TRIAL OF THE NEW FAIRLIE ENGINE.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 545, 25 June 1879, Page 3

TRIAL OF THE NEW FAIRLIE ENGINE.

The first of the new single-boiler FairiW engine* was officially tried yesterday. We described tho special features of these engines (of which the Wellington and Featheratou Railway now possesses three) on their being landed from tbe ship. Since then they have (Men put together at the Petoni workshops under the direction and personal supervision of Mr. AshCroft, the general manager, aud have been turned out in excellent st>le. Tbe first of the three was brought into town to take out the special trial train, wbicb started at noon yesterday. C'ominif in from Petoni the engine made the run, a distance of six mile*, in. 11 minute*, rounding all the sharpest curve 3 with tbe most perfect steadiness at the rate of 35 miles an Lour. The engine, although she bas not yet received her coat of paint, is a very fine-looking j and handsome one, but her appearance is | somewhat spoiled by the ugly spark-arrester On the chimney, vrhichy however, experience has proved to be a very necessary appendage She has a burnished brass dome-cover of the Crewe pattern, and duplex safety-valves, with brass funnel over them; a large " cab" for tbe driver and fireman, and a small but sufficiently capacious tender ou a four- wheeled bogie This, and the small wheel- base of the six coupledwheels (only 7ft.) enable tbe engine to round the sharpest curves at full speed. This was shown in the trial trip yesterday when leaving the Wellington station at noon, Ngahauranga (8 mites) was reached in flve minutes and ten seconds, starting and stopping, a speed of nearly 40 miles an hour being run part of the way, the engine gliding round the curves without the slightest shock or grinding, drawing a heavy train of about 100 tons weight. A couple of passenger carriages were attached to the loaded trucks, and several gentlemen were invited by Mr. Ashcroft to witness the trial, those who went including Mr. BlaeUett, Engineer-in-Cliief for tbe North Island, Mr. Lawson, Commissioner of Railways, and several other engineers. The train made a good run to the Upper Hutt, and afterwards ascended the steep Kfsdient to Kaitoke, but it was ibund "that some slight alterations in the funnel were requisite (as ia the case of the old double Fairlie) to enable the engine to make steam enough for ascending the heavy grades with a large weight behind her. These alterations have been put 1q hand forthwith. The engine and special train returned to town at half- past six. lasst evening, tho trial on tho whole having been a very successful one. It is satisfactory to know that our railway Is now supplied with such powerful and suitable locomotives.