Observer23

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Full Name: The New Zealand Railway Observer

Issue Number: 23

Issue Date: October 1947

Volume and Number: 4/5

Pages: 20

Page Range: 101-120

Cover Image: n.a.


CONTENTS

Society Notes ARTICLE - The South Island Wab_class_locomotives - New Zealand's Last Mainline Tank Engines by S. A. Rockliffe

  • K_class Loco
  • X_class_loco
  • Ab_class_loco
  • Loco_Ws686 built at Addington, entered Service in NI July 1917
  • Loco_Wab687 built at Addington, entered Service in NI April 1918
  • 10 more built at Hillside in 1923 (boilers made at Addington) numbered Wab763 and 772 ans Ws764 - 771, all sent to Auckland for mainly Suburban work
  • During 1926-27, there were another 10 built
  • Loco_Wab786, Maker No 243, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service July 1926. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab787, Maker No 244, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service August 1926. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab788, Maker No 245, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service September 1926. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab789, Maker No 246, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service October 1926. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab790, Maker No 247, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service December 1926. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab791, Maker No 248, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service December 1926. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab792, Maker No 249, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service March 1927. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab793, Maker No 250, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service March 1927. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab794, Maker No 251, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service May 1927. Based in Dunedin
  • Loco_Wab795, Maker No 252, Built at Hillside (boiler Addington), Entered service May 1927. Based in Dunedin
  • 8 ordered from A & G Price for NI work being Loco_Wab796 - 798 and Loco_Ws799 - 803
  • The NI Wab_class Loco's were used mainly between Taihape and Taumaranui and the Ws_class_loco's mainly on Auckland Suburban services but some went to Wellington
  • Loco_Wab786 - 795 were run in on Dunedin suburban services, then operated Dunedin - Oamaru
  • New design trailing trucks fitted between October 1931 and July 1935 and Ws_class_loco's reclassified Wab_class_loco's
  • Rear cowcatchers removed from Dunedin based locos to enable double heading
  • At nearly 15t axle loads, they were restricted to Pukeuri - Otokaia plus Port Chalmers Branch
  • Loco_Wab790 sent to NI in May 1943 and Loco_Wab794 sent to NI in June 1943, 2 Class_Ab_locos, sent south in return
  • Loco_Ab792 (converted from loco_Wab792 at Hillside) entered service, with others to follow as they need general overhauls

Electric Locomotives and Railcars

  • Electric Locomotive
    • Eo_Class_loco (originally E_class_loco's) Bo-Bo - Otira - Numbered 2 - 6
    • Ec_class_loco Bo-Bo - Christchurch numbered 7 - 12
    • Ed_class Loco 1-D0-2 Wellington - Numbered 101-110
  • Electric Motor Coaches
    • Dm_class_unit Numbered 1 - 9
  • Diesel Rail Cars
    • Railcar_Rm4, type 'Wairarapa' named "Maahunui" entered Service PE 20/06/1936
    • Railcar_Rm5, type 'Wairarapa' named "Mahuhu" entered Service PE 12/09/1936
    • Railcar_Rm6, type 'Wairarapa' named "Mamari" entered Service PE 12/09/1936
    • Railcar_Rm7, type 'Wairarapa' named "Matahourua" entered Service PE 12/09/1936
    • Railcar_Rm8, type 'Wairarapa' named "Mata-atua" entered Service PE 10/10/1936
    • Railcar_Rm9, type 'Wairarapa' named "Aria-te-uru" entered Service PE 2/01/1937
    • Railcar_Rm30, type 'Standard' named "Aotea" entered Service PE 23/07/1938
    • Railcar_Rm31, type 'Standard' named "Tokomaru" entered Service PE 20/08/1938
    • Railcar_Rm32, type 'Standard' named "Pangatoru" entered Service PE 15/10/1938
    • Railcar_Rm33, type 'Standard' named "Takitimu" entered Service PE 23/07/1938
    • Railcar_Rm34, type 'Standard' named "Tainui" entered Service PE 4/02/1939
    • Railcar_Rm35, type 'Standard' named "Tikitere" entered Service PE 22/07/1939
    • Railcar_Rm50, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 9/11/1940
    • Railcar_Rm51, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 21/06/1941
    • Railcar_Rm52, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 21/06/1941
    • Railcar_Rm53, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 6/12/1941
    • Railcar_Rm54, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 6/12/1941
    • Railcar_Rm55, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 6/12/1941
    • Railcar_Rm56, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 31/01/1942
    • Railcar_Rm57, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 31/01/1942
    • Railcar_Rm58, type 'Vulcan' entered Service PE 12/09/1942

Mount Somers Tramway

New Zealand railways Statement - 1947

Locomotive Notes

  • Loco_Ja1245 new ex Hillside PE 16/08/1947
  • Loco_Ka948 now oil burner ex Hutt 28/07/1947, also had A.C.F.I. feed-water heaters replaced by exhaust steam injectors, and streamlining removed, 20 others to follow
  • Loco_Ka934 now oil burner ex Hutt 30/07/1947
  • Loco_Ka954 now oil burner ex Hutt 15/08/1947, also had streamlining removed
  • Loco_Ka937 now oil burner ex Otahuhu 22/07/1947
  • Loco_Ka907 now oil burner ex Hutt 5/09/1947
  • Loco_Ka955 now oil burner ex Hutt 9/09/1947, also had funnel fitted similar to Loco_Ka956 and 957
  • Loco_Wab802 had smokebox ash hoppers altered ex Hutt 4/08/1947
  • Loco_Ab665 had smokebox ash hoppers altered ex Hutt 5/08/1947, but did not receive a ballast block
  • Loco_Ww558 had smokebox ash hoppers altered ex Hutt 14/08/1947
  • Loco_Bb663 had smokebox ash hoppers altered ex Hutt 28/08/1947
  • A further 20 North Island Locos are to be converted for Oil burning, a total of 70 are required to overcome the coal supply issues.
  • Following tests, it was found that the Oil burner's fuel tanks do not need insulating allowing the 1300 gallon tanks to be increased to 1550 gallons
  • Additional Oil fuel swtations are being installed and when completed, the following will be the capacities
    • Paekakariki ------ 22,000 gal
    • Palmerston North - 66,000 gal
    • Napier ----------- 15,000 gal
    • New Plymouth ----- 11,000 gal
    • Taihape ---------- 33,000 gal
    • Taumaranui ------- 66,000 gal
    • Frankton --------- 66,000 gal
    • Auckland --------- 66,000 gal
  • A_class_loco conversions from 4 cylinder compound to 2 cylinder simple propulsion
    • Loco_A582 ex Hutt March 1941
    • Loco_A476 ex Hillside August 1941
    • Loco_A410 ex Hillside November 1941
    • Loco_A419 ex Hillside December 1941
    • Loco_A423 ex Hillside February 1942
    • Loco_A581 ex Hutt March 1942
    • Loco_A472 ex Hillside March 1942
    • Loco_A587 ex Hutt March 1942
    • Loco_A474 ex Hillside May 1942
    • Loco_A475 ex Hillside July 1942
    • Loco_A422 ex Hillside September 1942
    • Loco_A71 ex Hillside October 1942
    • Loco_A161 ex Hillside December 1942
    • Loco_A428 ex Hillside February 1943
    • Loco_A585 ex Hutt March 1943
    • Loco_A606 ex Hutt March 1943
    • Loco_A470 ex Hillside April 1943
    • Loco_A406 ex Hillside May 1943
    • Loco_A407 ex Hillside June 1943
    • Loco_A417 ex Hillside July 1943
    • Loco_A600 ex Hutt July 1943
    • Loco_A601 ex Hutt July 1943
    • Loco_A578 ex Hillside October 1943
    • Loco_A178 ex Hillside October 1943
    • Loco_A602 ex Hutt October 1943
    • Loco_A598 ex Hutt November 1943
    • Loco_A415 ex Hillside December 1943
    • Loco_A471 ex Hillside February 1944
    • Loco_A473 ex Hillside February 1944
    • Loco_A414 ex Hillside April 1944
    • Loco_A579 ex Hillside May 1944
    • Loco_A604 ex Hutt June 1944
    • Loco_A420 ex Hillside August 1944
    • Loco_A584 ex Hutt October 1944
    • Loco_A599 ex Hutt December 1944
    • Loco_A586 ex Hutt May 1945
    • Loco_A583 ex Hutt August 1945
    • Loco_A607 ex Hutt November 1945
    • Loco_A408 ex Hillside September 1946
    • Loco_A399 ex Hillside November 1946
    • Loco_A477 ex Hillside April 1947
    • Loco_A421 ex Hillside June 1947
  • Top streamlining being removed from J_class_loco's at Auckland, which does not enhance their appearance
    • Loco_J1202 had top streamlining removed April 1947
    • Loco_J1210 had top streamlining removed August 1947
    • Loco_J1226 had top streamlining removed August 1947

News, Note and Comment

  • Dun Mountain Railway, New Zealand's first Railway - 1860 - 1862, 4 mph through Nelson Streets, no locomotives, on streets, at least 1 train each way for for goods and passengers
  • Early Oil Burning Locomotives in New Zealand
    • Loco_Wf433 converted to Oil burning in 1909 for tests in Lyttelton Tunnel
    • Loco_Wf380 burning screened Point Elizabeth coal used for comparison . Results satisfactory bu cost far too high
    • Loco_Wf394 converted to oil burning in November 1910 at request of Taranaki Petroleum Company.
    • Trial runs made from November 15 - 18 on Train_466 and Train_469 between Wellington and Paekakariki, and again from December 28 - December 2 after the engine had been converted back to coal fired, using the same driver. The results were again satisfactory but cost could not be justified.
  • Rimutaka Incline, the remains of rail vehicles at the bottom of a bank near Summit are not the remains of a whole train bt some dumped scrap
  • Canterbury Locomotive No 9. Acquired by South Australian Railways in 1879. Used at Lyttelton, known as "Dolly Varden" Made by Neilson & Co, cylinders 12 x 18 Driving wheels 3'-0" diameter, weight 12.2t
  • Obituary Mr. James Marchbanks. C.M.G., M.I.C.E., M.N.Z.I.E. Aged 84. Educated in Dunedin, Joined PWD 1878 (railway surveys and construction), joined W&MR in 1890 as Asst Engineer, succeded J. E. Fulto as Chief Civil and Mechanical Engineer, in 1895. Appointed Chief Engineer to Wellington Harbour Board in 1908, in 1923 also became GM till retirement in 1932. Was on the loco of W&MR on 20/07/1892 which broke the speed record for 3'-6" gauge of 65mph then maintained 60mph for 15 miles.
  • There was a slow speed Passenger train collision at Auckland, just after 5pm on 8/09/1947 when Auckland - Waitakere suburban train ran into the side of Whagarei - Auckland relief express while it was passing through a crossover. 4th carriage overturned, Loco_Wab770 badly damaged, no serious injuries.
  • Brake van at the rear of Passenger Trains
  • Distance Table error - Kopua on the Gisborne Line should read 133.1 miles not 134.1
  • Locomotive coal from North America. 92,300 tons delivered to date, 36, 000 still to arrive (ordered July 1947), no more will be ordered. only 1 shipment from Canada, all others from USA. record of deliveries is as follows
    • "Pamir" 3446t from Vancouver 1946
    • "H.A.Jordan", 8000t 1946
    • "E.Kavanagh", 8000t 1946
    • "Samwinged", 8000t 1946
    • "Samnebra", 8000t 1946
    • "Pere Marquette" 9000t 10/04/1947, Wellington
    • "M.M.Guhin" 9000t 13/04/1947, Auckland
    • "Thomas U.Walter" 9000t 4/05/1947, Wellington
    • "William Coddington" 9000t 11/05/1947, Auckland
    • "O.B.Martin" 9000t 22/06/1947, Wellington
    • "John Cropper" 9000t 27/08/1947, Wellington
    • "John L.Sullivan" 9000t 17/09/1947, Auckland
  • Turakina - Okoia Deviation expected to be opened on December 7th 1947. Grades eased from 1 in 35 to 1 in 50, Curves eased from 5chain radius to 16 ch, distance reduced by 4.1 miles, express train times reduced by 18 - 20 minutes.
  • Rail - Air coordination. An experimental air connection between Paraparaumu and Christchurch on 3 May 1947 provided connections between the South Island and North Island Expresses
  • Rail fares (except suburban) to increase 15% and freight charges to increase 20% from 14/09/1947
  • the Dunedin and Kaikourai cable tram ceased running on 31/07/1947. Opened in October 1900, operated privately till May 1939, Boiler issues hastened the decision.
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