WESTOWN TRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1920, Page 4

WESTOWN TRAMS.

AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL. RAILLESS TROLLEY) SYSTEM. BOROUGH -COUNCIL DISCUSSION. A suggestion that the railless trolley Bjstem might be employed Tn the extension of the tramway system to VY'estown was before the Borough Council last night. * The general manager reported that when the Westown extensions were first mooted some years ago he suggested it might be advisable to consider the question of the railless trolley system, but. at the time the suggestion did not meet with much favor, it being preferred to adhere to an extension under the present-isystem. He proceeded: "The estimates recently submitted of part of the works" comprised in the extension show such ain enormous increase over pre-war prices in the cost of rails and. other materials that it seems to me very desirable-thas further inquiry .should be jnade into the railless Bystem before the Council definitely commits itself to extensions under the existing system." A report was enclosed stating that Leeds and Bradford had recently installed the railless trolley system of tractjons as extensions to their ordinary tramway systems. In this system overhead wires are supported from brackets carried by poles in a very similar manner to that adopted in the ordinary tramway system. A second wire on each line is required for the return current, in this respect differing from the ordinary trolley system. Tbe current is supplied to the cars from the two overhead wires. by means of a double trolley arm, which is of sufficient length to allow of the car running from -one side of the road to the other, or, to be more precise, to run at a distance of 16 feet on either sh.Y> from the centre of the trolley wires. This gives' ample room for the cars to clear all other vehicular traffic, as the roadways do not exceed 31 feet in width. The cars are each designed for a Seating accommodation of 28 (passengers,' there being only one entrance, and' that at the front, as theiidriver also acts in the capacity of conductor ■ TAe wheels are fitted with solid rubber tyres, and, provided that the robd s'tfrfaoe is good, the cost of tyres odoes.-not exceed lid per mile. The weight of the car fully loaded is about Ave; taps. The. cars* are fitted with two electric each having a capacity of ■ 20' horse-power, giving the cars # speed of ;1Q miles' per hour on the level. By the line of a skate to connect the motors, to the rails these cars are enabled to' operate over the ordinary tramway system when necessary. The estimated'" of ' overhead equipment is about £ per mile (1912 prices). Recently figures have been -.publishedshowing that the costs, average out at 4%d per car mile in b&th' towns, while the receipts per car mile >are ;8.78d in Leeds and 6Jd in Bradford. The fares charged averaged about one penny for a distance of about- 1,1-3, miles.

The tramways engineer (Mr. E. H. Bartley) said, he-was pleased to see this matter brought forward. The vehicle used was a type of heavy 'bus, driven electrically, and it could be adapted to be used with the ordinary tramway tracks. The system presented possibilities for New Plymouth, 'in view of the heavy costs which extensions of the tramway system would entail. It might be possible to get this system running to two suburbs in New Plymouth at the cost which the tramway system to. one suburb would entail. It was the next best system to tramways, and though not as comfortable as trams they provided comfort similar to the 1 London 'bus service. Mr. Bartley thought the Council should get a comparison of the cost of this system and the cost of a tramway extension. , The* Mayor remarked that it would be a very good system to run to Bell Block and up the Avenue Road at some future date. The Mayor added that the scheme was well worth groing into, "'for if it was found impractioable to extend the trams to Westown, this system would be preferable to ordinary 'buses. The engineer said lie had written ffer further information, and the Council decided to defer the matter until this information is received.