RAILWAY WORKSHOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 8

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS

ADDINGTON ACTIVITY OUTPUT OF ROLLING-STOCK [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH,. Tuesday "The railway "workshops at Addington are concentrating on the production of rolling stock to cope with tha additional goods and passenger traffic anticipated during the summer and autumn," said the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, during a visit to Chri.stchurch. "Thirteen 56ft. second-class main line cars have been delivered from Addington workshops during recent weeks, and nine others are under construction for delivery early in the New Year," said Mr. Sullivan. "Seven 56ft. first-class coupe cars are in an advanced stage of construction and are expected to be in commission before the Christmas holidays. There has been considerable activity in waggon building. Since April 1, the Addington workshops have delivered 400 'La' goods waggons, 10 'Ug' bogie horse boxes, and 12 'W' insulated waggons. Work in hand for early delivery comprises 250 goods waggons, 66 sheep trucks, and 34 waggons for other classes of traffic. , ;•« "In a few weeks the two new 'E.D.' class electric locomotives for us© on the Arthur's Pass-Otira tunnel route will be completed, at Addington railwaj' workshops. The new power substation now being erected at Otira will not, however, be ready' for use until about April next, by which time it is expected that all the new apparatus (which is now in the Dominion) will be installed. The sub-station will then be joined up with the Lake Coleridge electrical power network, when it will be possible fully to employ tho new locomotives on, the tunnel route." The Minister said that a railway work of importance to Christchurch, more so as it is part of the new railway station yard rearrangement, is the new car and waggon depot, the erection of which was recently completed by the contractor. The building embodies all the latest facilities for tho prompt and efficient repairs of cars and waggons. The contract price was about £IB,OOO. He added that several men were at work installing the necessary machinery, and that it was hoped to bring the depot into full use in about; six weeks.