NEW RAIL-CARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19029, 1 June 1936, Page 10

NEW RAIL-CARS

■ „ ———■*■ ■ . SUCCE&SFtJI, TRIALS !. o>M vehicle Finished (J>Pr jpi'psa Assofcllition.) ; . .., ' WBiJ/INC.TON, Inst, night. '' T\w trial rtrh.'of the first of the poyeyasl rail-cftrs to be used on tho Weliliigtori-Palmerstori North service * wks carried oiit by the Railway Department ok Saturday. ; .■The.ear named Mahhuni was driven ■ from Polpho to Upper Hut! and hack, \ a scheduled time tnldo being maintained thfonghoul. Those privileged to make the trip 5 %\ifd unanimous in approval of tho ' new tneans of transport. Only one rail-tar is .finished so faiy though others are in various stages of j construct ion. Two more will probably be i ready iii four or five weeks. When I luce i'cur.si'hay'e been tested the departinent will probably open a skeleton rail ear service betWeeri Wellington and Mastcrlon. Three'more are to he constructed ami ■when the six ale completed I lie full Palnlerston North-Miislertoh-Wellington ser-1 yit'e will be opened, with a special service by a composite car between Cross Creek aiul Woodville for school children and, goorls going to Master!on. It will probably be three months before the full service is running. | The )' , ftil-ears for use on the Palinerslon VNbHh^iastertoh- Wellington run arc as big.ds the cars on the express trains to

Auckland. They are designed for a maxi,'num speed of 60 miles an hour and carry ",9 passengers, in addition to the driver and conductor. The power unit is. a 120 li.p. petrol engine with a torque converter driving on to a pair of rear wheels. There is accommodation for a lon or luggage, and toilet facilities arc equal to tliose on the lies! express trains. Airoperated brakes are provided and there are driver-controlled doors on each side with an emergency door at the renr. The cars are electrically lighted and lm\e artistic modern fittings. Heating is secured by hot air circulated by electric fans and special roof ventilation has been arranged, The seals, of tubular construction, 'are chromium-plated, of bucketed lorm. The rail-cars will cut. the time or travelling between Wellington and MnsLorlon from .Mir. 40min. In 2hr. ISniin., and between Masterton and Palmerstoii: North from about. 3hr. 45mih. to about, two hours. I'.elwocn Wellington and Upper Hull 11 to returning time will be under /!0 iniu. ' The. new ears ,vill lake Hie Itimulnka Mill at from 16 In 17 miles au hour fully loaded, and the cohesion ami '.■braking power- is such that no centre-rail will lie required for operation on the incline.