An Electric Tram-Car Engine.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 184, 25 December 1886, Page 2

An Electric Tram-Car Engine.

A trip was made recently from Stratford Church to Manor Park with sin engine constructed by the Electric Locomotive and Power Company, upon the syetom ot Mr Elieson. The Company are manufacturing engines on this system, to be used on the North Metropolitan Tramway Company's linos along the route traversed yesterday, but they cannot be used for ordinary traffic at present, owing to the Company's Act of Parliament not providing for other than horee-power. A Bill is before Parliament for conferring the required authority, but it is "hung up " until the next session at the stage which it had reached in the session lately ended. The Bill being unopposed its epeedy paseing ia looked for, and in the meantime the construction of the new plant ia now being proceeded with. Mr Elieson'a patented inventions are of two kindc", one being an accumulator, and the other an improved mechanism connected With the motor. The accumulator consists of pairs of plates composed of diaca of lead and asbestos paper, in alternate layers, and has great endurance —being, indeed, stronger after come months' service than when new. The motor, which weighsl2cwt., is not stationary, but revolves by means of a pinion and circular rack, so that its impetus when in action adds to the power brought to bear upon the axle. The accumulators employed in an engine are 80 cells, or 160 volts, and the weight of the engine car on the weigh-bridge is cix tons 17 cwt., that of a steam tramoar engine being; about 11 tons. The trip to Manor Park (two miles and a half), and tlio return journey, were successfully performed, the running being very easy and steady, at the speed of an ordinary car The engine, which ia constructed to meet the requirements of the Boaid of Trade, has the appoa<anco of a small car. There were many horses along the road, but only two manifested any interest in the vehicle, and they soon overcame their surprise. It is claimed tor this eystem that the cost of an installation will net exceed the present cost of horses, harneee, and stabling, that the engine is perfectly under the control of one attendant, who need not be an electrician, that there is absolute safety owing to the low tension currents employed, that the ccst of maintenance will be diminished by 40 per cent, as compared with that of horses, and that a Bavintf of over £50,000 per annum would bo effected in the running expenses of one of the principal London tramway companies An engine anil car may be seen running on the line from Stratford Church to Manor Park ©very Thursday afternoon