ARTESIAN WATER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 256, 27 September 1929, Page 6

ARTESIAN WATER

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT’S

EXPERIENCE.

TERITEA SUPPLY PREFERABLE.

the Railway Department, which “? t ° formerly derived its supply ft 0 ™ Ks own well at Palmerston North, four years ago deciding to draw .. from the borough mams. Information to this effect was given to a&tan dard” reporter by the locomotive tore man, Mr J. Twohill. ohnwn The “Standard” reporter old boiler-tubes, or flue pipes* neaviy crusted with a form of iron compound. It was explained that this clue to the former u£er of artesian water A somewhat similar crust is f° rl “® when the Tiritea supply is used, but in the latter case the crust flakes off and can be removed. As these'tubes, which pass from the fire-box through the boiler, are responsible tor tne formation of the steam,- it can be seen that much of a locomotive’s efficiency is lost when they become thickly coat " ed and consequently harder to neat up. In fact, it was stated that when these hard crusts become too thick an engine will hardly steam at all. When the artesian supply was used it was found necessary to replace these tubes every nine months. Now, with only Tiritea water being used, they are renewed after seven years. The artesian water also had an adverse effect on the plating of the boilers and it was not uncommon for a new boiler to leak after being in use only six weeks. In fact, so great was the wear and tear on boilers that it was not uncommon for there to be three or four boiler-makers in Palmerston North at the one time. Only one boilermaker is attached to the local engine-shed and since the artesian supply was cut out he has been quite easily able to cope with any necessary repairs. Repairs now are in no cases attributable to the quality of water, the reporter was informed. Although the department has to pay the Borough Council a fairly high price for water—ls per thousand gallons—a great saving lias been effected by using the town supply, Mr Twohill stated. In fact, during the busy period at Christmas, when the mains cannot fully supply the needs of the railways, it is found preferable for trains that usually water at Palmerston North to water in the Gorge, at Koputaroa or at Feilding. During January the railway engines at Palmerston North use on the average about 64.000 gallons, this being the peak month, while in August the quantity falls to 48,000 gallons. The well, which formerly supplied the station’s needs, is a fine one on the score of quantity and yielded about 10,000 gallons an hour.