From the dynamo the current is conveyed through the axle boxes to the
axles, thence to the tires of the wheels, and finally back by the
rails, which are uninsulated, to the generating machine. The conductor
is laid in lengths of about 21 feet, the lengths being connected by
fish plates and also by a double copper loop securely soldered to the
iron. It is also necessary that the rails of the permanent way should
be connected in a similar manner, as the ordinary fish plates give a
very uncertain electrical contact, and the earth for large currents is
altogether untrustworthy as a conductor, though no doubt materially
reducing the total resistance of the circuit.

The dynamo is placed in the center of the car, beneath the floor, and
through intermediate spur gear drives by a steel chain on to one axle
only. The reversing levers, and also the levers working the mechanical
brakes, are connected to both ends of the car, so that the driver can
always stand at the front and have uninterrupted view of the rails,
which is of course essential in the case of a line laid by the side of
the public road.

The cars are first and third class, some open and some covered, and
are constructed to hold twenty people, exclusive of the driver. At
present, only one is fitted with a dynamo, but four more machines are
now being constructed by Messrs. Siemens Bros., so that before the
beginning of the heavy summer traffic five cars will be ready; and
since two of these will be fitted with machines capable of drawing a
second car, there will be an available rolling stock of seven cars. It
is not intended at present to work electrically the portion of the
line in the town at Portrush, though this will probably be done
hereafter; and a portion, at least, of the mineral traffic will be
left for the two steam-tramway engines which were obtained for the