ELECTRICITY AND RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1947, 4 March 1919, Page 3

ELECTRICITY AND RAILWAYS.

The important relation of, the projected hydro-electric scheme for the North'lsland to the railways was touched upon by Mr E. Parry, Chief Government Electrical Engineer, in the course of his public address at Palmerston last week. Mr Parry stated that they did not aim at electrifying the railways as a whole. Doubtless the policy which would be carried oi\t would be one which would embrace the electrification of the critical mountain sections from time to time as they became too difficult to handle and an impediment to traffic. In this connection he-mentioned the need that would arise in the future for duplicating and re-grading certain portions of the railway line between Taunmfunui and Taihape, for instance. Tin’s work presented a ,big obstacle to the Railway Department with regard to the Main Trunk line. The remedy was electrification. The electrification of the railways on an extensive scale was, however, not contemplated, and in any case it was important to remember that it was only when the grades were found to be too steep to cope with the traffic that steam power became uneconomical as a motive power for our railways. Quite a number of mining properties af present untouched on account of lack' of power would, continued Mr Parry, possibly he brought into operation when a supply of electricity was made available, it would mean that such properties could ho developed without (he expense of installing power-producing plant, which would be ultimately scrapped when the mine played out. —Standard.