D.—2.

Level-crossing Automatic Alarm-bells.—Five level crossings have been equipped with warningbells and wig-wag signals, as follows : Stratford (two —Fenton Street and Regan Street), Wanganui (Ferguson Street), Petone (Hutt Road), and Christchurch (Riccarton Road). The level crossings at Onslow Road and Eden dale Road, near Kingsland, have been replaced by overbridges, and the Warning-bells removed. The following level crossings equipped with warning-bells have been provided with wig-wag signals: Wanganui (two —Victoria Avenue and Liverpool Street), East Town (No. 3 Line). The present number of level crossings fitted with warning-bells, &c., is seventy-three. Expenditure. —Particulars of expenditure for the Signal Branch for the year ended 31st March, 1926, are as follows : — New Works: — £ s _ j. Additional signalling and interlocking .. .. .. 7,067 19 7 Fixed signals at officered stations .. .. .. .. 9,278 19 4 Tablet locking at flag stations .. .. .. .. 299 7 9 Power interlocking at stations .. .. .. .. 45,211 10 1 Automatic signalling . . .. .. .. .. 38,489 1 3 Additional telephone and telegraph lines .. .. .. 4,387 8 4 Metallic circuiting electric lines .. .. .. .. 16,275 710 Additional telephones installed .. .. .. .. 475.16 6 Electric tablet-working .. .. .. .. .. 2,221 18 2 Level-crossing alarms .. .. .. .. .. 1,170 0 1 Electric lighting .. .. .. .. .. .. 17,756 13 0 Electric equipment, Frankton Junction .. ... .. 3,928 8 8 146,562 10 7 Installing electric motors and works for other Departments .. 19,750 0 0 Total .. .. .. .. ..£166,312 10 7 Maintenance :— £ s. d. Signals and interlocking .. .. .. .. .. 27,322 1 10 Automatic and power signalling .. .. .. .. 13,507 311 Level-crossing signals .. .. .. .. .. 1,735 611 Telegraph, tablet and block instruments .. .. .. 18,557 19 7 Overhead lines, telegraph, telephone, and block working .. 15,017 16 11 Overhead lines for automatic signalling . . .. .. 3,449 10 7 Electric lighting used in operation .. .. .. .. 8,281 4 7 Overhead electrification .. .. .. .. .. 2,978 4 6 Electric-power appliances used in operation .. .. .. 1,180 1 2 Signal Branch buildings .. .. .. .. .. 3,750 12 0 Superintendence .. .. .. .. .. 8,700167 Betterments .. .. .. .. .. .. 582 14 8 Total .. .. .. .. ..£105,063 13 3 LOCOMOTIVE. Mr. G. S. Lynde, A.M.I.Mech.E., M.1.L0c0.E., Chief Mechanical Engineer, reports as follows :— The plant, locomotives, tenders, carriages, brake-vans, wagons, machinery, and tools have been maintained in good working-order during the year. Locomotives. —On the 31st March, 1926, there were 704 engines. The additional stock during the year consisted of thirty-five Class Ab engines, imported from the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow ; four Class Ab, built by Messrs A. and G. Price (Ltd.), Thames ; and six Class Ab built in the Government Railway workshops. One old engine was written off, and two engines were sold. There was an increase of 899,497 lb. (equal to 8-71 per cent.) in the tractive force available due to the above alterations in stock, also to locomotives being reboilered. In the Government Railway workshops 217 engines have been built to date, and twenty-four old locomotives have been rebuilt. Details of work on locomotives in the Government workshops during the year were as follows : Number passed through workshops, 743 ; built new, 6 ; erected new, 35 ; re-erected, 1 ; heavy repairs, 210 ; medium repairs, 62 ; light repairs, 142 ; wreck or defect repairs, 209 ; running repairs, 78. Included in the above are three engines repaired for the Public Works Department and three engines for private firms. There were on order at the close of the year four Class Ab, ten Class Wab, being built in the Government workshops, and eight Class Wab being built by Messrs, A. and G. Price (Limited), Thames.

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