MODERN METHODS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1927, Page 3

MODERN METHODS

RECORD ORDER FOR RAILWAY CRANKS.

WELDING TON. July 0. The largest, order for cranes ever placed in tlie Dominion has been accepted by the Railway Board in connection with the equipment of the new win kshops at Otahuhu. Retime. Addin Aon and Hillside. 'lenders hanljf, been approved for 183 cranes and 120 electric hoist blocks, all of English or New Zealand manufacture. The successful contractors are:—-

Anderson and Co.. Christchurch, 120

Emerson and Hughes. England. 120 electric hoist blocks. 11. Morris, four freight'elevators seven and a half ton. twenty-three ton ton and twelve live ton travelling Clyde Crane and Engineering Works, seven two-ton travelling cranes. Craven Bros., two twenty-live ton travelling cranes. Sir William Arrol. four 100-toll travelling cranes. Knnsomes. Simms and Jeffries, four electric mobile cranes. These tenders are indicative of flic immcn-c advance in workshops methods involved in the scheme of reconstruetii ii. The 100-fan. cranes arc for the Bel one and Hillside locomotive shops, and will lift a complete locomotive. Fuller present conditions, the time involved in lifting a locomotive off its wheels is at least half a day. b:t flic giant, cranes will d ) the same work in less than hour.

The twonty-five-ton cranes are also for heavy lifts of locomotive shops, while the twenty-three ten-ton cranes are specially for waggon shops, where thev will be used to lift wag'.'mis off their wheels in a le v minutes instead ,•!' the old process of jacking tb in. ! band jacks.

Every crane will be electrically worked .and some are capable of travelling out into the workshops yards. Tlie equipment will save an iinnions’ amount of time in handling heavy railway material, and greatly expedite re-

pair jn’.s. where, so much time has to he taken up in getting at the actual work which has to he done on the unde gear of vehicles.