A NEW LIGHT FOR OUR RAILWAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2211, 16 July 1896, Page 15

A NEW LIGHT FOR OUR RAILWAYS.

Seme time ago it was announced that the Railway department had decided to introduoe on tho railways the Pintsoh system of illumination by compressed gas. The Pintsch Patent Lighting Company, of Leadenhall street, London, are tha patent jes of the system, and it was under the supervision of one of their expert?, specially sent out from Home, that a fully-equipped lighting plant has been erected in Dunedin. A wooden structure at the rear of the railway station has-been built for the accommodation of themaohinerr, and the work has so far advanced that some ot the carriages attached to the express that went north on Monday were fitted with the light. The engineer travelled to Chrutahureh with the train, and returned with it last night to Duacdin. A number of persoas repiire.l to the station for the purpose of inspecting the light, which is very similar to the gaslight in ordinary use. Each carriage is illuminated with two lamps, and the light is certainly an improvement on the kercssne illuminant at present utilised on the railways. The modus operandi is a3 follows :— Tho gas ia nude from shale oil at the works at the back of the slalian, and \i then compressed into ' two reservoirs which are deposited in ohambers placed underneath the carriages. A gauge is fitted on to the chamber, and the aexatt pressure is recorded. The lampo- are also specially constructed by the company, those in the first-class carriages being so designed that any portion of the compartment may hs cast into shade as desired There is little doubt but that the system of lighting will be eventually employed ' throughout the whole of the railways in tae colony, a« the lightiog of some of the trains at the present time is obviously poor. At present it is intended to fit up 25 carriages at the Dunedin section with the patent, and the improvement itill certainly be appreciated by the travelling public.