Otira Locomotives.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1923, Page 1

Otira Locomotives.

AN ENGLISH CONTRACT. | A description of the electric loeomo ' fives to be used on the Arthur's Pass’ (Dtira tunnel) section is. given by t'm British Engineers’ Export .Journal. Tin tunnel is of miles long, the section to b.' electrified 8J miles, the gradient being 1 in 33. ) Vt itli the exception of the power lion- . * buildings and boiler plant, the English I Electric Company obtained the whole contract for supply and erection of the equipment required for electrification, including turbo-generators and auxil- j diaries tor the power house, overhead i eateiuir equipment. feeders, five main | line locomotives, as well as one butt' ry loeonietive far general shuntin' j and overhead line inspection work. The design of the locomotives vr I greatly influenced IJVl JV the character oi t F ' tine. It was ci n-id- red cdvisaM ■■ to keep to one type of locomotive for i hauling both passenger and freight \ trains. Of the standard Dick Kerr. 82 i totally enclosed .forced ventilation type j the main motors develop L7<! h.p. at the tread of the wheel at the one hour rat- : iug. Tlr y are wound for Toll volts and - cuuiiei t; d in permalienf series. Reverse!' and other pieces of the control equipment are of the usual type, lb cause of tlm sleep gradient of the line, the locomotives are each fitted with lour brakes, a rhcio-tat, West inglious' automatic and straiglil-air brake was adopted in preference to the regenerative hrak-o, because the power house sup plies only the railway load, and there would, therefore, he occasions who: there would he no load to absorb tin - ic generated energy. By means of th • rheostat brake, also, the loeontotivt i rendered independent ol the irolbr voltage. Current is coll. H.ed from the i head line, which varies in height freta pi to | S'H. I:-- meal"- of two air operated panlog'cphs. These are rail'd by I'oaipr:---ml air and Moat on springs. Of the ilo'ibl ■ beg'y. centr'd cab Ope. the battery locomotive is tilt I illl an ado's!:: 1 pbne-rui to faeiii- j late insp'- 1 ici oi in overhead line cqinp'ie n■.. i'-e.u-e (he s 'l'vice |"ci|b"l ivqiiii "! a •. e.v la: ge hat! t.v j cn|»aoi tv. a I .at; cry tender bad to be j bled. on. half'of the battery being ti. locomotive and th. other half: .ci tile tender. At nr." cut. • |v live I leo'imt ives ai c I, .| 11i■ '(i for I lie main line. hut. it iantieipat: 4 that traflb' w ill hu'iva - so | a- to einplo.' eight lully equip cd vi" j trie loeonml’ives. Two tm-omoli-.c viP 1,, ~00 , l ;or each freight train. ! Electrified goods yards arc- being laid I at noth ends of the .section, the I'.ngb-b ( El"etrie Company carrying out the c<m-| i met. !