D.—2

XV

Locomotive. Mr. A. L. Beattie, Chief Mechanical Engineer, reports as follows : — The engines, rolling-stock, plant, machinery, and appliances have been maintained in thoroughly efficient working-order, the details of work done and in hand being as follows : — Locomotives. —The number of engines in service on Ist April, 1909, was 452, and the number on 31st March, 1910, was 465. Fourteen new engines were added to stock, and one tank engine was sold to Westport Harbour Board. Of the fourteen new engines added to the stock, six were built in the Government Railway Workshops, and comprised four Class X, 94-ton tender engines, four-cylinder " balanced-compound " type, specially designed and built for the North Island Main Trunk line, and two Class Wf heavy tank engines ; eight Class A, 72-ton tender engines, four-cylinder " balancedcompound " type, were completed under the contract with Messrs. A. and G. Price (Limited), of Thames. In the Government Railway Workshops to date 79 engines have been built, and 24 old locomotives have been rebuilt to more modern types. Five hundred and eighty-nine locomotives passed through the workshops during the year, details being as under : —

Included in above are eight engines for Public Works Department. At close of year there were under construction in the Government Railway workshops two Class X 94-ton tender engines, four-cylinder " balanced-compound " type, ten heavy tender engines, and twenty large tank engines. During the year a contract was entered into with Messrs. A. and G. Price (Limited), of Thames, to construct ten large engines and tenders complete of the four-cylinder " balanced-compound " type, so that altogether there were in hand at the close of year forty-two new locomotive engines. During the year the contract entered into with Messrs. A. and G. Price (Limited), of Thames, to construct twenty Class A, 72-ton tender engines, four-cylinder " balanced-compound " type, was completed, and the engines delivered, being in every respect up to specification. The new locomotives added, together with boiler-renewals, increased the total tractive power by 297,384 lb., equal to 5-77 per cent. ; the new engines building and boilers under construction will, when completed, still further largely augment the tractive power. Boilers. —The work on new boilers, renewals, and boiler-repairs has been kept well up to date. Thirteen new locomotive boilers were completed. The following are details of boiler-work : —

Forty - three new boilers are under construction, comprising 10 Class B, 3 Class D, 3 Class F, 1 Class J, 2 Class P, 3 Class R, 1 Class S, and 20 Class Wo. Carriages. —The car-stock on Ist April, 1909, consisted of 1,116 cars, and on 31st March, 1910, was 1,140 cars. Two cars were destroyed by a fire at Fairlie Station, and were replaced with two new cars, and twenty-four new cars were built and added to stock. Equipping cars with lavatory accommodation, cushioned seats in second-class compartments, and platform gates and gangways has made satisfactory progress during the year, the work being carried out as required.

Number and Type. Particulars. cyHnder " Articu- Pai "Balanced- Tender Tank PeU compound" Engines. | P m M ™T. Engines. Engines. Tender _ ianK Sinele Engines. Bn 8 Ines - blDgle ' J I :lieS - Total. Double. lumber passed through shops Juilt new ie-erected 'horoughly overhauled leavy repairs light repairs 'ainted and varnished 'ouched up 48 4 4 5 21 14 4 13 207 60 55 92 40 67 2 1 1 299 2 3 50 85 159 53 40 6 5 1 24 5 11 8 6 7 3 589 6 7 120 181 275 103 127

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