First Engine For Paekakariki
Started by Mr. Jordan PRESTON CEREMONY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 14. Pressing a button at a special ceremony at the works of the English Electric Company at Preston, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan, set in motion the first engine lor the Wellington-Paekakariki railway electrification scheme. Replying to a toast at an official luncheon, Mr. Jordan recalled that Richard John Seddon was born in Lancashire. He made reference to the growing trade reciprocity between Britain and New Zealand and expressed the hope that ways would be found for extension. British manufacturers were benefiting from New Zealand’s housing policy and wage increases, w'hich were resulting in a movement from city residential areas to the outer suburbs, this meaning an expansion in the transport industry.
The New Zealand Railways Department advised to-day that the locomotive is to be shipped to New Zealand on Friday. It should arrive by the end of January. This locomotive is one of eight required for the Wellington-Paekakariki electrified section of the North Island Main Trunk line. The other seven, which will be of the same type, are to be completed in the Hutt Valley Railway Workshops. It was announced towards the end of September that all the electrical and mechanical parts for these were to hand, and that worjc had commenced on the fabrication of the superstructures and the machining of the main frames.
The locomotives to be used are of the 4-8-2 wheel type, weighing 84 tons in running order with 64 tons on. the driving axles. They are of the general purpose type for use on passenger and goods trains. Each is designed to haul a 500-ton goods train between Wellington and Paekakariki. The locomotive superstructure has a semi-streamlined appearance, and contains all the electrical equipment for the control of power to the driving motors. At each end of the superstructure y% a driver’s compartment containing controls and indicators. In their design and equipment special attention has been given to safety features.
When it is desired to haul good* trains of over 500 tons, two of the locomotives can be coupled together, electrically and mechanically, thus forming one unit with one driver in complete control of all apparatus on both locomotives.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 298, 16 December 1937, Page 6
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377First Engine For Paekakariki Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 298, 16 December 1937, Page 6
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