Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-09
TRACkLESS TR0LLEYS
SUCCESS IN ENGLAND
Expenditure About One-Tenth
That Of an Ordinary Street
Railway System.

Rallies trolley TRACTION has proved
n success In Bradford. England. and
has been operated at a profit by the
municipality. according TO an article
In The Power Wagon. The love capt
tai expenditure (one-tenth that re-
quired for the ordinary tramway sys-
um) has enabled many rural and
suburban communities 20 obtain
passenger servise at moderate cost.
The trackless motor car is regarded
rs a pioneer service preceding the in
stllation OF an ordinary trolley route,
and serving a. feeder for Bradford's
mas electric transportation service.
Its primary function is TO tap the
thinly populated areas. serve them
until their development requires
permanent way. and then move on 10
new areas. Another important fInc-
ton performed by the trackless cars
Is in forming CONNECTING links be-
tween the terminals OF existing troll
Icy lines and facilitating rapid inter-
communication in the network of
lines operated by the municipality.
The first trackicss trolley service in
bradford was installed in June. 1911.
There are now five such routes oper-
uted by the municipality. comprising
total mileage OF s.5 miles. The sta
tistical return for 1915 showed a car
mileage on the railless system OF 322.-
2sO. as against 177.e53 in 1915. The
total operating cost for the IS cars m
use Qnclpdins interest and sinking
fund charges was 15.5 cents per car
mile. and during 1916 the nubmer OF
passengers carried was 3 iC2 9S5.
Half-fares are charged before 3 a. ni..
.he lowest charge being ] cent. and
special redJSed fares apply to child
Ten going TO and from school. The
route Is divided into stages. ani the
fare is according 10 the distance tray
eled. The average fare per mile Is l.S
cent
Each car has a seating capacity OF
~ persons. and crew Of two, con-
sistlnE Of motorman ana conductor.
The current is obtained from over
head trolley wires. and the vehicle
runs along the highroad on solid rub
her tires At the terminus the cars
are turned. without removing the trol-
,ey connection hy means OF an over
head trolley reVerser of triangular
shape.
The machines cause considerable
damage To the roads over which they
run. and the highways require regular
attention and care a smooth road be
ing a prerequisite to successful opera
ton. The macadam and concrete
types of road construction are faN-
ored in the environs OF Bradford,
where large supplies OF good road
making stone are available.
Anho railless traction is financially
success in Bradford. an exact sta
tistical return is misleading, inasmuch
as the feeding value" is not and can
not be taken into consideration in the
accounts for railless traction In con-
ira distinction from the municipal sys-
tom as an entity. The routes along
which the cars are run are sometimes
routes upon which rails could not he
laid withoutt heavy capital expendi-
ture. and this method OF Transports
ton. Il Is stated was adopted orig'-
nally beSause OF cheapness In con-
structioH and operation rather than
by reason OF any other advantage over
the alleged superior service afforded
by ordinary electric railways.
No freight business or goods and !
parcel delivery system is in operation |
on the failless trolley lines. However |
II may be pointed out that on the cleo |
tric street railways OF Bradford an eX-
oellent parcel-delivery system has
ecen In successful operation for 4 |
number OF years, and an innovation In |
the matter Of goods transportation re-
Gently had its beginning In the use OF
a motor truck. operated between the |
schedule OF ordinary trolloy-line SER
vice This motor truck is run on the
trackless- trolley principle. but aniim-
portant additional feature is that II is
fitted with storage batteries which |
will take their supply Of current from
the overhead wires and enable the We
hcle 10 leave the tramway route at
any point In order TO reach its desti-
nation and deliver goods. The vehicles
arc designed. and in some instances
actually made from the chassis OF mo-
tor trucks. They are intended TO en-
gage In heavy hauling for individuals
as wen as for the municipal depart
m6nts. The ordinary electric car sys-
tenn OF parcel delivery. in Bradford
limits the weigh; OF any package TO So
pounds. and the new scheme has In
view the delivery OF heavy and bulky
goods.