RAILWAYS PROCRAMME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 82, Issue 288, 6 December 1938, Page 10

RAILWAYS PROCRAMME

CONSTRUCTION OF 11 "K” • ENGINES ALL WORKSHOPS ADDING QUOTA [ Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Dec. 4. During a visit to Auckland this week-end, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the Minister of Railways, supplied information concerning efforts being made by his department to complete the building of rolling stock to enable a more effective handling of the heavy goods and passenger traffic anticipated during the summer months. “The workshops at Otahuhu,” said Mr. Sullivan, "are pushing along vigorously with a programme of construction of cars and wagons for North Island traffic. At the department’s other shops similar signs of activity are in evidence. The Wanganui shops at East Town are building their quota. Tne Hutt workshops have already delivered three standard type railcars for the Wellington-New Plymouth run and a fourth is almost ready. Before the Christmas recess, Addington (Christchurch) workshops will have delivered for the Soutn Island services a large amount of rolling stock. "The totalled figures give 31 cars and 936 wagons extra to the rolling stock available last summer,” Mr. Sullivan added, "and they should assist materially in satisfying the public demand during the coming season.” The work of constructing cars will be carried on steadily after the holidays for it is recognised that many more vehicles will be required to ensure the effective handling of the centennial exhibition traffic which will commence before the summer or 1939.” Mr. Sullivan pointed out that a large number of wagons and cars regularly passed through the workshops for overhaul and that many or these required heavy repairs. He then dealt with the subject of locomotive construction and stated that the Hutt (Wellington) and Hillside (Dunedin; shops were concentrating on the building of 41 modern locomotives or the “K” class. These would be turned out at regular intervals in the coming year and 20 should be available in time for early exhibition traffic.