Electric locomotives replaced

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32406, 19 September 1970, Page 21

Electric locomotives replaced

Electric locomotives, used to haul goods and passenger trains between Christchurch and Lyttelton for the last 40 years, ran for the last time yesterday. From today all trains to Lyttelton will be hauled by diesel locomotives. The change was made necessary by the heavy maintenance requirements of the electric engines, according to the district mechanical engineer of the Railways Department (Mr G. C. Gouffe). The seven electric engines, of which only about three are operating, were made by the English Electric Company in 1929.

The phasing-out was due to take place on Sunday, but the activities of a drainage contractor in the area had forced an alteration in the plans, said Mr Gouffe. Alternative transport arrangements had been made for Sunday with the co-operation of the Christchurch Transport Board. No decision has been made yet about the destiny of the old engines, but they would probably be scrapped after the serviceable parts had been salvaged. The overhead cables would probably be dismantled eventually, but that would be “a big job,” he said.