Giant Stator Arrives at Bunnythorpe

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1948, Page 3

Giant Stator Arrives at Bunnythorpe

The giant stator, largest. single unit : of machinery for the powerful new sub- , station being erected by the State . Hydro-Electric Department at Bunny- ; thorpe for the breaking down of the ■ power supply from the nest of generators in the course of construction in the Waikato, arrived on the special siding at Bunnythorpe yesterday after a long journey by stages from the wharf at Wellington. On its special wagon, bnilt with a deep well, and drawn by an AB engine, the stator arrived at Palmerston North from Ohau where it had remained on a siding for some days. At the approaeh to the station special care had to be taken to. ensure that there was sufficient clearance for the huge passenger under the overhead bridge at Cook Street. There were a f ew inches to spare and no more. At 1.47 p.m. the stator left on the fmal stage of its journey and attracted widesprqad interest among the puOlie who watched its progress through the city. The speed of the train was restricted to eight miles an hour. When the stator arrived from overseas special unloading equipment had to be improvised. It was taken by rail as far as the Ngahauranga Gorge whefe it had to be off-loaded for the journey

qver the hills on 'to a specially adapted tank transporter; It rested a while at Paekakariki prior to resuming its travels by rail. Once again special unloading facilities will be required at Bunnythorpe before the huge item of equipment is stored away to await further progress on the construction of the modern new sub-station where eventually it will play its part in the electTieal reticulation system of 'the North Island.