for 12 minutes, what provision was made for meeting such emergency. The engineer said that there were S 7 jack stations placed at intervals of not more than half a mile. The advantage of having stations instead of having jacks carried on the cars was ! that the jacks could be kept in much better order and without risk of damage or loss. The jacks were each capable of lifting five tons. Criticising the present method, Mr. Coyle said provision should be made on all new cars for carrying jacks. It did not seem up-to-date to have to go a. quarter of a mile for a jack when someone might be in a critical position. All motor-cars carried their own jacks and surely a tram could do so. Mr. L. E. Rhodes: A long, crowbar should be part of the equipment also. Mr. E. H. Potter suggested that instead of ordinary hand jacks some electric appliance worked off the overhead wires might be devised. Referring to the accident of a week ago Mr. J. Morgan, traffic superintendent, said he was on the scene and it was found that a jack was not of much use in view of the position of the woman’s foot between the wheel and the axle box. The engineer was instructed to report on any suggestions likely to be of service. “We expect something better than what we have got.” remarked Mr. Coyle as a parting shot.