THE FRENCH RAILWAY TRANSPORT CRISIS.
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CONSIDERABLE ' difficulty is actually being experienced in. France through a transport crisis, owing principally to the shortage of locomotives and coal, whilst the quality of the latter is extsemely poor. A somewhat original proposition has been put forward by two practical French engineers, who suggest utilizing all the Giovernment motor lorries now lying idle in the various "pares (Pantos," by equipping their present wheels with flanged tires to render them suitable for running upon the main railway lines.
There is plenty of petrol in the country. It is even stated that there is thirty times more than is actually required for immediate use for motor work or for various industries; consequently petrol should serve as and become a substitute for the coal.
A motor lorry over a bad road can
carry and easily draw a full load of between three and four tons, but when driven upon a railroad the same lorry could, without any abnormal eonsuroption, of petrol, haul about 40 tons..
The British army in the Camereons and Nigeria, and the Americans and Germans in their respective countries, have proved that motor lorries can be utilized in an eminently practical manner upon rails and can draw enormous loads.
The question, therefore, arises as to why the tens of thousands of French and American lorries, instead of lying idle and being allowed to rat in mud and to suffer from neglect. and exposure to the climatic conditions, should not be converted without delay in the way suggested and thus be at once put to a, useful purpose.
No end of chauffeurs have offered their services to drive the "railway lorries," and it is estimated that
the locomotive factories could in a, very short period supply the necessary flanged tires for the wheels.
These motor lorries could be used either for passenger or goods service upon local lines, whilst they: would gradually tackle the main lines for the transport of goods, even if the "leader" of the convoy -were accompanied by an experienced railway driver accustomed to the signals and other such technicalities.
The idea is undoubtedly a good one, but, it remains to be seen if it, will be put into practice. At any rate, the transport crisis in France is so serious that it is even officially proposed, should the River Seine continue to rise and thereby. completely to stop the service of steamers drawing barges full of -coal and other necessary goods, to stop the public service of passenger trains between Havre and Paris.