WIRE-TRAMWAYS. 



355 



allowing the empty and laden trucks to pass one another on 

 the wire. 



To allow for the possibilit}' of this, at the middle of the wire, 

 where the trucks cross one another, a so-called transfer-station 

 is arranged as follows : — a workman stationed on a scaffolding 

 lifts the empty truck from the wire and replaces it beyond the 

 descending truck so as to allow the latter to pass. 



An automatic siding has, however, been invented, as shown in 

 fig. 199 : at a short distance above the wire, is fixed, on the 



Fig. 199. 



poles (c d) which serve to support it, a rod (e c df) for the 

 passage of the empty truck. The part of this {e c), jointed to 

 the remainder by a hinge at (e), has also a counterpoise, so that 

 it remains parallel to the wire unless pressed-down by the 

 weight of the truck, {c d) is fixed parallel to the wire, and {d f) 

 is also jointed at (c?) and meets the wire at (/). The empty 

 truck B on reaching (/) ascends {f d) and passes from {d) to {c) 

 whilst the laden truck passes under it, and then rejoins the 

 wire by pressing down (c e). The laden truck A on reaching (/) 

 lifts up {d f) and passes on its way. 



The first single wire-tramway was constructed in Schlierenthal 

 near Alpnach, in Canton Unterwalden, in Switzerland, it has a 

 length of 2,100 meters (1 mile 3 furlongs) and is supported at 

 numerous points, with a gradient of 35°/^. It differs from the 

 tramway just described by the fact that the wire is supported 



A A 2 



