RAIL CARS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 7, 3 October 1929, Page 13

RAIL CARS

PERFORMANCES ABROAD OFFICER TO INVESTIGATE An announcement that he proposed to send a competent officer abroad immediately to inquire into the actual performance of various kinds of rail cars was made by the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. B. Taverner) in his annual Statement to Parliament yesterday. The Minister said that considerable attention had already been given to investigating the position of the branch railway lines so as to determine their value as compared with possible alternative forms of transport. As far as the internal working of the Department was concerned, and assuming that the branch lines still remained consideration of the matter at once raised the question of the more extended use of rail-cars. A committee of executive officers of the Department, representing every phase of railway operation that might have a bearing on the question, was now undertaking a thorough and systematic examination of the position with a view to the formulation of definite recommendations —firstly, as to the best method of working the traffic: that was whether by railcars, road services, or trains; and, secondly, in the event of rail-cars being recommended, what was the most useful type for the particular service required in each case. “In this latter connection,” said the Minister, “the rapid development that has taken place in recent years in connection with various types of rail-cars, particularly Diesel electric and other similar types, renders it very desirable, more especially in view of the very large issues involved, that we should have first-hand information regarding the most modern types of vehicles and their adaptability to our conditions. To that end I propose to send abroad immediately a competent officer to inquire on the spot into the actual performance of the various kinds of railcars on railway systems where they had been adopted. I confidently expect that during the coming year we shall be able to formulate definite proposals.”

The Diesel Locomotive.

In regard to the use of the Diesel electric locomotives, the General Manager (Mr. 11. H. Sterling) stated in his report that the Department was placing itself in touch with the railway authorities in the countries where that type of engine was used with a view to obtaining information regarding the performance and characteristics of this form of traction. The Department also was in touch with tin? local representatives of one of the large engineering concerns in Great Britain, which had given particular attention tn ’locomotives of the type, so that it might obtain all the information that would assist in determining the question of the suitability of the locomotives to local conditions.