A WAR MEMORIAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1925, Page 3

A WAR MEMORIAL.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT’S MF.THui,. WELLINGTON, November 13. A full-sized locomotive, symbolical ol something more than a practical expression of mechanical ingenuity and ability to consume coal, will make its appearance in the Railway Depaiti,amt's display at the Dunedin Exhibition. The servants of the New Zealand Railways who did their duty during the Great War, and to perpetuate the memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice the Department has revived the old custom of naming engines, and lias given to the locomotive to he exhibited the appropriate title of “Passeheiidaele.” The t"o brass tablets wlii.li will bear the inscription in bold lettering: “In Memory of Those Members of the- New Zealand Railways Who Fell in the Great War” are of such size and finish as to attract the attention of the most casual passerby. The tablets will be placed on each side of the engine.

The locomotive is of the A.B. class which is utilised by the New Zealand railways in the bulk ol mail and express services, as well as in the goods and mixed service. It was designed by the designing engineer of the locomotive branch and represents the class built by the Department’s own workshops, Price Bros., of Thames, and the North British Locomotive Company of Great Britain.

The engine to he exhibited at Dun- . odin. with its commemorative tablets and its symbolical name, is one which was built in Addington workshops, Christchurch, in 1915, since which date it has covered something like 309,540 miles. It is super-heated, has 4ft 6in driving wheels, and the cylinders are 17in in diameter by 26in strike. The tender carries 3500 gallons of water and four and a half tons of coal. The total weight of the engine and tender in working trim is 84 tons loewt. Tts length is 63ft. For exhibition purposes the driving wheels of the locomotive wjll he revolved by electric motor.