IMPRESSIVE TRIALS

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 25

IMPRESSIVE TRIALS

RAIL-CAR SERVICE

FIRST IN SOUTH ISLAND

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, July 3i

Excellent performances, very gratifying to the Department, have been put up by the first rail-car for the South Island service, which begins on Monday. The car, which is much smaller than those built for the Wairarapa, was1 designed particularly for a fast, Almost non-stop service between Christchurch'and the West Coast, and in two days of trial runs it has made good times, i ~■.-•■"■. Although its first trial in the South Island yesterday was really a picnic expedition, the journey from Christchurch to Hokitika and back, a distance of 340 miles, was over in nine hours 26 minutes running time, this despite the car not yet having been run in. Another trial was made today and the trip' from Timaru to Christchurch was done in two hours eight minutes for a distance of 102' miles, being an average of almost fifty miles an hour. Great public interest was aroused on both trials, crowds being gathered at most platforms on the routes. The General Manager (Mr. G. H. Mackley) said after today's trial that this vehicle must be regarded as a highlight in the Department's rail-car sxperitnee. The speed for such a small Veaicle had surpassed the expectations of all tJie Departmental experts. The return daily service to the West Cfiasfc from Christchurch is to start on Monday.