MODERN TRANSPORT

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXII, Issue 96, 31 July 1935, Page 3

MODERN TRANSPORT

A RAILCAR SERVICE PROGRESSIVE STEP BY THE BOARD. WELLINGTON, Last night. Following very exhaustive trials with an inspection rail ear the Railways Board has now decided to have large passenger-carrying rail-cars built upon the same principle, but with special adaptations to meet the most exacting requirements of modern passenger transport, for use on the Wellington - Wairarapa - Palmerston North route, and also for night services between Wellington and New Plymouth.

In making this announcement on behalf of the Government Railways Board to-day, Mr G. H. Maeklcy, General Manager of Railways, said that the present decision was regarded by the Board as a very important development in the transport of the Dominion, and he had no doubt that it would be so regarded by the public. “After very complete investigations,” said Mr Mackley, “both with the inspection rail-car and also regarding the use of rail-ears in other countries and the possibility of the economic adaptation of these units to the requirements of traffic on certain lines of our own system, the Board has decided to introduce petroldriven rail-ears on the Wellington-Rimutaka-Palmerston North route for day service and between Wellington and New Plymouth for night-running.

‘‘Six rail-ears are to he used for the Welling'ton-Mastertou-Palmerston North passenger service,” continued Mr Mackley. “These ears will be of the most modern type, and will each seat 49 passengers. They will have lavatory accommodation and can each carry one ton of small parcels and luggage. The power will be provided by a 130 h.p. Leyland petrol engine with torque converter driving on to the pair of rear wheels. The ears are of the six-wheeled type built for running in one direction only, with reverse gear for shunting en route and at terminals. They will be fitted with the very latest comfort-giving devices. ’ ’ “The manufacture of the cars is now in hand, hut, of course, some time will elapse before they will be ready for service. Meantime, suitable schedules of running are being worked out to give a fast, comfortable service. The bodies will be built in the Hutt Workshops and Leyland Motors, Ltd., will supply the engines. The new ears are designed to travel at a rate of 50 to 00 miles per hour on the flat. They will negotiate the Rimutaka Incline (with its grade of about 1 in 15) fully loaded at a speed of from 15 to 17 miles per hour. The adhesion and liraking-power of the ears is such that no centre rail is required for their operation on the Incline.

‘ ‘ These new factors are expected to change the whole aspect of travel on the line between Wellington and Palmerston North via the Wairarapa.

“Another rail-car service has been arranged which will enable Woodvilie residents to spend the evening in Palmerston North and return home the same night. “The Palmerston North residents will have rail-car services available which they may use for spending the day or the afternoon in the Wairarapa.

“On special occasions (for holidays, race meetings, etc.), the rail-car services will be supplemented as required by steam trains. “A petrol-driven rail-unit with a body designed for goods traffic, will be run on a special schedule between Cross Creek and Woodville. This service will also convey about 20 school children to and from Masterton, for whom collapsible or removable seats will be provided.” NIGHT SERVICE.

“The Board has also decided,” said Mr Mackley, “to use rail-ears for a night service between Wellington and New Plymouth. Three ears are required for this service. They will be heavier and of greater capacity than the rail-ears on the Wairarapa line, as their construction is not subject to factors which have to be considered in operating traffic over the Rimutaka Incline.

“Each car will weigh 28 tons, fully loaded (as compared with the 15 tons of the Rimutaka type rail-car), and will carry 56 passengers and up to one ton of luggage. Worked by two 10Htre engines the ear will be capable of 70 miles per hour. “These ears will have smoking and non-smoking compartments, but otherwise, so far as the passengers are concerned, the equipment will be similar to that arranged for the Wairapa rail-ears. The ears for the Wellington-New Plymouth run will, hpwever, have four-wheeled bogies at each end, and two pairs of drivingwheels.

“When a tri-weekly express train service was tried out between Wellington and New Plymouth for a few months in 1930, although the service had to be discontinued (along with many other services) owing to the financial position, the trains had been fairly well patronised and it was considered that the service might well be reinstated when the general position improved. “With the general advantages in the quality of service and economy of operation to be secured by rail-cars, of the type described, in the matter of comfort, speed', cleanliness, and general attractiveness, the Board feels confident that the service will be popular and quite self-supporting. It has therefore been decided to run railcars six nights a week (Sunday to Friday inclusive) in both directions, as soon as Ihe vehicles, now on order, are available.”