DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 4

DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

ARRIVAL NEXT WEEK SERVICE IN OTAGO PLANNED Seventy-ton English diesel-electric locomotives will soon go into operation on goods trains in the South Island for the first time, but it is unlikely that they will be seen in Canterbury. They will be used mainly on the Dunedin-Oamaru section pf the main south line, as on the grades on this section they can handle greater leads than steam locomotives. Two of the new* 750 horse-power diesel-electric engines will arrive at Lyttelton early next week in the Middlesex. After being unloaded by the crane ship Rapaki. they will be brought to Addington workshops for servicing before going to Dunedin to go into normal running. Two engines of the same type are already in the South island out at present they are generating power for ; the Railways Department’s Adding- • ton and Hillside workshops. EventuI ally they will also go to Dunedin to fulfill their normal function. Ani other two engines are expected to arrive from England “in a month or so.” The new engines are not likely to : be used on passenger trains as the> - are not equipped to provide steam j heating of carriages. So far. the only diesel locomotives : used in the South Island have been • shunting engines of up to 260 horsepower. The Middlesex will also bring another 88-seater articulated rail-car to the South Island. There are already eight of these cars in service in the Island and another one is due to ‘ arrive next month.