CONVERSION OF LOCOMOTIVES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25085, 17 January 1947, Page 5

CONVERSION OF LOCOMOTIVES

BURNING OF OIL FUEL PLANS OF RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT (PA.) WELLINGTON. January 16. The two “K” class locomotives recently converted to burn oil fuel instead of coal had proved so satisfactory in service under normal working conditions that the Government had decided to proceed with the conversion of further locomotives in the North Island, so that the Railways Department could eventually revert to a full and unrestricted train time-table, said the Minister of Railways (Mr R. Semple) to-day. “The next batch of locomotives to be converted will be 20 of the ‘KA’ class working between Paekakariki, Palmerston North, and Taihape Palmerston North and Napier, and Palmerston North and Wanganui." said Mr Semple. “The use of oil fuel would augment supplies of coal available, and the transport of bituminous coal would be reduced to a minimum, and shortages of this coal would be offset.” he said “It will be some little time before full effect can be given to the Government’s proposals for utilisation of oil fuel in locomotives as the r e is necessarily a great deal of work involved in the conversion of engines, the installation of storage tanks with heating and pumping gear, and the provision of rail tank waggons to keep depot tanks supplied from the bulk storage source.” Mr Semple concluded. “However, the oub’ic may be assured that every effort will be made to facilitate this changeover so that full train services can be resumed as soon as possible.”