THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6905, 10 November 1887, Page 5

THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

I.By Telegraph.]

[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON, November 9.

The Wellington and Manawatu Ralk way Company, are about to place on the Wellington end of their line (where the gradient is lin 40 for four miles) two new American engines of far greater size and power than any yet seen in New Zealand. They huve beeit ordered from the celebrated makers, Durnham, Parry, Williams and Co., of the Baldwin works, Philadelphia, and news ha* been just received that they will be ready for shipment next month. CThey will be similar to classes O and P, which work south of Oamaru, but of far greater size and power. They will have eight , coupled wheels,;' 42in in diameter, aud cylinders no less than 17in djameter, the largest hitherto seen in Zealand being only loin. Indeed until the last few years there were no larger cylinders In use, save on the English Great Western line. The piston stroke will be 201n,. and the weight of the engine and eight-wheeled tender nearly sixty ton?. At present trains often have to taKe'two, sometimes three, and once or twice even, four engines up that bank of 1 in 40, and it is calculated that these new locomotive*, will manage moderately heavy trains, unassisted, thus effecting a large saving in expenses. The experiment is an. interesting and important one. I hear the Manawatu line is being worked at a coefc of only 38 per cent, on the working expenses. No other New Zealand lice ap--proaches this, and few English lines show so small a ratio of workingexpenses to receipts, the average of allßritish line* being about BOper. cent.