IMPROVED RAILWAY PLANT.

Manawatu Herald, 8 November 1889, Page 3

IMPROVED RAILWAY PLANT.

Travellers who have occasion to use the overland route from Wellington to Taranaki will b« glad to learn, says the Post, that railway carriages of an entirely new and mttck-improv-d pat era are 'o In used on

the through trains, bt ginning- ivora to-morrow. Two sets of ean'iages, each comprising one first-class an 1 one second-class vehicle, Lave just been turned out from the Petone ■works} ops, and leserve sets are also being manufactured, and oxpectf d to be completed in tho course of a inont-1 or two. 1 ac!i first- class carnage is mounted oil n double"bogie frame, wliioh ensures steadiness in running. An exteiioi 1 bal cony ruus a] o ng one side f the van-] age for half its length, to en able the passengei'3 to indulge, in a promenade or enjoy a smoke in the course of their jouri %y. the danger j of falling off "being obviated by an iron railing and lattice-work. Abreast of this balcony there are three separate ooraptrt'pents, viz., a smoking recess, luxuriously fitted up, a well-appointed lavatory, and a comfortable cushioned and padded section available for engagement by private parties. It is seated for six persons, but by prepayment of four first-class fares the ex lusive right to the compartment can be secured by any smaller number of passengers. So much for half the length of the carriage. The remninder of it is fitted along one sido with reversible double cross seats, which are of the American pattern, but with wooden arm-rests. Along the other side there is a very comfortable couch, running longitudinally, and affording welcome J rest to wfarv travellers, 'i he floors in all parts of the carriage are covered with thick mats, and the walls are set off with mirrors, besides which there are various little conveniences in the way of wat r filters, improved window a rangomentfj, kc. Another impoitant feature is that the two smaller com parlments can be leadily provided with beds for the accommodation of invalid travellers. The sec ad-class carriages have been furnished with lavatories and in other respects improv d as compared with these used on the other lines. New Zealand timber and other materials have b en used throughout the construe tion. it will bo remembered tha the carriages w- j )e bi ought up from Christchnrch by the Hiuemoa some weeks ago. having been m»nufaetured «t Addington, and they have since been decorated and mounted on the uudei 1 carriages msde at the Petone workshops, under superintendence of Mr Keatty, the whole being from Mr Eotberam's designs. The idea was originally suggested by Mr Maxwel 1 , one ot the Railway Commii-sioners, as one of the results of his Europeau and fi merican tour. Two new and powerful locomotives are also being constructed at the Addington workshops, to be used on the steep gradts between the Upper Hutt and Sumnit stations.