Electricity
Power was initially provided for the tram network by three direct current turbo-generators in the Falsgrave Street powerhouse. There was also an accumulator battery in the powerhouse used during the start-up phase and for smoothing the power supply. The generators were run using superheated steam from coal-fired boilers. Electricity was supplied to the trolley wires at a nominal 600V DC.
Some special occasions, such as race days, required a large number of trams and trailers to convey all of the patrons. For these events trams were typically dispatched in convoy for track control purposes (to avoid collisions). Even so, the demand they placed on the power supply was so great that the trams were often slowed to a walking pace.
The tramway power supply was improved in the 1920s when automatic substations were installed in Cashmere (1920) and Fendalton (1922) to boost power to southern and western sections respectively when required. They were supplied AC power from the State hydro scheme and converted it to DC for use by the trams. Mercury-arc rectifiers were installed in 1949 displacing the old rotary converters and steam plant, which were decommissioned prior to the end of the tramway.
Read more about this topic: Christchurch Tramway System, Propulsion Systems
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