OTIRA TUNNEL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1941, Page 4

OTIRA TUNNEL

NEW POWER SYSTEM. Following successful trials, in the presence of Departmental officials, on Sunday, the Otira-Arthur’s Pass electric train system on Monday commenced to operate on power supplied from Lake Coleridge, replacing the Otira steam generating station, which had been in operation’ since the tunnel was opened on August 4, 1923. The new system will, it is expected, considerably reduce the cost of the electric train system through the tunnel, although it will not materially affect the running. The same loads will be hauled as in. the past, on similar schedules. The Lake Coleridge power is taken from the main line which passes through Otira on the way to the West Coast and is fed to the train system through a rectifier at the new Otira sub-station. This substation has been in the course of erection for the past 18 months and was recently completed, along with the new wiring system. The power, until it reaches the Otira sub-station, is under the control of the Public Works Department and then passes to the control of the Railways Department Superintendent at Otira. The steam generating station at Otira will be retained as a stand-by plant and will be available to operate the tunnel services in the event of a break in the Lake Coleridge system. It is understood that there will be a reduction of staff in the power house, as a result of the change, but that details have not been finally decided. In other respects, the system of operating the electric trains will not be altered.