OIL FUEL TESTS PROVE SATISFACTORY

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5304, 17 January 1947, Page 6

OIL FUEL TESTS PROVE SATISFACTORY

Furtner Locornotives To Be Converted WELLINGTON, Last Night. The two "K-" class locornotives reeently converted to buvn oil f'uel instead of coal had proved so satisfactorv in serviee under normal working conditions that the Government had decided to proceed with Ihe conversion of further locornotives -ii the Ncrth Island, so that the Railways Department coukP eventually revert to its full unrestricted trai'n timetable, said the Minister of Railways, Mr. R. Semple, to-day. "The next batch of locornotives to be converted will be 20 of the 'K.A.' class worldng between Paekakariki, Palmerston North and Taihape, Palmerston Ncrth and Napier, and Palmerston North and Wanganui," said Mr. Semple. The use of oil fuel would augmenfc the supplies of coal available and the transport of bituminous coal would be reciuced to a minimum. Shortages of this coal would therefore be offset.

"It will be some little time before the full efl'ect can be given to the Govermnent's proposals for the utilisation of oil fuel in locornotives as there is necessarily a great deal of work involved in the conversion of the cngines, the installation of storage tanks, with heating and pumping gear, and the provision of rail tank waggons to keep the depot tanks supplied from a bulk storage scurce, ' Mr. Semple concluded. "However, the publie may be assured that every effort will be made to facilifate this changeover so that the full train services can he resumed as soon as possible."