RAILWAY E.P.S.

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 270, 13 August 1942, Page 4

RAILWAY E.P.S.

Fire-Fighting Trains

Five fire-fighting trains are at present 'being constructed for the railway E.P.S., three at Otahuhu and two at Addington. When completed in about a month's time they will be located at Wellington, Pa Inters ton North, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and will be available for instant dispatch to any place on the railway where they may be required. 1 Each train will consist of a converted passenger carriage, housing a trailer pump and other standard fire-fighting equipment and with accommodation for personnel, eight firemen and two ambulance men. To this unit will be attached water tank wagons, each with a capacity of 5000 gallons. In the four main centres three such tank wagons will be included in each train, and in Palmerston North, two. For the South Island water wagons, which will later be converted into petrol . conveyors, have been specially made. For the North Island KA engine tenders are being used. The trains will be kept assembled as complete units, to which the first available shunting engine may be attached when an alarm goes. They will be useful in dealing with burning carriages or bridges and may also be run into goods sheds if fires occur there.