RAILWAY COACHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23075, 28 June 1938, Page 10

RAILWAY COACHES

SEMI-STEEL PRINCIPLE DOMINION CONSTRUCTION POLICY OF DEPARTMENT EXAMPLES IN OTHER COUNTRIES [BY TELEGRAPH —PIIES3 ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday Tho opinion of the Railway Department on tho question of all-steel passenger cars being adopted for use on New Zealand linos was explained at to-day's sitting of the board of inquiry which is investigating the Ratana railway disaster. Mr. H. F. O'Loary, representing tho department at tho inquiry, said that the board had recently received a letter on this subject front tlio New Zealand Tourist League. The board referred the letter to tho department and Mr. O'Leary gave a summary of tho department's reply. "The position is that it is not possible because of tho weight to adopt very heavy steel construction throughout car bodies in hilly countries such as New Zealand," said Mr. O'Leary. "Cars which the department is now building, and has been building for a number of years, have underframes of steel "sections welded together, giving the effect of a one-piece unit. Tho ends of tho cars, extending right up to tho roof and over the entranco doorways, are entirely of steel and provide very strong and massive anti-collision ends. The bodywork between tho ends is of timber reinforced with steel and provided with steel panels. In short, the cars are virtually the equivalent of allsteel. coaches. "As a matter of interest," Mr. O'Leary added, "I may mention that many of tho latest trains in other parts of the world are being built on tho semi-steel principlo. The Silver Jubilee, operated at high speeds in England, and considered one of tho fastest trains in tho world, is built on lines very much similar to the cars used in New Zealand."