OTIRA TUNNEL TRAFFIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17012, 10 April 1923, Page 8

OTIRA TUNNEL TRAFFIC.

LOCOMOTIVES AT ARTHUR’S PASS. The timo is drawing near now when, with the opening of the Arthur’s Pass Tunnel, the East and the West Coasts will be joined. The multitudinous preparations are all well in hand, and a most important event was the journey, yesterday, of the electric locomotives which are to draw the trains through the tunnel, to Arthur’s Pass. In addition to the five locomotives there is also a repair car, with a tender attached, the purpose of which is to repair breakdowns in the overhead equipment. It has a self-storage capacity rendering it independent of wires for power.

The train was hauled by two AB engines, and had an aggregate weight of 500 tons, the electric locomotives weighing about 300 tons. As none of the electrical rolling stock had been in use before, the train travelled at a moderate speed. Going over the spans between the cliffs oil the route, the speed was reduced to six miles an hour. It was 4.30 p.m. before the train arrived at Arthur’s Pass Railway Station.

Among the party who travelled on the train were Messrs A. J. Jeffs, representative engineer for the contractors (the English Electric Company, Ltd) ; F. S. Greenshields, the sub-con-tractor in charge of the electrical installation ; G. E. Richardson, district locomotive engineer; A. J. M’Credie, district engineer; and W. K. M’Alpine, chairman of the Canterbury Progress League, and of the Tawera County CouncilThere was no serious mishap during the whole trip, the only hold-up being due to overheating of an axle-box on the self-storage car. The load made a good test of the railway bridges, which proved that they were quite able to stand the strain. In addition to the dead weight oi the pull, the engines had to supply sufficient power to operate the twentyfour armatures attached to the electric locomotives. Mr Jeffs later stated that in accomplishing a journey of eighty-seven miles with practically no hitch the new rolling stock had survived a severe test. Although the electric vires are installed in the tunnel, there is still a considerable amount of work to bo done at the Otrra end of the line, and in the railway yards. It is expected, however, that this will be completed in about three weeks’ time. The power house is nearly ready for service, only a few minor details remaining to be completed. The men who are to drive the electric locomotives are being trained for the work under the supervision of Mr Jeffs. They will be required to pass an examination before being allowed t.o take up their duties. Each of the motormen will first sew: about three weeks on a goods train.