RAILWAY ENGINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18896, 19 December 1924, Page 9

RAILWAY ENGINES.

Sir. —1 read with interest the leading article ori the New Zealand railways in Wednesday's Herald. As you rightly state, there arc a few improvements which readily suggest themselves to the man in the street, particularly the matter of improvement in locomotives and rolling stock The track of the New Zealand railways is certainly, as good as any of the same gauge in the world, but when comparisons in rolling stock are mado with that of other 3ft. 6in. gauge systems, one feels compelled to sit up and take notice. Jn 3ft. 6in. gauge systems, that of South Africa immediately lends itself to comparisons. Most of us in New Zealand are familiar with the well-known A.B. class of express engine, and ono would think, from various descriptions of them, that these engines were of vast and massive proportions, whereas they almostrank as pigmies in Comparison with tho standard express engines of South Africa In comparing one of tho latter engines with the A.B. class, *it may be stated that both engines are of the "Pacific" type. In the first place, take their respective weights in complete working order, 134 tons for the South African engine, and 84J tons for the New Zealand machine, and then in cylinders, boiler and driving wheels, the South African engine leads handsomely. Further figures might weary readers, but I might add that on the following other 3ft. 6in. gauge systems, locomotives of much greater power than the A.B.'s are in service—namely, those of Japan, Java and Tasmania, From the above statement it will be seen where room for improvement, lies. Raelwayist.