Railless

railless street cars

Source: wiktionary

The gun-metal hangers and other fittings are interchangeable with those of the tramway system; and should tramways later be substituted for the railless system, a change over can be made with comparatively small expense. The railless vehicles have been supplied by the Railless Electric Traction Company, of London, as contractors, to the joint specification of the general managers of the Leeds and Bradford Tramways. The bodies have all been constructed by Messrs. Hurst, Nelson and Company, of Motherwell.

Source: wiktionary

[Consul General Thomas Sammons, Shanghai, China, Jan. 30.] The railless street cars recently shipped from England for use in Shanghai have been temporarily abandoned because of the condition of the streets on which they were operated. It seems that the foundations of these streets or roads were originally of broken brick which in the course of years have become pulverized into mud. This can not support the weight of the cars. It was found that the wheels of the new cars were pressing down the surface stones with which the roads are paved, and it seems that these roads will have to be gone over thoroughly before the operation of the railless cars can be undertaken successfully. Aside from the difficulty with the roadbeds, the cars are said to be eminently suited for use on the traffic-packed streets of Shanghai, being able to work their ways through narrow roads where it would be impracticable to operate vehicles fixed on rails. In the period of 13 days during which the cars were run 200,000 passengers were carried thereon, the cars on the streets numbering about 5 each day. It is reported that the management of the Shanghai electric street ear lines is convinced that if the difficulty with the road surfacing can be overcome there is a bright future in Shanghai for the railless street car.

Source: wiktionary

railless stairways

Source: wiktionary