INGENIOUS ENGINE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20507, 18 March 1941, Page 2

INGENIOUS ENGINE

NEW LOCOMOTIVE REPLACEMENT OF STEAM Ingenuity combining the skill of the engineer and the “haftdy-man” has been employed in the planning and construction of a producer-gas locomotive now taking shape in the workshops of the Sanson tramway, owiied by the Manawatu County Council. Numerous difficulties faced the council when it was found that its steam locomotive would have to be replaced, not the least of these being brought about by war conditions. However, working quietly over a considerable period, the council, under the guidance of its engineer, Mr. H. V. Bond, has collected various parts —many of them previously classed as scrap metal, and for which scrap prices were paid—and these are now being used in the assembly of the engine.

A chassis with three driving wheels coupled on each side was secured from Gisborne, massive gears employed in the final drive came from the Napier tramway system, and a tractor with an engine in practically new condition (plus the all-important consideration of a complete spare cylinder assembly) provided a 100-h.p. motor. This tractor was so massive that when it was originally used on the peat, lands in the lower Manawatu it merely “dug itself in" and finally had to be discarded, but'its four huge cylinders are to be put to good use in the near future.

Four forward speeds and a reverse gear are included in a £3OO gear-box, which was made in New Zealand, and the assembly has the added feature of the gears being in constant mesh. The gas-producer will be bought and will not require to be large, as the total length of the tramway line is but 20 miles. The locomotive is of the conventional design for electric locomotives and the engine will be housed at one end and the gas-producer in lire other. The wljole of the engine is to weigh about 20 tons and will have the same speed forward or backward. i