A BIG CONTRACT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1938, Page 11

A BIG CONTRACT

MORE LOCOMOTIVES

THIRTY ORDERED FROM HOME

Thirty "J y * class locomotives to supplement the Railways Department's own building programme have been ordered by the Department in Engj land, according to a statement made yesterday by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in explanation of the cabled report that a.tender had been accepted by the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London on behalf of the Government for the construction of locomotives costing £400,000. The tender has been let to the North British Locomotive Co., of Glasgow. "Having regard to the exceptional goods and passenger traffic that i 9 anticipated before and throughout the Centennial year, 1940," said Mr. Sullivan, "my Department has gone thoroughly into the question of the provision of locomotives, as well. aa other rolling stock, to cope with tha abnormal traffic of that period and to provide new stock to replace engines that are now approaching obsolescence." Mr. Sullivan outlined the pro* gramme of locomotive construction, that had been decided on. "There are," he said, "26 'X' class locomotives under Construction in our own shops at the Hutt and Hillside. This wag authorised some- time ago. Fifteen additional 'X' class locomotives will be required immediately after the completion of the 26 first mentioned, and the ordering of the necessary material for these has been authorised." Engines of the "X" class, because of their weight, could be used only on the heavier lines, Mr. Sullivan pointed out. "A group of engines working on the secondary lines," the Minister continued, "are nearing the end of their useful life, and it is essential that provision be made for their replacement by a modern type of locomotive, with. a weight and capacity about midway between that of the 'Ab' and 'X' types, and suitable for working on other than the main lines of the Dominion. CONSTRUCTION LOCALLY. "Very careful consideration has been" given to the aspect of doing as much work as possible in New Zealand, not only by utilising the Department's own workshops to the fullest, capacity, but also by placing orders with other engineering firms in New Zealand so that the maximum amount of employment can be provided within tthe Dominion. But our New Zealand shops, in the limited time, cannot do the impossible, and, in view of the extreme urgency, I was reluctantly compelled to seek Cabinet's sanction t» obtain quotations for the building of the thirty new type locomotives mi Great Britain. "In order to minimise the possibility; of delay in connection with details that may call for further explanation, the Government approved of the Depart* ment's locomotive designing engineer proceeding to England to collaborate with the contractors in^ regard to design and to assist the High Commissioner in selecting the most suitable tender. He will remain in England-for about three months, mainly at tha selected contractors' works, to decide any outstanding matters in relation to design. He will also take the opportunity of looking into matters covering all phases of modern locomotive • and rail-car construction. "In conclusion;" said Mr. Sullivan, "there is a full programme of locomotive construction planned for the New Zealand railway workshops in me years following 1940 and up to 1945.