IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22240, 3 November 1937, Page 16

IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICE

MINISTER'S OUTLINE OF WORK

ADDITIONS TO ROLLING STOCK

LFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.

WELLINGTON, November 2

Improvements and easements to tracks and improvements and additions to rolling stock projected in the coming year, or accomplished in the last, were discussed at length by the Minister for Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in the annual Railways Statement presented to the House of Representatives to-day. An extensive programme of track improvements had been carried out, the Minister stated, and further improvements had been authorised arid would be made in the present year. This included bridge strengthening to carry the heavier types of locomotives, and the replacement by steel structures of certain wooden bridges which had become obsolete. A heavy programme of relaying with numerous deviations to secure easier grades and curves, to make for smoother running, faster speeds, and reduced haulage costs, was also in hand. It had also been decided to adopt a heavier rail for use on main lines, and in future the standard rail would be 851b a lineal yard, instead of 701b as at present. As a matter of policy services of men on unemployment relief had been used wherever possible for grade easement and similar work. New Locomotives The report also dealt with additions and improvements to rolling stock, made and contemplated. Seven K class locomotives had been completed at the Hutt Valley workshops, making- the lotal number in operation 30; and provision was made in the current year's programme for a start to be made with the building of a further • 20 of the same class in the North Island and six in the South. Another development had been the conversion of G class locomotives to a type more suitable for the work to be done, and a number of these would be brought into use in the South Island at an early date. To obtain a definite indication of the effect of the use of speed recorders, arrangements had .been made to equip 25 Ab class locomotives with the apparatus. For increased safety it had been decided to fit laminated springs to vehicles at present equipped with coil bearing springs, and the change would be made to approximately 12,000 goods waggons. * The construction of 32 additional bogie vans for the carriage of chilled beef was in hand. These waggons were of a design embodying all modern developments and tests made had shown that the temperature required could be maintained with little fluctuation over considerable periods of time. Companies engaged in the trade had commented most favourably on the results obtained. With the placing of the 32 new waggons in service the department would have available 75 specially fitted waggons for the Conveyance of chilled beef.

An extensive programme of rolling stock construction was approved by the Government in the financial year under review, and the additional cars made available materially assisted in dealing with the Christmas and Easter traffic, while the pressure on freight rolling stock was eased by the new stock which became available for the rush period of March and April last. But for delays in the supply of mate-

rial for these waggons from Great Britain, many more trucks would now be available. It was.anticipated, however, that the necessary material for all new waggons on order will fee available at an early date.