AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 September 1901, Page 4

AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES.

We recently republished a paragraph from a Wellington paper speaking highly of American locomoiivcs in general and those in use on the Westport railway in particular. We now learn that the cold facts do not quite bear out the rosy statements of our contemporary. The Baldwins in local use are admitted to be the most comfortable engines to work aboard, and do excellent duty in dragging big loads, but it is not a fact thrt they have never been in the repair shop: the engines have called for a full share of attention in this respect during the time they have been in work. Furthermore, experts give it as their opinion that the locomotives arc not proving as durable as English makes, indeed the steam pressure has already been reduced by slb. “ The life of the boilers is only ten years ” seems to be an accepted view, and this limit compares very unfavourably with English and Scotch productions. The Government, however, intends to have comparative records taken, as between the American and other locomotives, regarding work, repairs, consumption of fuel, etc., and these should prove interesting and conclusive. It is only by methodical enquiry of this sort that it will be ascertained whether the cheaper first-cost of the “Yankees” is the cheaper in the end.