NEW TRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1921, Page 5

NEW TRAMS.

BIRNEY SAFETY TYPE. USE IN NEW PLYMOUTH. ' THE “DEAD MAN” CONTROL. “Mecltanically, they are perfect,” sums up the opinion of the New Plymouth tramway authorities after their trial teats with the new Birney safety tramcars which were recently landed to augment the borough’s rolling stock. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and members of the council were taken for a trial run in one of the cars yesterday afternoon, when the features of the car were demonstrated by the tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley). In spite of the fact that the car has run only a few miles so far and therelore the parts have not “seated” yet, the trip demonstrated that it is an easy-running vehicle. In operation it is truly a “safety” car and derives the name from the fact that it has many features designed to prevent mishaps, including air brakes adapted from the Westinghouse patent. Probably foremost in this respect is the “dead-man” control installation, which is an automatic device for stopping the car in the event of the motorman becoming incapable of carrying out his duties—an emergency that rarely happens, but one which engineering skill has provided for. The control operates very effectively, as was witnessed by yesterday’s demonstration. In normal running the conductor has his left hand on the lever from which he regulates the speed of the car; -shoual lie by any chance release his hold the brakes operate immediately and sand is applied to the rails pulling up the car. SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. For service work the motorman utilises another air brake, and in addition to regulating the speed of the car it opens and closes the doors, another precautionary measure. The doors Are in two divisions, connected by a hinge and open outwards. Before the car is started these are closed by the releasing of the bTake, and the step also folds up. They cannot be opened till the car is brought to a standstill. Entering into, or alighting from the moving cars will therefore be an impossible offence in the case of the new vehicles. The ordinary brake has also its emergency features, and a push of the handle can be the means of bringing the car to a stop in a length and a half, the device including the application of aand to the rails, and the opening of the doors. The cars are well provided for in this respect, for three forms of electrical braking are also available, in addition to a hand brake as a last emergency. All these are simple in their application. The air brakes are a new feature as far as New Plymouth trama are concerned, as is also the sand d?vice which operates in conjunction with the brakes. The sand is stored in compact boxes attached under some of the seats and is applied to the track to facilitate “braking.”

QUESTION OF APPEARANCE. The first trial run of the Birney on the track a week or two ago immediately resulted in some criticism as to their quality and durability. The new type certainly does not compare favorably in appearance with the present cars, which have wooden bodies, but the steel construction and straight sides is not conducive to .the best finish, although for utility it is asserted to be in the front rank. The irjodern practice is to go in for steel construction as against wood. The body of the Birney is of 3-16 inch steel plates riveted together, and while it may not have the same solid appearance. as the wooden type, closer inspection reveals there is nothing fragile about the construction. It is American made, even to the corporation’s coat of arms painted on the outside, with one exception: the roofs of the car arrived in a somewhat damaged condition, necessitating new ones being made by the New Plymouth tramways staff, and the interior of the cars now reveals a kauri ceiling nicely finished in white. Another point which distinguishes the Birneys on the track is their “squat” looking appearance, which is due to the fact that they are not so high as the present oars and that the bodies are of more square build. The interior reveals comfortable wooden seats to accommodate 28 passengers, while “straphangers” are also provided for and there is plenty of room in the car. There will be no division into compartments, but smokers will oe accommodated in the three rear seats in each car. (Electric “buzzers” are installed fox* the convenience of passengers who wish to communicate with the motorman as to the stops. On the outside of the car at either end are two signal lights which may be used to distinguish cars running to different routes, according to the adopted color. This is a method which has not yet been used in New Plymouth, I however, as the cars display a full sign with the name of the destination and probably will be continued. ■THE ONE-MAN SYSTEM. The cars are designed for either oneman or two-men operation. It is not the intention of the authorities, however, to bring in the one-man system straight away, as some necessary preliminary changes will have to be inI augurated befor this can be done. The | revision of the whole ticket system is | one of the reforms in mind, and included in this of course will be a suitable ticket for use in one-man cars; what the actual form will be has yet to be decided. The tramway manager is also of opinion that the queue system of loading could well be brought into force. A further change which will no doubt follow the above will be the pay-as-you-entor and pay-as-you-leave principles. The former is used during light traffic when only a few passengers are picked up at intervals. The second is meant to cope with a rush period such as a car leaving town fully loaded. In this case the quota of passengers leaving at each stop would be expected to pay their fares before alighting from the car. These changes, however, will only come into force in gradual stages. The one-man system when inaugurated will only be used in suitable hours and later increased as experience warrants. AN ECONOMICAL CAR. The tramways manager is optimistic regarding the possibilities of the new acquisition. The cars being constructed in steel instead of woo.d are greatly reduced in weight, which means less consumption of current and a big reduction in track maintenance. The bugbear q£ all tramway authorities is 'wavy

rolling stock and its detrimental effect on the track. If. as it is hoped, the new type of car. will have the effect of making a big cut in the department’s expenditure, the time may not be far off when the public will got the benefit through the medium of reduced fares. At any rate this is the ambition of those in charge. Tn round figures the three new care cost £3OOO each. As it i: hoped to have all three in commission next week citizens will be able to judge as to the investment made by the coi~nftil.