NEW LOCOMOTIVE FOR SHUNTING IN NEW ZEALAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 21, 5 August 1949, Page 5

NEW LOCOMOTIVE FOR SHUNTING IN NEW ZEALAND

First of their type to be used by the New Zealand Railways, two powerful diesel-mechanical shunting locomotives, just received from Great Britain, are at present being serviced and painted at the Wellington railcar depot, preparatory to being tested exhaustively under actual working conditions. Of the 0-6-0 or six-wheel type, weighing 29 £ tons in working order, they are the first of a group of four ordered from the Drewry Car Company for freight haulage and shunting service in the Hutt Valley industrial area.

The locomotive is of impressive design. One of its most striking features is the driving cab, which is totally enclosed to give the crew full protection in all weather. Roomy and well provided with l&rge lookout windows., it has a simple arrangement of controls, duplicated to permit of driving from either side. An excellent range of instruments enables the driver to check at a glance the performance of the engine, gear box, and all other mechanical and electrical appliances. 15,Q00ib. Traction

The locomotives, which exert a starting tractive effort of 15.0001 b., have a maximum speed of 30 miles an hour—making them suitable for short-distance haulage on main lines. Generally, however, they will be employed for low-speed shunting operations involving the movement of loads up to 500 tons. Twice the size and power of the largest internal-combustion shunting tractors now in use (140 h.p. petrol-driven unit supplied 10 years ago by the same manufacturer) but not as powerful as the familiar “C” class steam shunting engine used at Wellington, the new diesel mechanical locomotives represent an interesting stage in the transition from steam to diesel-electric traction for shunting work on the New Zealand Railways.