...New Zealand... Government Railways. Locomotive Department.—No. 2.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 3, 2 January 1906, Page 54

... New Zealand ... Government Railways. Locomotive Department. — No. 2.

The locomotives of the true " goods " type of the present day evolved from the" O " and " T " classes, of American make, and the Bntish " P " class. The two former engines had 15" x 18" cylinders, and eight coupled, 3ft. wheels and pony truck, while the latter class presented different features with 15" x 20" cylinders, and eight coupled, 3ft. sm. wheels. The engine, known m America as the " Mastodon," is now doing most of the heavy goods traffic in the colony. Class " B," as it is called, has eight coupled wheels and a four-wheel leading bogie, the diameter^ oi the driving wheels is 3ft. 6\m., and cylinders 16" x 22 . Tne eight at present m use have been built by the New Zealand Government.

We now come to consider several curious classes of " tanks " which were designed to fulfil the requirements of a particular and expanding service. The earliest built in the colony were the " Wa's," having cylinders 14" x 20" and 3ft. 3fm. coupled wheels. Then came "Wb," offering but slight change from its prototype ; and not until the advent of "Wd," and "Wf " did any marked differences take effect. "Wb " and " Wd " were built in America from a New Zealand design, " Wf " by the New Zealand Government and A. & G. Price. " Wf " has not only a trailing four-wheel bogie, but a piston stroke of 22", while the boiler pressure is brought up to 2Oolbs. Class " We " must be associated with class " H ,"an engine built for the Rimutaka incline of 1 in 15. The Neilson " Fell " engine, in this article, has four coupled wheels, 2ft. Bin. m diameter,

duven by outside cylinders In addition, there are two pairs ol horizontal coupled driveis which are operated on by inside cylinders and pressed by strong springs against the raised middle rail, the tractive power being thus considerably augmented. The heavy traffic on the mountain has, however, been found to be more than the original stock of " Fells " can adequately manage, so class " We " has come into the running This engine successfully negotiates the i m 1 5 grade without any assistance from such a device as used on the " Fell " or "H " class But even it is to be overshadowed

by the new " E," which will be available for either incline or foot-hill work. This locomotive, of which we show an elevation has been adapted in a measure from the parts of the Vauclam compounds imported some years ago. It is doubtful whether we can ever place a more powerful engine on our 3ft. 6m. gauge, as a glance at its capabilities will bear out. A curious relic of an earlier failing to grasp the real needs of the service is demonstrated in the double Fairhe engine. These machines were originally eight m number, and they have all been written oft, although some of them still continue on ballast work and shunting. They were conspicuous for extravagance in fuel consumption and big repair bills. The single Fairhes have worked our suburban sections for many years, but they comprise a class not likely to be added to, owing to their complicated mechanism. To marshall the characteristics of our locomotives, it may be stated that they all have steam domes and outside cylinders, the latter being rendered necessary on account of the narrowness of the gauge. It has long been the endeavour of the mechanical staft to design and build locomotives that would bring the best results under

extraordinarily trying running conditions ; and with our almost entire freedom from accidents, and regularity in adhering to time-table, it can well be said that those responsible for the locomotives on our railways have faithfully responded to the task imposed. Our thanks are due to the New Zealand Railway authorities for the particulars which have formed the groundwork of this article.

The contractors for the main building of the NewZealand International Exhibition are evidently losing no time' m getting to work on their contract. The contract for the elevations, as well as all internal ornamentaj work.has been let to the Carrara Ceiling Company,Ltd.,of Wellington. The whole of the work will be executed in Stuccolm, the company's new patent material, which will give the building the appearance of being constructed in marble.