DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27877, 27 January 1956, Page 12

DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

30 NEW ENGINES THIS MONTH

PLANS FOR NORTH ISLAND “The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, January 26. Thirty 1425-horsepower diesel-elec-tric locomotives, ordered from the United States and Canada, will be in service on the New Zealand railways by the end of the month. They will be used mainly on North Island main trunk goods trains. Because of their size, the use of the American locomotives is limited. They cannot be run between Wellington and Paekakariki because of the electrified overhead wires in the tunnels. Nor can they be used north of Helensville on the Auckland-Opua line because the Makerau tunnel is too small. Recently a trial run was held between Frankton Junction and Rotorua. Before a full service can be started, alterations will have to be made to the overhanging station verandas at Morri nsville and Rotorua, which otherwise would be liable to be hit by the locomotives. The General Manager of Railways (Mr A. T. Gandell) said yesterday that the American locomotives had been imported for specific use on the North Island main trunk between Auckland and Paekakariki. It was not likely that they would be used on passenger expresses for some years, as there was still plenty of life left in the J and K class steam locomotives. Before they could be used, a special heating van would have to be attached to the train. Mr Gandell said the English dieselelectric locomotives of 1500 horsepower and 750 horsepower could be used safely over the Northland main line and between Paekakariki and Wellington.