IMPORTED LOCOMOTIVES

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 7

IMPORTED LOCOMOTIVES

TODN ORDERED FROM AMERICA

CHEAPER THAN THOSE MADE IN

ENGLAKI>.

[Phess Association.]

WELLINGTON, Jan.,26. The- Government; has placed' an •order with ,the American firm of Bur'n3iam, Williams anß 'Co., Philadelphia, the manufacturers of Baldwin's engines, for ten locomotives of the first «lass.

Sneaking to a .Post reporter the Minister for Railways said that he was following the procedure adopted by Sir Joseph Ward in a«similar situation in 1902. In the General -Manager's report the acuteness of the position had been pointed out. Engine, power was woefully deficient, a.nd accounted for the greater part* of i;he complaints about'the shortage of -trucks. The Baldwin Company's offer was immeasurably the best "both as to price' and the time of delivery, the latter being an important point. The best English offer was from the North British Company, which was to complete 10 engines in seven months ready for shipping at a cost of, £4780 per engine; whereas jfrhe Baldwin offer was to complete in 60 days at £3229 per engine. ■ , '

_ To enable future requirements to be^ met new workshops capable of building.. 10 locomotives yearly will be erected at Newmarket, Auckland.