Observer16

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Full Name: The New Zealand Railway Observer

Issue Number: 16

Issue Date: August 1946

Volume and Number: 3/4

Pages: 16

Page Range: 57-72

Cover Image: n.a.

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CONTENTS

Society Notes

• Supplement No 1 Tunisian Railways

The Main Line Gradients of the New Zealand Railways Part 7 - By T. A. McGavin

• Wellington - Napier - Gisborne

New Zealand's First Electric Tramway - By D. R. McQueen

• The Maori Hill Tramway
• Brill & Co Cars

Recent Railway Literature

• Narrow Gauge Railways of Ireland
• The 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 locomotives of the (British) War Department 1939 - 1945
• Railway Reminiscences - by T. E. Haughy - retired passenger and Yard Foreman with NZR
• Trains Illustrated

Question Time

• Q. Why are Express trains limited to 20 cars
• A. The NZR Rules stipulate that any train with more than 20 bogie wagons, must not run at a speed greater than that for Mixed and Goods trains

• Q. Why does NZR insist on the Guards van at the back of the train
• A. The NZR Rules state that on trains with the Westinghouse Brake through the whole train, the Van should be the last vehicle

• Q. Why does NZR need to Experiment by converting two locomotives to oil burning, instead of seeking data from other railways.
• A. It was thought it was probably more an economic experiment than a physical one in that it was a conversion rather than a new build

• Q. What was the Balloon Loop at Kirikopuni and why.
• A. It was a diversion off the direct line to Dargaville with a full 180 degree return loop to avoid trains having to set back the 1.5 miles

News Notes and Comment

• Coal Shortage
  • with post war production increases has come greater demand increases
• 'Emergency' Railcar Services.
• Special Rail car trip to Auckland return with Prime Minister
  • Standard Railcar_30 "Aotea"
  • Standard Railcar_31 "Tokomaru"
• H_class_locomotives
  • Design attributed to Mr. J. B. Fell, Implementation attributed to Swedish engineer Mr. H. W. Widmark working with Mr R. F. Alford at the Avonside Engine Company
• Passenger Comfort
  • higher density 2nd class sleepers
  • new 2nd class seats revolving rather than throw-over with central arm-rests
  • New 1st class seats redesigned revolving and reclining mechanisms
• Takapuna Steam Tramway Rolling Stock.
  • Details of car use in Wanganui and Dunedin
• Auckland - Frankton Junction Duplication
  • Post war work has not resumed yet, 31 miles, Paerata - Ohinewai still to construct
• Napier Harbour Board Locomotives
  • ex NZR F_class_loco sold to Ellis & Burnand understood it is to be reboilered
  • Loco_Wa68 being hired from NZR