FIRST ELECTRIC ENGINES

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 8

FIRST ELECTRIC ENGINES

OTIRA TUNNEL. [Special io the ‘Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. The first of the electric engines for the Otira- tunnel has ; been completely assembled at Addington Railwajy Workshops. A second engine is nearly completed, while a third had its body placed on its base to-day. Two other engines have yet to he assembled Avhen tho component p<uts arrive from England. All parts were made at the works of tho English Electric Company, Ltd., at Preston, and the lirst engine took only four davs and a-half to assemble. Those who are familiar with tho tube trains in l>ondon and Paris will know the type of engine repaired for electric railways. In outward appearance they are of similar outlino to carriages, and they possess none of the familiar outward humps and funnels of the ordinary steam engine. There. 1 a difference in mechanism in ihoc New Zealand engines, however, from those in use on tho English electrified lines. The engines for the work at Utira are designed to have a speed of fifteen miles an hour uphill for goods nanus, and seventeen and a-lialf miles an hour uphill for pa-senger train*. The downhill rate lor passenger trains will be twenty-five miles an hour. These engines will haul a load of 140 urns.