Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Transactions for 1887
Americans are far beyond us in recognising the advantages of its adoption. They have many steep-grade tramways at work in towns, at Speeds varying from 7 to 10 miles an hour on fairly level lines, and at about 6 miles an hour on steep gra dients of about 1 in 5. In Chicago there are upwards of 20 miles of Single-line cable tramway in successful operation, a length of over feet of cable being operated from one central station. In places the tramway branches off at right angles, no difficulty being experienced in working it with curves of a radius of only feet. Mr. E. Pritchard, who in conjunction with Mr. Kincaid has devoted much skill and attention to developing this system, visited America last year with the view of investigating the cable lines there, and of advising as to the introduction of the system in this country. At Birmingham a system of cable tramways is now being carried out in part substitution of existing lines, and to work at Speeds of 6 and 8 miles per hour. The method of con struction involves some special arrangements, which have been devised, and which indicate an advance in cable tramway construction.
In China, a cable tramway is in course of construction from the town of Hong Kong up to the Peak, a range of very steep hills, on which are many fine residences and where the climate is better than at the low level by the harbour. The incline, which is 4800 feet long, is laid with 35 lb. Steel rails on steel sleepers, the line being partly single and partly double. The gradients vary between 2 to 1 and 10 to 1, following closely the natural contour of the ground. The total height the carriages have to be raised is 1800 feet. Each car is to contain sixty passengers, the maximum load being tons at each end of the ropes. The speed of the cars is to be six miles an hour.
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