BAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1920, Page 3

BAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

BIG (BUILDING PROGRAMME. AVELLINGTON, April 8

At the present time the Railway Department has in hand a programme which involves the building in New Zealand of 40 locomotives, 35 cars, 12 brake vans, and 592 waggons. Of the locomotives, 20 are being built under contract by Messns A. and G. Price, and the balance will bo turned out of the Department’s own workshops, likewise the cars, vans and waggons. To provide for further requirements ana to meet the shortage of rolling stock resulting from war conditions, tenders are being invited in England for the manufacture of 25 large locomotives and 2500 waggons. It is intended to supplement this by inviting tenders in New t Zealand for the biulding of 1000 waggons. Plans and specifications • are in course of preparation, and will be avail- j able shortly. In the event of satisfactory tenders being received, the con-1 tractors will be required to give the earliest possible delivery of the waggons they contract to deliver. Assuming that satisfactory tenders are received and delivery of the bulk of the locomotives and waggons can be given by British firms within twelve months, the present difficulties regarding the shortage of waggons will be greatly relieved; if not entirely overcome. Summed up, the arrangements that are in hand involve the building of 5 locomotives, 47 ears and brake vans, and 4092 waggons at an expenditure of £1,750,000. In connexion with the matter, it may he, of interest to note that at the time when the restrictions imposed under the coal-cut timetable were removed, there was a heavy accumulation of traffic of all classes throughout the system. Hie accumulation of timber alone aparoimated 20,000,000 ft. These accumulations have been cleaned up, the full fimctable restored, and the traffic dealt vith has been heavier than at any perod in the previous history of the railvays.