New Locomotives for the Railways

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 100, 25 October 1893, Page 2

New Locomotives for the Railways

•m When Mr J. P. Maxwell, one of the present Railway Commissioners in New Zealand, was on a visit to America and Great Britain in 1887 he made extensive enquiries with reference to the compounding of locomotives. It was claimed that compound engines used less fuel than the ordinary class of locomotive, but he failed to see that their adoption would result in a saving so far as the New Zealand railways were concerned, and nothing was done in that direction. Since his return, however, several improvements have been made. When Mr Rotherham, Government Locomotive Superintendent, was in the United States and England a few months ago he examined a number of compound locomotives. The result of his inspection is that the Commissioners have decided to alter two of the engines running on the Southern lines. The engines are now in the Addington workshops undergoing the process of conversion, and before the lapse of many months the Commissioners will be able to ascertain whether the saving of fuel has been sufficient to warrant them in compounding the remainder of the locomotives. During his recent visit to America Mr T. G. Macarthy, Chairman of the Manawatu Railway Company, satisfied himself that the compound system possessed advantages, and it is probable that the Company will order a couple of locomotives of the. ne-v type,