THE RAILWAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1928, Page 2

THE RAILWAYS.

THREE ENGINES ORDERED

WELLINGTON. Jan. 13

As a further step in the improvement- of the New Zealand Railways, the Department has accepted a tender for the, supply of three big Garraft articulated locomotives, which will he tin- most up-to-date and one ol Ihe most, powerful types used on any 3fl. Gin. gauge in the world. They are intended primarily for use on the central seel ion of the North Island Main Trunk line, where heavy grades and sharp curves make .haulage difficult for the locomotives at present in use. Negotiations for the supply of engines of this improved type have been in train between the Railway Department and British linns for some time past, and the tender of Mrw« Beyer, Rone nek. and Co. Ltd., Manchester, has now been accepted. The first of the three new engines is expected to arrive next Christmas. The principle of the Garratt type of locomotive is to obtain the greatest power with the minimum of axle load, the total weight of the engine being distributed over a greater length. The new engines oil order will therefore he much longer than the engines now in use, the total length over all being 77 feet.- The fact that each will develop a tractive effort of *>l.sßolb. as compared with 20.0001 h. developed by the A B class of locomotive at present in principal use in New Zealand and that the weight in working order, will he 140 tons, as against 8-1 toils loc-wt. in the case of the AB. gives a good idea of the superior power and size of the more up-to-date engine. The Garratt is in reality a combination of engines, mid in those of the design under order, is equivalent to two locomotives working with one boiler. Another interesting fact is that the locomotive is in three separat' sections. The hoier section in the middle lias a pivot point at each end sitting over the respective leading and trailing engines. No turntable- is required for reversing at termini, as the engine will run equally well in either direction. Water tanks arc carried at each end. one containing 2500 gallons, and the oilier 1500 gallons, a total of 500 gallons more than the AB. The coal hunker will have a capacity for six tons of coal, as against 4J tons in the AR.

fn an interview to-day. ilio Chief .Mechanical Engineer of the Railway Department. Mr G. S. l.ynde. said that he had decided upon the three cylinder type after very careful consideration. It was interesting that although the Garrntt type of locomotive had two distinct engines, each locomotive would he similar to the Firing Scotsman three cylinder Pacific class, whose performances at Home had given every satisfaction, and recently created a world’s record non-stop run between London and Xeweastle-on-T vno.

Mr Lyinle also pointed out that the railway systems in Ssoutli Africa, India. the Argentine, Brazil, and many other countries had adopted the Garrat t type.