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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 2 (June, 1926)

Mobility Of Freight And Rolling Stock

Mobility Of Freight And Rolling Stock.

There is much necessity for scientific organisation in the control of wagon stock. Many railway work under a system of control from one central office which enables the central control officer to visualise the whole transport system. The advantage of this is that the wagon supply is common to the whole service instead of being to a greater or less extent allocated to particular portions thereof. The returns rendered enable the central control officer to know where all the stock is and how it is being used and moved. He is thereby in a position to divert stock quickly from an area where business is slack to another where it is brisk. In this country there is only a modified system of central control. The wagon stock is allocated to the various traffic districts which work together and help each other as far as the rolling stock allows; but the whole equipment is under the control of the Divisional Superintendent for the Island, who has authority to divert the rolling-stock as required.

In this country the traffic is usually heavy during the busy season in all districts at about the same time. The trend of traffic generally enables standing orders to be issued to work empties that are spare to places where loads are obtainable and in this way the necessity for the issue of daily directions is avoided. It is sometimes found possible to assist one district by advancing rolling stock from another; but it is not often found to be expedient to do this with large numbers of wagons unless the position is exceptional or back loading is offering. The want of a thoroughly up to date system of communication makes the full central control system impossible at present. The matter of installing the necessary telephone system is now, however, under thorough investigation by qualified officers of the Railway and Telegraph Departments.