New Pier Trai ns Go by Road
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SOUTHEND pier is saying goodbye to its toast-rack trams. They are being replaced by a new fleet of modern cars, the first of which left the maker's works by road last Friday.
Low loading trailers fitted with two lengths, of tram rail, and drawn by Fordson tractors, are being used for the work by Messrs. National Parcels and Goods Service, Great Tarpots, Smith Benficet, Essex.
The start of the journey to Southend was made from the maker's wdrks at Taggs Island, in the middle of the Thames, near Hampton Court. In this island factory, the first completed vehicle was suspended on two parallellift jacks, a product of Messrs. Young's of Birmingham. Each of these jacks was made up of two vertical side members supporting a stout steel girder placed between them horizontally to form an H assembly. A large handle was fitted on each side for manual operation. With four men working the two jacks, the first of the new trams was quickly raised to a height at which the trailer could be run underneath. The tram was then lowered on to the lengths of rail, chocks placed under the wheels and the body chained to the trailer.
The Fordson tractor was backed up and. coupled to the loaded trailer, which was then. drawn out of the factory and over a temporary steel girder bridge to the mainland" and so to Southend. Built by A.C. Cars, Ltd., Thames Ditton, the new pier fleet comprises four trains, each of seven coaches. Of modern design and construction, each car incorporates power-operated double sliding doors on each side, half-drop winding windows and curved rooflights. Each train will carry 254 seated and many standing passengers, enabling the service to deal adequately with its 3,000,000 passengers yearly.