USE OF ELECTRIC POWER ON THE TRAMWAY RULES
Title
USE OF ELECTRIC POWER ON THE TRAMWAY RULES
Description
TRAMWAY.
Subsidiary legislation under this Chapter, with subse
quent amendments (if any) Incorporated, is set out as
follows-
Page
Use of Electric Power on the- Tramway Rules 256
Trainway Working Rules ... ... ... 261
Prevention of Nuisances and Regulation of
Travelling Rules .... ... ... ... ... ... ... 265
USE OF ELECTRIC POWER ON THE
TRAMWAY RULES.
(Cap. 107-, sections 28 and 31).
(Ordinance No. 10 Of 1902).
[14th May 1902.]
1. These rules may be cited as the Use of Electric
Power on the Tramway Rules.
2. In the following rules
-current- means an electric current exceeding part of one ampere;
'energy' means electrical energy;
'generation'' means the dynamo or dynamos or other electric, apparatus
used for the generation of
,(motor' means any electric motor carried on a car and used for the
conversion of energy;
,,pipe' means any gas or water pipe, or other metallic pipe, structure or
substance;
'wire' means in ' v wire or apparatus used for telegraphic,
telephonic, electrical signalling or other similar pur- poses.
3. Any dynamo used as a generator shall be of such
pattern and construction as to be capable Of producing a
continuous current without appreciable pulsation.
4. One of. the two conductors used for transmitting energy from
the generator to the motors shall be in every case insulated from earth,
and is hereinafter referred to as ihe 'line'; the other may be insulated
throughout or may be uninsulated in such parts and to such extent as is
provided in the following rules, and is hereinafter referred to as the
,.return'.
5. Where any rails on which cars run, or any conductors laid
between or within three feet of such rails, form any part of a return such
part may be uninsulated. All other returns or parts of a. return shall be
insulated, unless of such sectional area as will reduce the difference of
potential between the ends of the uninsulated portion of the return
below the limit laid down in rule 9.
6. When any uninsulated conductor laid between or within three
feet of the rails forms any part of a return, it shall be electrically
connected to the rails at distances apart not exceeding one hundred feet
by means of copper strips having a sectional area of at least one-
sixteenth of a square inch, or by other means of equal conductivity.
7. When any part of a return is uninsulated it shall be connected
with the negative terminal of the generator, and in such case the
negative terminal of the generator shall also be directly connected,
through the current indicator hereinafter mentioned, to two separate
earth connexions which shall be placed not less than twenty yards apart
: Provided that in place of such two earth connexions the company may
make one connexion to a main for water supply of not less than three
inches internal diameter, with the consent of the owner thereof and of
the person supplying the water, and provided that where, from the
nature of the soil or for other reasons, the company can show to the
satisfaction of an inspecting officer of the Government that the earth
connexions herein specified cannot be constructed and maintained
without undue expense, the provisions of this rule shall not apply. The
earth connexions referred to in this rule shall be constructed, laid and
maintained so as to secure electrical contact with the general mass of
earth, and so that an electro-motive force not exceeding four volts shall
suffice to produce a current of at least two amperes from one earth
connexion to the other through the earth, and a test shall be made at
least once in every month to ascertain whether this requirement is
complied with. No portion of either earth connexion shall be placed
within six feet of any pipe except a main for water supply of not less
than three inches internal diameter metallically connected to the earth
connexions with the consents hereinbefore specified.
8. When the return is partly or entirely uninsulated the company
shall in the construction and maintenance of the. tramway
(a)so separate the uninsulated return from the general mass of
earth and from any pipe in the vicinity;
(b)so connect together the several lengths of the rails;
(c)adopt such means for reducing the difference produced by
the current between the potential of the uninsulated return at
any other point ; and
(d)so maintain the efficiency of the earth connexions specified in
the precedin~ rules,
as to fulfil the following conditions
(i) that the current passing from the earth connexions
through the indicator to the generator shall not at any time
exceed either two amperes per mile of single tramway line, or
five Per. cent of the total current output of the station ;
(ii) that if at any time and at any place a test be made by
connecting a galvanometer or other currentindicator to the
uninsulated return to an), pipe ii, the vicinity, 'it shall always
be possible to reverse the direction of any current indicated
by interposing a battery of three Leclanche cells connected
in series if the direction of the current is from the return to the
pipe, or b), interposing one Leclanche cell if the direction of
the. current is from the pipe to the return.
In order to provide a continuous indication that condition (i) is
complied with, the company shall place in a conspicuous position a
suitable properly connected and correctly marked current-indicator and
shal~ keep it connected during the whole time. that the line is charged.
The owner of any such pipe may require the company, to permit
him at reasonable times and intervals to ascertain by test that the
conditions specified in (ii) are complied with Ins regards his pipe.
9. When the return is partly or entirely uninsulated a continuous
record shall be kept by the company of the difference of potential
during the working of the tramway between the points of the
uninsulated return farthest from and nearest to the generating station.
If at any time such difference of potential exceeds the limit of
seven volts, the company
shall take immediate steps to reduce it below that 1
limit.
10. Every electrical connexion with any pipe shall be so -Arranged
as to admit of easy examination, and shall be tested by the company at
least once in every three months.
11. Every line and every insulated return or part of a return except
any feeder shall be constructed in sections not exceeding one-half of a
mile in length, and means shall be provided for insulating each such
section for purposes of testing.
12. The insulation of the line and of the return when insulated, and
of all feeders and other conductors, shall be so maintained that the
leakage current shall not exceed onehundredth of an ampere per mile of
tramway. The leakage current shall be ascertained daily before or after
the hours of running when the line is fully charged. If at an), time it
should be found that the leakage current exceeds one-half of an ampere
per mile of tramway, the leak shall be localized and removed as soon as
practicable and the running of the cars shall be stopped unless the leak
is localized and removed within twenty-four hours : Provided that where
both line and return are placed within a conduit this regulation shall not
apply.
13. The insulation resistance of all continuously insulated cables
used for lines, for insulated returns, for feeders, or for other purposes,
and laid below the surface of the ground, shall not be permitted to fall
below the equivalent of ten megohms for a length of one mile. A test of
the insulation resistance of all such cables shall be made at least once in
each month.
14. Where in any case in any part of the tramway the line is
erected overhead and the return is laid on or under
the ground, and where any wires have been erected or ]aid
before the construction of the tramway in the same or nearly-
the same direction as such part of the tramway, the company
shall if required so to do by the owners of such wires or
any of them, permit such owners to insert and maintain
it, the company's line one or more induction-coils or other
apparatus approved by the company for the purpose of
preventing disturbance b), electric induction. In any case
in which the company withholds its approval of arts. such
apparatus the owners may appeal to the Governor in Council,
who may'. if lie thinks fit, dispense with sucli approval.
15. Any insulated return shall be placed parallel to and at a
distance not exceeding three feet from the fine when the line and return
are both erected overhead, or eighteen inches when they fire both laid
underground.
16. In the disposition, connexions and working of feeders the
company shall take all reasonable precautions to avoid injurious
interference with any existing wires.
17. The company shall so construct and maintain its System as to
secure good contact between the motors and the line and return
respectively.
18. The company sliall adopt the best means available to revent the
occurrence of undue sparking at the rubbing p
or rolling contacts in any place and in (lie construction and use of its
generator and motors.
19. In working the cars the current sliall be varied as required by
means of a rheostat containing at least twenty Sections or by sonic
other equally efficient method of gradually varying resistance.
20. The company shall, so far as may be applicable to its system of
working, keep records as specified below. These accords sliall, if and
when required, be forwarded- for the information of the Governor in
Council.
Daily records
Number of cars running. Maximum
working current. Maximum
working pressure.
Maximum current from the. earth connexions (see
rule 8 (i)).
Leakage current (see rule 12).
Fall of potential in return (see rule. g).
Monthly records.
Condition of earth connexions (see rule 7).
Insulation resistance of insulated cables (see rule 13).
Quarterly record.
Conductance of joints to pipes (see rule io).
Occasional records.
Any test made under the provisions of rule 8 (ii).
Localization and removal of leakage, stating time occupied.
Particulars of any abnormal occurrence affecting the
electric working of the
21. any person who acts in contravention of rules 3 to 13 and
iS to 20 shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars, and also in
the case of a continuing offence to a further fine
of ten dollars for every day after the first during. such
offence continues.
TRAMWAY WORKING RULES.
(Cap. 107,, sections 32 and 33).
(Ordinance No. 10 Of 1902).
[7th January, 1916.]
1. (I) The driver of every, car shall ring his bell, or make use
of the warning apparatus provided, in any of the following
circumstances
(a)in case of impending danger, or to warn any person in
any way obstructing the line; or
(b) just before passing another car.
(2) NO person shall sound any bell or other instrument fitted to
a tramcar for signalling its approach by sound be
Regulations Fraser, vol. 2, p. 531. G.N.A. 75/51.
[r. 7 cont.]
[r. 14 cont.]
G.N.A. 75/51. Regulations Fraser, vol. 2, p. 537. G.N.A. 75/51. G.N.A. 93/51.
Abstract
Regulations Fraser, vol. 2, p. 531. G.N.A. 75/51.
[r. 7 cont.]
[r. 14 cont.]
G.N.A. 75/51. Regulations Fraser, vol. 2, p. 537. G.N.A. 75/51. G.N.A. 93/51.
[r. 7 cont.]
[r. 14 cont.]
G.N.A. 75/51. Regulations Fraser, vol. 2, p. 537. G.N.A. 75/51. G.N.A. 93/51.
Identifier
https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1835
Edition
1950
Volume
v9
Subsequent Cap No.
107
Number of Pages
6
Files
Collection
Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online
Citation
“USE OF ELECTRIC POWER ON THE TRAMWAY RULES,” Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online, accessed April 30, 2025, https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1835.