HILLSIDE WORKSHOPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 75

HILLSIDE WORKSHOPS.

INSTALLATION OF NEW MACHINERY. Steady progress is being made with the erection of the new buildings at Hillside. The boiler erecting and machine shop is nearing completion, and the steel construction work in the steel wagon shop is also almost completed. The site of the new foundry has now been cleared, and a start made on the foundations. Whilst the progress of the new buildings is at once apparent, progress of the interior arrangements of this large concern is also becoming more apparent. The 100-ton overhead electric travelling- cranes were received recently. The erection of these cranes has been a problem exercising the minds of those responsible for some time past, and the necessary gear and tackle had been assembled in readiness for the arrival of the cranes. On Wednesday, September 5, the successful completion of one of the heaviest and largest lifts that has taken place in New Zealand was effected. The main girder and auxiliary girder with lattice work and end carriages attached—the structure being 80 feet in length and weighing approximately 30 tons —was raised to a height of 45 feet by means of special tackle operated by two powerfully constructed hand winches. The time occupied in effecting this huge lift was two hours, and whilst this enormous weight was suspended, the two crane runner sections, each weighing two tons and a-half, were placed in position by two additional winches, and secured, and the crane section then lowered oil to them. H lus . the whole operation was effected in nine hours. This operation was no small engineering feat, and reflects great credit on those members of the Hillside staff who were responsible for the successful carrying out of the work. A similar section has yet to be erected in the same manner. These two sections will be joined together, thus completing the main portion of the crane. The operator s cage and two crabs or winches will be erected later. The total weight of the completed crane is 65 tons. It operates in the locomotive erecting shop, which is 440 feet long and 80 feet wide. The mechanism is operated by six electric motors controlled by "one operator in a specially-constructed cage. The object of installing such a powerful crane is to enable a complete locomotive to be lifted off its wheels under the control of one operator. Formerly two cranes were used to effect these lifts. It was at first- intended that these cranes were to be erected by special contracf an d expert crane riggers sent out to New Zealand by the crane manufacturers, and it is to the credit of the local management and staff that the work has been completed without the slightest hitch. The efficient and expeditious handling of work under the new workshops reorganisation schema inaugurated by the Prime Minister, will be ably dealt with k-V °Yerhead travelling cranes, 15 of which will be erected by the workshops staff as follows: — Locomotive erecting shop, 100 tons. Locomotive erecting shop, 10 tons. Boiler erecting shop, 100 tons. Boiler erecting shop, 10 tons. Boiler machine shop, 25 tons. Boiler rivetting tower (erected), 25 tons. Foundry (three), 74 tons. Foundry gantry, 5 tons. Steel wagon shop (four), 10 tons lower house (erected), 2 tons. Heavy machine shop, existing cranes (two), 20 tons. — All the above will be electrically operated, and will eliminate laborious handing of material formerly necessary owing to lack- of modern equipment.