OIL FUEL ON LAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8782, 11 July 1914, Page 9

OIL FUEL ON LAND

CANADIAN RAILWAYS’ BIG DEMAND. LONDON, May 28. The World’s International Oil Exhibition, recently , opened., at Earl s Court, provided a timely opportunity for the study of tho methods now employed in bringing to the, service of mankind a mineral which promises to almost rival coal in its utility, Earl s Court, however, could not show, so that he who runs may read, th© actual significance of tho oil industry to the Empire at the present moment. That oil fuel is occupying the serious attention of the Admiralty is obvious from the Parliamentary debates and by the recent contract connected with the Persian .oilfields. There is just the possibility that the prevalence of news regarding the application of oil to naval purposes is apt ito ohaoure public, attention to the progress that is being made in other directions. It is not generally realised, for instance, tliat one of the most important of the British railways is relying to-day upon oil fuel for the operatiou of its goods and passenger services over 500 miles of its main line. This railway as the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Oil fuel, by reason of its complete combustion, causes no sparks to be emitted from the smokestack of engines in which it is. employed. This fact was amongst those which influenced the Canadian Pacific Railway in •1912 to adopt oil fuel for that section of its lino westward of the Rocky Mountains. The railway passes through a densely timbered country, and it is necessary that every precaution should be taken for the preservation of the timber. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FROST. To-day, between Vancouver-and Calgary; there are no fewer than eleven oiling stations. The principal store is at Vancouver, and it is here that the Californian oil is received. From this store the oil is distributed by specially constructed tank-waggons and in barrels. The capacities of the inland stores vary between 600 barrels and 23,000 barrels. Owing to the severe winters in British Columbia it has been found necessary to equip all the oil stores and carrying waggons with means for making the oil flow readily. The tankcars are furnished with steam-coils, which are supplied with steam from the local pump-house,. whilst -the bottom of the tanks in the vicinity of the end of the suction-pipe is also fit-: ted with steam-coils. As a. jrrecaution against fire steam- lines are also laid from the pump-houses to positions under the roofs of the tanks, so that in the event of a fire breaking oat within a tank this fire can be immediately smothered. The oil standpipes at the stopping places arc so arranged that locomotives can take in oil and water at the same time.