RAILWAY PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 166, 9 April 1920, Page 8

RAILWAY PROGRESS

MORE ROLLING STOCK

BIG ORDERS AUTHORISED

At the present time, the Railway Department has in liankl a programme, which involves the building in Now Zealand of 40 locomotives, 35 cars, 12 brake-vans and 592 wagons. Of the locomotives, 20 are being built _ under contract by Messrs. A. and C. Price, and the balance will be turned out of tho Department's own workshops, likewise the cars, vans and wagons. To iurtlnr provido for the requirements and to meet the shortage of rolling-stock resulting from war conditions, tenders are being invited in England for the manufacture of 25 largo locomotives and 2EOO wagons. It is intended to supplement til's by inviting tenders in Now Zealand fo- tli'a building of 1000 wagons. Plans and specifications are in courso of preparation and : will bo available shortly.

In tho event of satisfactory tenders being received, contractors will be required to give the earliest possible deliver of tho wagons they contract to deliver.

Assuming satisfactory tenders are received mid tho delivery of the built of the locomotives and wagons can be given by British firms within 12 months, tho present difficulties regarding the shortage of wagons will be greatly relieved, if not entirely overcome.

Sivnined up tho arrangements that'nro in hand involve tho building of G5 locomotives, 47 cars and brake-vans and 1002 wagons at ail expenditure of 1J million pounds. In connection with tho matter it may be of interest to note that at the time when the restrictions imposed under tlio coal cut time-table were removed, tliero was a heavy accumulation of traffic of all classes throughout the svstem. The accumulation of timber alone approximated 20.000,000 ft. These accumulations have i>ecn cleaned up, the full time-table restored, and the traffic dealt with has been heavier than at any neriod in th« previous history of the railways.