ELECTRIC TRAINS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 6

ELECTRIC TRAINS

POSSIBILITIES IN NEW ZEALAND. Tho possibility of oloctrificalion of the New Zealand railways 'was discussed by Mr. Evan Parry before the Technological Branch of the Philosophical Society last night. Mr. S. 11. Jenkinson preHided. Mr. Parry spoke of the instances of the successful application of electricity as a tractive power 0:1 railways in other parts of the world. He showed in effect that electricity was only used when there wero special Reasons for its use. Owing to the fact that by electricity it is possible to accelerate the speed of trains and to do away altogether ■ with the smoke nuisance iii tunnels and iu suburban areas, electricity had been used iu suburban sy/ilems. In other sections the reasons for the use of electricity in preference to steam were to secure the better ventilation of long tunnels which might otherwise become a hindrance to traffic, and to accelerate the speed, and so to increase the frequency of trains 011 mountain sections when the lines as constructed could uot any' longer carry the traffic offering except at a faster spcmL He .pointed out that in all probability a long period would elapse here between the electrification of mountain sections and tunnels and the electrification of the remainder of the system, because on the ordinary grades steam would be found to be the cheaper power for many years to come.

On the question of cost,' Mr. _ Party had prepared souu' figures. He estimated that the cost of electrification of the New Zealand system throughout would be JUfiOO per miio of rail, .lie could not, show that the result would be a reduction, but rather a considerable increase in the running cost. By reference to other examples of electrification he showed that it had been adontsd always ror special reason?—to obviate (he smoke nuisance near towns or in tunnels, to cany traffic at greater speed over lines already nt their maximum oteam capacity when tho cost of duplication was likely to be very heavy, «' 10 avoid the use of expensive and poor fuel iu parts where fuel was difficult to obtain, and ivhero there was water power within easy reach.

After an interesting discussion ;i. vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Parry for his address.