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A NEW SCOPE FOR THE PETROL RAIL-BUS.

22nd August 1922, Page 31
22nd August 1922
Page 31
Page 31, 22nd August 1922 — A NEW SCOPE FOR THE PETROL RAIL-BUS.
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Opening Up and Popularizing Isolated Areas by an Economical Form of Transport.

THE RECENT adoption of petrolpropelled motorbuses to service on tails bY the North-Eastern Railway is an indication of the suitability of this type of vehicle for use on branch lines where passenger traffic is small in proportion to the cost of running ordinary steam-driven trains. If this experimental service proves successful—and 'it is difficult to believe that it will do otherwise—commercial motor manufacturers will be provided with a new field for the absorption of part of their outputs.

Many a town or village has been made " by the provision of adequate traosport facilities, and who can say tat, the petrol-propelled rail-bus run on frequent service will not be the means of popularizing those rural areas which have hitherto only been served with intermittent train services? The charms and beauties of many an area are virtu. ally unknown because of the difficulty of reaching them, or the sporadic travelling arrangements thereto. The efficient rail-bus service should certainly assist in the development of isolated areas, apart. from providing the focal inhabitants with better travelling facilities.

In America appreciation of this eonsideration is being shown by the development of the petrol-propelled summer train, illustrations of which appear on

this page. This is the latest. move in the use of light equipment for. railroad service in the States, and it is being sponsored by the Four-Wheel Drive Auto Co., or Cliftonville, Wisconsin, who have recently completed a two-car unit, of this description which, although of the open type and primarily intended for use in the better months of the year, is provided with adipstahle side curtains for the protection of passengers..

The forward vehicle of this combined unit has seating capacity, for 36 persons, and the rear car can accommodate 50 people. Special care has. been taken by the designers of the bodies to see that each seat provides ample space for five adults. Tho cars are equipped with air brakes, electric starters arid horns, standard couplers, locomotive-type cowcatcher on the forward car, sanders for sanding the rails, and high-speed reverse gear, which enables the vehicle to travel as fast in reverse as in forward gear. Other details of the design and construc

on the F.W.D. pet*ol-driven vehicles for use on rails were described in an article entitled "Running Petrol Buses on Tramway Tracks," which was published in our issue for April nith,

On branch railways, and especially on electric lines over which excursions are run during the summer months, the petrol-driven train appears to be an ideal equipment for reducing operating costs and at the same time maintaining a reliable service.

During the test runs which have been made with the F.W.D. equipment in the States a speed of between 35 and 40 m.p.h. has been attained. The two-unit combination has rounded curves up to .16 degrees 'curvature at -a ,speed of 25 mph., and it is capable of roundini, much Sharper curves at a reduced speeds, This rail-bps development is indica, tive of the attention which the American commercial vehicle builders are giving tc the perfection of light railway equip. assent for use by railway authorities, who are forced to reduce their costs of operation in -order to maintain a profitable service. That rail-buses do reduce operating costs is endorsed by the experience of the Union Transportation Co., of New Jersey, who, at the present rate of saving by their adoption in place of steam locomotives, will be $14,000 to the good at the .end of a year's work. ing of the system.

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Locations: Cliftonville

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