LYTTELTON TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18205, 16 October 1924, Page 11

LYTTELTON TUNNEL.

ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS ON ENGINE CREWS. AMERICAN INVESTIGATION. to a meeting of the Progress League Jao time ago when meters relating tho necessity f<>r the electrification f the LyttcJt'jn tuuncl wore under discussion* it *' as f - nt - in » c ' d 1} >' cno speaker that, I,J v:i ' s unr ' an »n c omnjou Sun* for the engine crews to feci illft'Tr from tho noxious atmosphere m ♦he tunnel. This question of the n'ivs ; ological effect, on engine crews i-hen'operating tunnels has been marie the subV-t- of a &P ecwl investigation in JhV United State,-;, a.nd a. cony or the report resulting from that, investigation has hcen secure J by Mr P. R. CJimic, tho organiser for the League, and oven a cursory glance through it sJiows that it has an important bearing on the electrification question. Tho report is entitled: "Atmospheric conditions a.nd physiological ejects, produced on trainmen by locomotive smoko in tho Aspen and "Wabstach tunnels „f tho Union Pacific .Railroad," and it has been prepared by fc>. P. Kinney, assistant metallurgical chemist, department of the. Interior, Bureau of jktines. The tuunels referred to arc in tbo Kockv Mountains: tho Aspen tunnel is otAlft »u leii.tah. Tho report states that, of -JO trips taken in cabs of locomotives while the train was passing through these tunnels carbon monosido (0 0.) was found present on SI trips: of these 21 tests gave from 0.01 to 0.10 per cent, of CO.; two teste gave from 0.11 to 0.20 per cent.: and five tests fiivo from 0.21 to 0.35 per cent, mongst tho recommendations contained in tho report are: (1) For tho purpose of reducing the hazards duo to high temperatures, locomotives operating in tbo tunnel district should bo equipped with smoke deflectors, and (2) respirators attached to tho train air lino should bo supplied to ca.ch member of the train crew. While the conditions in the American tunnels dealt with in this report may bo (and .possibly axe) quite different from those obtaining in tho Lyt.telton tunnel, tho report provides the necessary data —such as the dimensions and other details of const motion of tho tunnels, and also an analysis of tho coal used—upon ultich a comparison could ho instituted if n, similar report was made regarding conditions in the Lyttolton tunnel. It is* possiblo that , atmospheric conditions in tho Lyttolton tunnel might bo found more deleterious seeing that a larger number of trains pass through it daily and that, consequently, tho air does not. got a chance to be purified. In Mr Climio's opinion the American investigations provide a, strong argument in support of tho request for the electrification of tho Lyttblton tunnel.