t>.—2

The installation of electric tablet, telephones and telegraphs, and interlocking made satisfactory progress during the year. Essential safety appliances have been installed at stations between Wellington and Longburn since the Manawatu line was taken over. Considerable improvements have also been made in the accommodation provided at stations on that line to meet the requirements of the traffic, a very large proportion of which now comes via Longburn instead of via the Rimutaka Incline as heretofore. Locomotive. Mr. A. L. Beattie, Chief Mechanical Engineer, reports as follows :— The engines, rolling-stock, plant, machinery, and appliances have been maintained in thoroughly efficient working-order, the details of work being as follows :— Locomotives.—The number of engines in service on Ist April, 1908, was 410, and the number on 31st March, 1909, was 452. Twenty new engines were added to st ck :of these, ten were built in the Government Railway Workshops, and comprised two Class X, 94-ton tender engines, fourcylinder " balanced-compound " type, specially designed and built for the heavy grades on North Island Main Trunk Line, and eight heavy tank engines; ten Class A, 72-ton tender engines, four-cylinder " balanced-compound " type, were completed under Messrs. A. and G. Price's contract. Two tank engines were taken over from Public Works Department after the completion of North Island Mam Trunk Line, and twenty engines were taken over in connection with the acquisition of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. • _ In the Government Railway Workshops to date 73 engines have been built, and 24 locomotives rebuilt to more modern types. , Five hundred and fifty-eight locomotives passed through the workshops during the year, details as under :—

Included in above return are ten engines for Public Works Department. In the Railway Workshops at close of year there were under construction six large 94-ton tender engines, four-cylinder " balanced-compound " type, specially designed for North Island Main Line, and two heavy tank engines. Under the contract with Messrs. A. and G. Price, Thames, eight engines were still to deliver, so that altogether there were in hand at close of year sixteen locomotive engines. gSd Boilers.— Boiler renewals and repairsJhave been kept well up to date. Nineteen new locomotive boilers and two vertical boilers were completed. The following are details of boiler-work :—

Twelve new boilers are under construction, comprising four Class F, two Class J, one Class S, and Carriages.— The car stock on Ist April, 1908, consisted of 1,002 cars, and on 31st March, 1909, was 1,116 cars. Fifty-eight new cars were built in Railway Workshops, being four 50 ft. refreshmentcars, six 50 ft. sleeping-cars, and twenty-four 50 ft. day cars for North Island Main Trunk Line ; fourteen Class A cars, and ten 50 ft. postal cars. One worn-out four-wheel car was written off, and replaced with a new standard 50 ft. car.' Fifty-six bogie cars were taken over with the Wellington and Manawatu Railway. The car seating accommodation has been increased 9 per cent, by the additional cars. Equipping cars with lavatory accommodation, cushioned seats in second-class compartments, and platform gates and gangways has been carried out as required.

XIV

Number and Type. .Particulars. Fourcylinder "Balanced- Tender compound " Engines. Tender Engines. "Articu-lated-corn- T an k P™£' Engines. Engines. Pairlies. Fell Engines. Single. Dou Total. Double. Number passed through shops Built new Ee-erected Thoroughly overhauled Heavy repairs Light repairs Painted and varnished Touched up 27 2 2 6 17 2 14 215 33 78 104 27 70 3 "2 1 286 8 8 33 112 125 39 43 7 1 14 3 9 2 6 1 6 1 2 3 558 10 10 70 215 253 74 128

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