Passing Comments Tractor-trailers MakA LITTLE time ago the vice
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leg Great Headway president of the Fruehauf In America . . . Trailer Co., of America, made
a statement on the future of semi-trailers before the Board of Investigation and Research. He pointed out that, although this type of vehicle is barely 25 years old, it has proved to have so many inherent advantages that, to-day, the bulk of inter-city, long-distance freight travels by tractor-trailer. There have, of course, been tremendous improvements in braking, ease of coupling and uncoupling, and suspension, also a con.siderable development in the frameless semi-trailer with fifth wheel and axle carried directly by the body. Full advantage has also been taken of lightweight materials, such as aluminium. Another outstanding success has been the type constructed of welded, stainless steel. In the past 10 years the demand for semi-trailer units has increased some 500 per cent. A great advantage is that they can be used in shuttle operation, the tractor unit taking care of two or even three semi-trailers, one being loaded while the others are being unloaded and in transit respectively. The type allows a huge load to be hauled by a relatively small-powered unit. Dangerous Hairpin A T the foot of the road lead Bend on Main Bus ing to the Hog's Back, Route Guildford, 'Surrey, is a small strip of railway-owned land carrying grass and a few shrubs, which juts out as a salient between the road in question and another leading into the railway yard. The point is that it results in a hairpin bend, which is one of the worst of its type, causing dislocation of traffic and danger: It forrni part of a number of bus routes, and, in order to " negotiate " it, . vehicles, including single and double-deckers, have to hug the off side. A local resident, who, incidentally, proved to be a Canadian who has lived in Guildford for many years, remarked to us that many efforts had been made by the municipality to effect an improvement, but that the railway was adamant concerning this little strip, , which serves no useful purpose but is merely an obstruction. Admittedly, the roads are on different levels, and; therefore, a little engineering work would be required, but this difficulty should not prove insuperable. Actually, we understand, from authoritative sources, that if the municipality pressed its case if could override any objection that was raised by the
railway. •
What Production of L'E W people realize Ihe a Single Ton of Steel 1 amount of material and the Requires power required to make a ton
of steel. These particulars come from America, and may vary slightly in Britain. They are :—iron ore, 2,800 lb. ; coal, 1,600 lb.; limestone, 825 lb ; steel scrap, 1,500 lb.; air, 16,000 lb.; water, 480,000 lb.; gas, 87,000 cubic ft.; steam, 4,300 lb.; also fluxes, alloys, electric Power, muriatic and sulphuric acids, fuel oil, pitch, etc., whilst the furnaces must be capable of developing 27,000,000 B.T.U.s.
Aust ralian Driver IN its May issue, the AusKilled by ProducerI tralian journal, "Truck and
gas fumes . . . Bus Transportation," makes reference to the case of a lorry driver who pulled up his vehicle in order to sleep, and was found dead in the cabin. It appeared that he had been overcome by producer-gas fumes. The doors and windows of the driving cabin were closed, and the man was found lying on the seat, covered with blankets. We refer particularly to this case as a warning to other drivers of vehicles running on this class of fuel.