Observer21

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Full Name: The New Zealand Railway Observer

Issue Number: 21

Issue Date: June 1947

Volume and Number: 4/3

Pages: 52

Page Range: 33-84

Cover Image: n.a.

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CONTENTS

Society Notes

Question Time

Q1. What is the purpose of the Drifting Valve as mentioned in 'To Arthurs Pass on the Footplate'

Answer. By allowing a small amount of wet steam into the cylinders when the regulator off, it prevents unwanted material getting in to the cylinders via the Snifters.

Q2. Why did the 3 Garratt locomotives prove unsuccessful in service.

Answer. The designer (Mr. S. G. Lynde) was too ambitious in specifying a 6 cylinder loco, it should have been 4 cylinder, which would have resulted in a smaller lighter loco better suited to its working environment.

Q3. What is the principle underlying the operation of automatic points on a tramway

Answer. Technically they are electrically operated by the motorman depending on whether he is drawing power or not when the tram moves under an insulated portion of the overhead.

Q4. Does anyone know which was the first engine in New Zealand to carry cast brass number plates

Answer. No-one knew, the use of cast brass number plates became standard practice following the 1890 re-numbering, but V_class_loco's were known to have them in 1885

Q5. What is the meaning and purpose of the lettering on the headstocks of wagons.

Answer. It relates to the dimension of the drawbars but details not known

Q6. Was it possible to get a summary of work in hand as part of the post war rehabilitation

Answer.(partial) 3,000 La_class_wagons on order from Britain, new freight wagons coming out of workshops here, 7 electric loco's and multiple unit stock for the Hutt Valley, 35 new Ja_class_loco's for the South Island, 20 more Ka_class_locos being converted to oil burning in the North Island, The Rimutaka Deviation is just getting restarted, a considerable quantity of rails and fastenings just landed from Belgium, The Turakina Deviation was nearing completion, pushing on with replacing 70lb rail with 85lb on important lines and replacing 56lb with 70lb on secondary lines, installation of CTC in several areas, the introduction of Diesel-electric locos a considerable number of passenger cars with better seating, improvements to station buildings.

Q7. What is purpose of fitting the ballast block on the leading bogie of Ab_class_loco's, Q_class_locos, and Wab_class Loco's

Answer. it appears to be triggered by a number of South Island derailments and of broke trailing truck springs. The ballast block is an attempt to improve the weight distribution

Q8. again asked why the brake van could not be placed at the front of the train to protect passengers in case of collision

Answer. No change from previous answer even with factor of the nuisance posed by soot and dust from the loco always getting in the fist car.

ARTICLE. The possibility of accelerating and improving railway passenger services in New Zealand

• The current types of passenger trains
  • Long Distance Express passenger trains
  • Local passenger trains
  • Suburban passenger trains
  • Mixed Trains
  • Goods Trains with car attached
• Passenger comfort
  • Long-distance 2nd class is cramped, unsuitable for night journeys.
  • The newly designed seating will have to wait for the new 60ft cars now on order from the Workshops
  • Track quality not as good as it was
• Frequency of Service
  • A general deduction is that at least 200 passengers are required to economically run a train
• Puctuality
  • A punctual service is more essential than a necessary fast service
  • From an official survey, 20% on time 24% 1 - 10 min late 26% 11- 30min late, 22% 31 - 60 min late and 10% over 60min late
• Speed
  • basic train speeds have not increased for over 20 years
• Speeding up of railway Passenger Services
  • Deviations, Grade and Curve easements
  • Strengthening of the Track and Bridges
  • Provision of Improved Motive Power
    • Steam Traction
    • Electrification
    • Railcars
  • Reducing train Loads
  • Eliminate Intermediate Stops
  • Reduce the length of Intermediate Stops
  • Eliminate Mixed Trains
• Some Specific possibilities
  • Wellington - Auckland
  • Christchurch - Dunedin - Invercargill
• Conclusion

REPORT of Wellington Discussion on improving Passenger Services in New Zealand

Hutt Valley Railway Extension

• Now open to Taita

"Taika" The story behind a locomotives name - Loco_PWD536

• The name of the Horse gifted to Tarakau, the designer of a war canoe and riden from Nuhaka to Wairoa
• The Minister of Public Works was induced to name the Locomotive "Tiaka" in memory of the stalion who travelled the same route
• "Taiaka means Tiger.

The tramcar and the Trolley Bus. Some modern considerations

News, Note and Comment

• Waihi Gold Mining Company.
  • Aproximately 5 miles separates the mine at Waihi with the Battery at Waikino
  • Track gauge 2ft 9in total track 7 miles 40ch
  • Initially horse drawn
  • First loco ordered 1896, 0-4-0T from Manning Wardle, Leeds, England, (Maker No1329) Named "Ohinemuri" 16t, 2'-6" drivers, 9 x 14 cylinders, converted to 0-4-2T now scrapped
  • Second Loco ordered 1896, 0-4-2T from Manning Wardle, Leeds, England, (Maker No1424) Named "Victoria" 16t, 2'-6" drivers, 9 x 14 cylinders now out of service
  • Third Loco ordered 1199, 0-4-2T from Manning Wardle, Leeds, England, (Maker No????) Named "Victoria" 18t, 2'-6" drivers, 9 x 14 cylinders now scrapped
  • Fourth Loco ordered 1905, 4-4-2T from Manning Wardle, Leeds, England, (Maker No1497) Named "Waikino" 20t, 2'-6" drivers, 10 x 16 cylinders now
  • Fifth Loco ordered 1909, 4-4-2T from Manning Wardle, Leeds, England, (Maker No1753) Named "Waikino" 20t, 2'-6" drivers, 10 x 16 cylinders, reboilered with a Kitsons (Leeds) boiler
  • Sixth Loco ordered 1934, 4-4-2T from W.G. Bagnall Ltd, Stratford, England, (Maker No2513) Named "Empire" 20t, 2'-6" drivers, 10 x 16 cylinders, fitted with Baguley valve gear

Alterations and additions to Rolling Stock for 12 months to 13 March 1947

• North Island
  • 3 Dm_class_EMU power coaches numbers 7 - 9, Supplied by English Electric Company, England
  • 2 D_class_EMU trailers numbers 107, 108, Supplied by English Electric Company, England
  • 112 Jc_class_wagons 20ft sheep 4 wheel, numbers 4732 - 4843, built at Otahuhu Workshops
  • 112 La_class_wagons, 16ft High-sider 4 wheel, numbers 20807 - 20918, built at Otahuhu Workshops
  • 7b Ug_class_wagons, Horse-box, bogie numbers 130 - 136, built at Otahuhu Workshops
  • 30 Z_class_wagons, 50ft covered goods, bogie, numbers 355 - 384, built at Otahuhu Workshops
• South Island
  • 305 La_class_wagons, 16ft High-sider 4 wheel, numbers 21051 - 21055, 21356- 21665, built at Addington Workshops
  • 30 Q_class_wagons, coal hopper, 4 wheel, numbers 1282 - 1311, built at Addington Workshops
  • 35 W_class_wagons, Insulated meat, 4 wheel, numbers 680 - 699, 950 - 964, built at Addington Workshops
• The first of the new Lc_class_wagon, 14 t capacity High-sider, was turned-out from Otahuhu Workshops on 9 May 1947. Wagon Lc_25456 will undergo tests before deciding whether more will be built
• A small number of A_class_cars were written off, including Car_A250, the last of the American cars introduced in 1879, and the first bogie cars to enter service here.Written off, 4 week period ended 1/03/1947
• Railcar No10 "Arawa" was written off during the 4 weeks ended 7/12/1946

Vulcan railcar_Rm53 was seriously damaged by fire while working train_184 Ross - Christchurch on 6/05/1947,

Locomotive Notes Loco_Ja1241 left Hillside 19/03/1947. Builder's No 364, Boiler_1390. First to have Roller Bearing Big-ends for testing on fast express services. Entered Dunedin - Oamaru express service on 28/03/1947 Loco_Ja1240 Left Hillside 27/03/1947. Builder's No 363, Boiler_1389. Entered Dunedin - Invercargill express service on 4/04/1947. Loco_Ka914 left Hutt shops on 24/04/1947 converted to an oil burner Loco_Ka949 left Hutt shops on 5/05/1947 converted to an oil burner Loco_Ab736 left Hutt shops on 26/03/1947 with a ballast block and altered smokebox Loco_Ab774 left Hutt shops on 1/04/1947 with a ballast block and altered smokebox Loco_Ab830 left Hutt shops on 15/04/1947 with a ballast block and altered smokebox Loco_Ab828 left Hutt shops on 17/04/1947 with a ballast block and altered smokebox Loco_Ab833 left Hutt shops on 14/05/1947 with a ballast block and altered smokebox Loco_Ab663 left Hutt shops on 26/03/1947 with an altered smokebox It appears all loco's with the Waikato spark arresters will have their smokeboxes altered. The following locos have all been seen so modified; Loco_Aa654 on 3/03/1947, Loco_Aa656 on 24/03/1947, Loco_Bb147 on 3/02/1947, Loco_Bb167 on 14/02/1947, Loco_Bb55 on 4/03/1947, Loco_C851 on 1/04/1947, Loco_Ww575 on 12/02/1947, Loco_Ww493 on 28/03/1947, Loco_Ww566 on 30/04/1947 Loco_Bb147 is unique in having C_class_loco sand domes apparently fitted after an accident some years ago. Loco_Wab798 was involved in a collision at Petone, with the end wagons of a train departing the yard across the UP main Loco_X446 was formally written of period ending 1/02/1947 and was still in Dunedin on 6/01/1947 contradicting earlier reports on being in Ohai before year end 1946. Loco_Fa375 shows it is now fitted with slide-valves when it was originally built with piston valves.