Use Of Oil-fired Engines Extended

Chronicle (Levin), 12 October 1948, Page 7

Use Of Oil-fired Engines Extended

Press Association )

(Per

HAMILTON, Oct. 9. The Limited express is now being drawn by^oil-lired engines on the Main Trunk line between Frankton Junction and Paekakariki. Por some time these engines have been operating between | Taumarunui and Paekakariki, and reeegtly Frankton aild Taumarunui. | Ultimately oil-buruing, engines will] haul all expresses between Auckland ; and Paekakariki. . ... . ; Fleven K type and 10 J type .engines are being converted to oil fuel at.tlie Otahuhu and Petone workshops. Besides eliminating mueh of the griine and smoke associated with coal-burning engines, the use of oil burners means the couserving of coal stoeks. . Only oue of tlie new oil-Iired engines is at present held at Frankton, and this makes the journey to Taumarunui and then returns. With a capacity of 40,000 gallons a new oil tank will be buiit at Frankton in the near tuture, and it is expeeted that piles for it will be driven next week. Between Paekakariki and Taihape 1000 gallons of oil are used by the new engines. . An oil-burning K loeoinotive lias been penuanentiy stationed at New Plyinouth. It is to be used solely on the express between New Plymouth and Wellington. With its capacity of 1550 gallons of fuel it will take tlie express as far as Palmerston North on the downward journey, and on the following. day will bring the train back- from Palmerston North to New Plymouth. A storage:-tank for 14,000 gallons of fuel was recently instailed at New Pivraouth. A railway official said today that it is likeiy that expresses 011 the .Rotorua liue also will be brought into the seheme.