Phases of PASSENGER TRAVEL
Page 70
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Notes on a Variety of Aspects of Coach and Bus Development.
AT the invitation of the tramways and motors committee of the Corporation of Sheffield we were present at the recent opening of the Tenter Street tram depot and Townhead Street motorbus garage by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Herbert Morrison. This new building is certainly a most interesting example of its kind, and, in many respects, it is unique in that it is built upon the side of a hill in such a manner that the trams can enter the ground floor from their own street level and the buses can run straight into their garage on the .first floor from higher-level streets. There is accommodation for 80-90 trams and 100 buses.
The site formed part of what was originally known AS the Crofts Area, narrow streets ran through it, a large part was occupied by overcrowded and unsanitary courts and dwellings and several old public-houses The actual site of the new depot occupies only a .partion..of this area. It was found to be honeycombed with old cellars and there were water duets consisting of hollowed-out tree trunks. Some idea of the work which had to be undertaken can be gained by mentioning that 35,000 cubic yards of earth had to be excavated.
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The main retaining wall is 7 ft. thick at the base and tapped to release any water which might otherwise collect behind it. Thirty-nine strong stanchions support the upper floor. The floor area afforded by the building is 2.36 acres.
Ventilation is effected by air ducts and fans, the air being wanted in winter by passing over radiators heated by steam from a Lancashire boiler 30 ft. long and 8 ft. in diameter.
The whole building is protected from fire by a Grinnell automatic sprinkler system installed by Mather and Platts, of Manchester. piping from a highpressure main has, at regular intervals, sprinkler heads with fuses which operate at -155 degrees F., thus, localizing any fire which may occur.
In addition a number of two-gallon Foam extinguishing machines is . installed, and there are two 10-gallon Fire-Snow engines which can be wheeled to ally point and can throw to a .distance of 50 ft.
For tyre inflation a central compressor feeds transportable air cylinders at a pressure of 1,800 lb. per sq. in., the Reavell compressor being driven by a 4 h.p. electric motor. Each air cylinder has a capacity of six gallons and is equipped with a reducing valve and gauge. One cylinder will fill from flat about six 40-in. by 8-in. tyres, and the maximum time required is 21 mins. If used for "topping up" only, one cylinder will last a considerable time. For vehicle washing,, powerful pumps are provided, each working fourieguns at 2 pressure of 300-375 lb.
The petrol installation has a capacity of 30,000 gallons, and the power pump delivers the fuel to two metering columns, each of which can give 30 gallons per minute. The oil installation consists of two 1,000-gallon tanks, each provided with five-gallon lift pumps. There are also six 300-gallon tanks, each with a one-gallon lift pump.
The approximate cost of the complete building, exclusive of the land, was just under £90,000. Apart from the garage proper there are well-arranged stores, vulcanizing shop, rnessrooms, etc. The garage floor of the building is of natural rock-asphalt, specially hardened to withstand heavy traffic.