A SMOKELESS TUNNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 69

A SMOKELESS TUNNEL.

THE LYTTELTON LINE

AUCKLAND, August 4.

Another step toward the long-sought grimeless and smokeless tunnel between Christchurch and Lyttelton has now been made. A contract for the electrification of the port and city railway line has been let by the Minister of Railways (Mr J. G. Coates) to Messrs Cory, Wright, and Salmon, of Wellington, as agents for the English Electric Company, Ltd., London, for six electric locomotives costing approximately £50,000. Sub-station equipment and overhead gear is involved. The locomotives will be of similar type to those used in the Qtira tunnel section, but they will be designed for much higher speeds. They will be manufactured at the company’s works at Preston, Lancashire, and will be tested out on the company’s track before shipment to Lyttelton.

Capable of maintaining a light running speed of 50 miles an hour, they will be designed to cope with varying traffic between Lyttelton and Christchurch. This traffic consists of passenger trains, the south expresses, and goods trains up to 600 tons in weight. All improvements and modifications which have been found desirable in the company’s wide experience in Great Britain. France, Japan, India, South America, Canada, and Mo-

rocco, will, it is stated, be embodied in the new engines. They will be supplied with current of 1500 volts D.C. by means of an overhead line, the current being collected by pantographs. Each locomotive will be equipped with four traction motors with an aggregate continuous rating per locomotive of 900 horse-power.