NEW ZEALAND LOCOMOTIVES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8221, 27 August 1906, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND LOCOMOTIVES.

AND THE RIMUIAKA INCLINE. "I allude thus fully to thissuhject in order to remove any wrong impression that may have been created by the criticisms of the engines by irresponsible writers to the public press." The above quotation was the tag to the following comment made by the Minister of Railways:— "(Xe four-cylinder balanced compound engine, Class A, was built in the Addington Workshqps, and one Class E Mallet articulated compound tank-engine at Petone, during the year. The former for use in working passenger and goods trains on the HuruDui-Bluff Section, and the latter for use on the JRimutaka Incline. Both engines have been | undergoing severs practical trials, and have fully' demonstrated their entire suitability for the requirements of our railways. 'J'he A compound has been tested on the heavy grades of the Dunedin Section against the Baldwin, olass 2, the most powerful type of locomotive previously in use "n New Zealand railways. Under favourable circumstances and od a dry rail the two engines (A and Q) hauled an equal load, but under adverse conditions and on a wet rail the A easily outclassed the Q, for whereas the load taken by the CJ on the wet railwas only about 66 per cent, of that hauled on a dry rail, the was found to be unaffected by the condition of the rail, and was able to haul the same load as on a dry rail. The A furfher proved to be most economical in respect to both fuel aud water, two very important items in every-day working. The trials have shown that a single A engine will be able to take on Che express between Dunedin-Oamaru a load that would frequently require the use of two Class Q engines. "The E olass was tried between Upper Hutt and Summit, and readily hauled a load of forty-five vehicles. Two Wf powerful double-ender tank engines would bo required to haul a similar load between the same points. The E is now working on the Rimutaka Incline, up which it has hauled a load of 100 tons, which is a 35 per cent, greater load than can be taken by a Fell engine."