THE WELLINGTON TRAMWAY. TRIAL OF THE ENGINES.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 124, 22 May 1878, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON TRAMWAY. TRIAL OF THE ENGINES.

Our readers will learn with satisfaction that there is every probability of tho city tramway, which has been looked forward to so long as ft convenience of the future, becoming soon one of the present. Tho directors of the Tramway Company h.ivojust received letter* containing n very full description of the locomotives to be used on the tramway, a most satisfactory account of the ir public trial, and, last hut not least, definite adviops of their shipment for Wellington. Mr. Fairiio, C.E., who hns superintended the construction of the engines by Messrs. Mi-rryweather nnd S.ws, at thcM* locomotive works, Greenwich, write* that tho first of the locomotives has heen tried under steam with eutire success, in the presence of a number of leading engineers. Tlio whole machinery is enclosed within a '"cab," resembling one of the ordinary tramway cars, so that rone of tho working parts or machinery will bo visible externally, and as tho steam fe condensed and tho smoke consumed, while the fire is carefully protected, there can bo no e&cape of steam, smoke or hot cinder-*, or any appearance of firo to startlo horns. The " cab" is liberally provided with windows, aud the lower part is handsomely panelled externally in claret and gold. The boiler is of the ordinary locomotivu type and very large, but littlo attention to stoking in required, and the pressure of steam fluctuates but little, on tho road. The cylinders, which aro placed inside the frames, are 7in diameter with llin stroke; they nro supplied by ono common stcamchest. The ougine is carried on four coupled wheels 2ft in diameter, nnd tho wheel base being very small the engine can pass round-curves of exceedingly small radiu*. The regulator, reversing levers, valve, &c, are placed so that the driver has nt all times perfect and simultaneous control of all, a most important matter in crowded thoroughfare*. The angine at the trial ran with perfect quietness and smoothness, traversing- a very sharp curve with tho utmost case, aud being both started nnd stopped at smart spends with reraarka ble promptness. The engines are of the same class as constructed by Messrs. Merry weather, in large number, for "the Paris Rouen, Barcelona, and other continental tramways, on vihich they aro working most satisfactorily. Tnc first fivo of the engines have now been shipped, and aro on their way to Wellington. The " Florence "is the pioneer engine, and left England iv the ship Pleione, about 26th February, consequently may be expected to arrive hero any day. The second ongiue, tho " Wellington/ is ou board tho ship Firth of Forth, which sailed from England on the 28th March, and No. 3, tho " Hibernia." followed a day or two later by the Gareloch. Two moro, Nos. 4 and 5, tho "Zealaudia" and " Victoria," will conic out by the next ships leaviug Home, orders haviuu; been sent by the directors that only one engine should be despatched by any one ship— a very prudeut precaution. All these five engines therefore should be in Wellington ready for use before the end of next month, and the first three may arrive at any hour. Three more similar engines aro being built by Messrs. Merryweather, and are expected to be ready for shipment by the end of the current month. They are named respectively " Aajrlia." " Scotia," and " Cambria." Mr. C. A. Fairlic is coming out in charge, of the engines. Thus there is every probability that a few weeks at the farthest now will see our city with this very convenient means of locomotion in daily use. ________^^___^_