A Switchback Railway for Wellington.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 25, 1 September 1894, Page 13

A Switchback Railway for Wellington.

Messrs. Robertson and Co., ironfoundors, have just received instructions from Mr. J. B. Copland, mechanical and consulting engineer, of Feathorstono street, Wellington, on behalf of a local syndicate, to erect on a vacant city allotment a Circular Switchback Railway. Tho management are oreeting tho plant at a large cost and with all the latest mechanical contrivances for the comfort and safety of the public. A grand organ, which plays forty different tunes and cost £175, a largo plate glass mirror, centre piece, and thirty incandescent oloctric lights, are a few, among the many, provisions which aro being made to add to the comfort and elegance of this, the latest of American and London novelties. A patent has been appliod for by Mr. Copland for New Zealand. The success of tno straight switchback which only travels for about ono and a half minutes on a trip, is a sufficient guarantee that tho Circular Switchback which.travels for several minutes during each trip, will " catch on ” with the public. The machinery and plant are to bo approved by Mr. Wiltshire, city engineer, boforo being finally thrown open to the public. The syndicate have decided to employ a competent mechanic to toko charge of tho propelling machinery and thus reduce the risk arising from the employment of inexperienced hands to a minimum. Tho fact that tno undertaking is under tho personal supervision of Mr. J. B. Copland, who was for several years with the Maxim-Nordenfeldt Gun Co., and has hod experience in London and America, is sufficient guarantee that the work will be a credit to the city, and an attractive amusement to pleasure-seekers of all classes.