POWERFUL EXPRESS LOCOMOTIVE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 244, 13 July 1939, Page 11

POWERFUL EXPRESS LOCOMOTIVE

First Of “Ka” Class Completed

USE ON SOME NORTH ISLAND LINES

A new class of powerful express and freight locomotive will be familiar soon on some main lines in the North Island. “Ka 945,” first of a new series of 35 similar locomotives now under construction for general utility purposes, was completed recently in the Hutt Valley Railway Workshops and is expected to take up regular running this week. The new engine i.s ini improvement on the present “K” class, and is similar in design, but differs in appearance -because of the smoke stack, domes and other auxiliary equipment carried on the boiler being hidden by a protective sheathing. The locomotive is thus semistreamlined.

The smokebox and front of the locomotive are completely covered by a cowling and the headlight fits into a recess immediately in front of the smoke stack. The footplates on either side of the boiler are also protected by a cowling. In addition to improving the appearance of the engine,. the metal covering is provided to facilitate cleaning. The engine will be operated, on freight services as a preliminary to the more important work of hauling express trains. The second of the “Ka” class is expected to leave the workshops about three weeks hence, and succeeding ones at six-weekly intervals. South Island Requirements.

With the exception that it is not fitted with a “booster” —-a power unit driving the trailing bogie which automatically cuts in and adds to the pulling capacity of the engine on heavy gradients—the “Ka” class is identical with the “Kb,” a group of which, is under construction in the Hillside Workshops, Dunedin, for use on the Christchurch-Arthur’s Pass section. The first of six “Kb’s” has already been completed and placed in service. “Ka” and “Kb” class locomotives are completely equipped, even to the driving wheels, with roller bearings—a new departure for locomotive construction in Australia and New Zealand. Roller bearings lessen the cost of maintenance and add to the operating efficiency. Within recent years roller bearings have been fitted to all new passenger rolling stock. The tractive effort of the present ’K is 30,8151 b., and this has not been increased in the “Ka” class. The overall length, 69ft. Bin„ and the’ diameter of the driving wheels, 4ft. 6im, remain the same for the three classes —“K,” “Ka,” and “Kb.” The extra tractive effort of the “Kb,” afforded by the -booster, Is 64701 b., or an increase of 21.6 per cent. The heavy grades encountered, on the Christchurch-Arthur’s Pass section, it is stated, will make this additional equipment an economic factor in train operation.

Ninety New Locomotives.

As indicated recently by -the Minister of Railways, Mr. Sullivan, the present workshops programme in New Zealand includes the building of more than 50 locomotives. It is hoped to complete these within the next 18 months. In addition, 40 “J” class locomotives are on order in England, and it is expected that the first will be landed in the Dominion within the next six weeks. The “J” is a general utility type larger than the “Ab,” but less powerful than the “K.” In appearance it is semi-streamlined. The “J” class, incidentally, will be operated on both North and South Island lines. The second of a series of seven locomotives for use between Wellington and Paekakariki, when the section is electrified, has also been completed iii the Hutt Workshops, and with “Ed. 101,” the unit imported from England last year, three electric engines are now attached to the locomotive depot, Wellington. Traffic during the centennial celebrations is expected to be very heavy and the motive power branch of the New Zealand. Railways is being augmented already to cope with the rush. A number of “Ka,“ “Kb” and “J” class locomotives will be ready for the road before the centennial.

Increased Train Mileage.

In the current issue of the “Railways Magazine,” the General Manager, Mr. G. H. Mackley, stated that with 85 less engines during the 1938-39 financial year, as compared with 1930, the department met a substantial increase in train and locomotive mileage. Tlie increase in train mileage was 1,129,950, and because this mileage was still increasing it was necessary to add to the' number of locomotives in service. Before the introduction in 1932 of the “K” class, weighing 134 tons in full working trim, the most powerful and heaviest engine in New Zealand was the “X” class, a compound locomotive weighing 90 tons, and capable of hauling heavy loads over steep mountain grades. The “X” was operated chiefly on freight service between and Taumarunui, but was not designed for speed an'd on this account was not altogether suitable for passenger trains. Before the advent of the “K” class, designed and built in New Zealand, the principal express trains were hauled by the “Ab,” a general utility engine of 80 tons and also designed in New Zealand.

On the run from Wellington to Palmerston North, the steepest grade is between Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay. Over this section the loading limits for trains hauled by an “Ab” are 330 tons for freight trains an'd 300 for passenger services. The “K” and Ka” class loading limits are 490 tons for freight trains and 440 tons for express or passenger trains, a difference of 160 -tons in the one case, and 140 tons in the other.