PETROL TRAM CARS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 218, 13 March 1912, Page 4

PETROL TRAM CARS.

When Mr. J. D. Henry, the oil expert, was in New Plymouth, he referred to the highly successful experiments that were being made by the Morecambe Tramway Company with a new type of car that he described as the last word in motor traction. Mr. Henry was confident that this was going to be the tram car of the future for the smaller towns that were unable to instal the expensive electric trolley system, and went as far as to say that even with its available electric power it would pay New Plymouth to instal the petrol type. For country work, too, he claimed for it special advantages' over electricity. ,In view of the interest being taken in trams, eoun--try and town, in the district, a report of the new system appearing in the Morecambe Chronicle, to hand by the last mail, will be read with interest. In describing the construction of the car Mr. B. Nixon, a director of the Leyland Motor Cdmpany, a well-known English firm, said the body had been built by the United Electric Car Company. The car was fitted with a fifty horse-power engine, a similar one to those being used on the six-ton lorries. After describing several technicalities about the new car he said the cost remained to be proved, but he thought he could safely assume that the car would do about eight miles with a gallon of petrol. As the/e was no tax on the cost it would be about one penny per mile. If electric current were used it would take something like two units per mile, and he dare say the cost would be twopence per unit. If that were so the saving in the cost of fuel would be a very considerable item. As to the maintenance and general running- repairs he would say they would \>e something like the ordinary motor, a penny or three-halfpence per mile. He thought the cost and upkeep of the track were to be compared with the rubber tyres on the motor 'bus, which would amount to, say, 1% per mile. The car would travel some 45,000 miles in a year, and he thought the track could be kept in adequate repair .for the sum of £365.