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Today I traveled only a short distance, but in so doing I traveled in a bus,
a train, two jeeps, a sedan, and in addition walked part way. The same trip
in all probability would have been made in one conveyance at home.
The buses are of the two story type and in riding one impatiently jogs along
at a slow rat£ of speed on the left hand side of the road. There is not much
difference in their bus system, but the street cars alone deserve a page of
discussion. They are known as trams and are of several coaches resembling
pioneer trains, but powered by electricity. I'll tell you about then later
as I have an appointment with the Tram Way Co. to discuss with them the
history of their company. They said their "train" is the first to be
operated by electricity anywhere in the world and is still in operation.
Freight cars are known as goods wagons. They are about 14 feet long and ride
on only four wheels. The wheels are not cast in one piece as are ours, but
are similar to farm wagon wheels with spokes. The goods station is known as
a goods yard. The goods wagons, as well as the passenger coaches, have no
solid connections between them, but are connected with large chains with a
spring arrangement to absorb the shock in starting and stopping. The engines
are smaller and ride high on only four drive wheels with two smaller wheels
in front; as guiders. The steam cylinders are under the boiler and inside
the span of wheels. But most unusual yet is the design of coaches. The seats
are crosswise of the coach with petitions between each two rows. That
compartment has access to a side door and passengers enter and leave the
coach by the side rather than through the end. There is a step the full
length of the cars on each side facilitating traffic. This is further aided
by the fact that the station platform is raised conforming with the step
along the coach.
Some of the coaches have an aisle the length of the car along one side,
while in others the seats are full with a door for each compartment. Knowing
these trains are designed for economy and service, yet one enters the coach
with the anticipated thrill of boarding an amusement car at the country
carnival. --- 30 --- |
