• PETROL AND STEAM RAIL VEHICLE COSTS COMPARED.
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
TN THE early part of November of last 1 year we published an article dealing with the adaptation of internal-combustion-engined road vehicles for rail use, and we referred particularly to the enterprising endeavours of the J. G. Brill Co., of Philadelphia, to popularize this type of machine for branch line service in substitution for high-powered, steam locomotives which, on account of the paucity of traffic, are unable efficiently and. economically to serve thinly populated districts.
We have recently received some interesting ,and illuminating figures fromi the London office of 'the company which amply support the statement that the petrol rail vehicle can be more economically operated than the steam locomotive on short-distance routes linking up isolated areas with main line traffic. Several tests were recently made to determine definitely-the cost of operation of the Brill 31 seater rail bus, not under artificial conditions, but on regular services on the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad, the Greenbrier and Eastern Railroad, and the Sewell Valley Railroad.
C8
The following figures, which have been converted into sterling on the basis of par ($4.8 = L1) show the results of the tests carried out on the respective rail ways.
ABERDEEN AND ROCKFISH RAILROAD.
Pence per mile.
Depreciation, £1,771; life 300,000 miles 1.42 Repairs and replacements, £625.50
Maintenance, 241 14s 25 Petrol, 9.14 mike to gallon at 9d 1.03 Lubrication, £2 Os, ad. per month .13 Insurance, £41 14s. per annum. .25 Driver's wages, 12-hour day, £1 4s 2.25 Porter's wages, 12-hour day. 8s, 4d .75 Cost per mite 6.58 • Cost per day, E3 10s, 2d, This Indicates a mileage of lust over 127 per
As compared with these figures, it was ascertained-that, for a steam train operating under identical conditions, the cost per mile was 23.75d., and the cost per day £12 12s. 11d. the differences in the figures for each form of locomotion representing a saving of 17.13d. per mile, or £9 2s. 9r1. per day in favour of the petrol rail bus. On the basis of 313 'operating days in a year, the annual saving is equivalent to £2,860 Os, 9d.
GREENBRIER AND EASTERN RAILROAD.
Pence per mile.
Depredation, £1,771; life 300,000 miles 1,42
Repairs and replacements, g625.... ......... .50 Depreciation, £1,771; lit. 300,000 miles 1.42
Maintenanoe, £20 17s. .25 Petrol, 9.5 ruilea to gallon at 1s. OVad 1.30
Lubrication, lie. 5d. per month .13 Insurance, £41 14s. per aunum .50
Driver's wages, 12-hour day, £1 3.77 Porter's wages, 12-hour day, 12s. 10d 2.42
Cost per mile 10.29
Cost per day, 52 11s. 10d. This indicates a mileage of just over 60 per day.
SEWELL VALLEY RAILROAD.
Pence per mile. Depreciation, £1,771; life 300.000 miles 1.42
Repairs and replacements, £625 .50
Maintenance, g27 10s. per annum .25
Petrol, 8.25 miles to gallon at in. OVA 1.51
Lubrication, £1 3s. 8..1. per month .13
Insurance, £41 144. per annum .38 Driver's wages, 36s. 4d. per day 5.15
Porter's wages, 25s, ld. per day 3.66
Cost per day, £4 /1s.
This indicates a mileage of exactly 84 per day.
There is considerable difference in the working costseper mile and per day on each of the three railroads, but this is very largely due to a divergence in mileage.
Coat per mile 13.00