New Carriages on the Underground Railways.

Because of greatly increased traffic, the London Underground Railways some time ago placed orders for 275 new motor and trailer cars. These vehicles have now been brought into use, and they represent a noteworthy contribution to British passenger stock.

The new carriages embody all modern features, and include new sliding doors, the page 22 provision of all-electric automatic control for the traction motors, patent electropneumatic brakes and air-door equipment of the latest design. On the motor-cars the centre double sliding doors giving an opening of 5ft. 11in. have been retained, and there have also been provided a pair of end sliding doors each giving a 2ft. 3in. opening. The weight of the cars has been kept down by the utilisation of aluminium alloys—a development to which many main-line railways might well devote consideration. Normally seven cars form a train during busy periods—three motor and four trailer cars. The principal dimensions of the motor cars are as follows:—Length overall, 53ft. 1 1/2in.; width, 8ft. 6 1/2in.; overall height from rail, 9ft. 6in.; tare weight, 31 tons 15 1/2cwt. Varying schemes of interior decoration and seat coverings have been adopted, silver greywood largely replacing the mahogany formerly employed. Great attention has been paid to interior lighting. The total number of lamps remains the same, but their wattage has been raised from 40 to 60, and the arrangement is such as to give the greatest freedom from glare and avoidance of shadows.