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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 3 (July 1, 1927)

Current Comments

page 17

Current Comments

Abolition of Tipping.

Tipping, a practice which-by creating a false sense of values-tends to demoralise both those who give and those who take money in this way, has been rendered illegal in many instances during recent years. The latest advice of action in this direction comes from New South Wales, where a by-law has just been passed providing that no person shall give or offer a tip to any railway employee, under a penalty of £2.

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A Great Speed Record.

The recent rebuilding (in the locomotive erecting shops at Fordson, U. S. A.) of one of the “Atlantic” type locomotives, calls to mind a remarkable speed performance of one of these engines-the famous “999”—which attained the record speed of 112.5 mils per hour. This speed performance was established over the Mohawk Division of the New York Central in 1900, and has never been exceeded (by engines of this type). Many of these engines are still in use and give most satisfactory service-especially on express runs where high speed is such an important factor.

The highest recorded speed attained on our own railways was established in 1892, when, during an experimental trip on the Wellington-Manawatu line, 64 miles per hour was registered. The engine used on this occasion was one of the class N. “Baldwin” types. This is said to be the highest speed ever attained on a 3ft. 6in. gauge railway anywhere in the world.

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Interlocking Completed.

The Department has completed the installation of power interlocking at Whangarei, Paerata, Papakura, and Stillwater stations, together with the provision of three-position colour light signals at each place. The interlocking for these installations is controlled from the station office, thus avoiding the necessity for employing a special signalling staff.

Advance New Zealand.

Many years ago a distinguished American (John Fiske) described New Zealand as the “Land of eternal spring.” Now, if what another distinguished American says of our country is true (and he proved it statistically), New Zealand can also be described as the “Land of longevity.” Speaking at the recent convention of the American Public Health Association, Professor Irving Fisher of Yale University, said that the expectation of life in New Zealand (for women) was as high as 65 years-a figure which the speaker said may be reached in the United States in 1940. The expectation of life for men in New Zealand he said was 62¾ years. These figures give New Zealand the longest life expectation of any country in the world.

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A Mechanical Track Layer.

A machine which is destined to play an important part in the repair of railway track (and in the construction of new track) has recently been introduced on the Home railways. It is called a “track layer,” and in laying track consisting of 45ft. rails, a speed of from 120 to 150 yds. per hour of complete track laid has been successfully accomplished by the new machine. The track is assembled in sections at a central workshop, from which it is transported on flat cars to the required location. The sections of rail are then lifted by means of an overhead trolley (designed to travel on runners along the side of the car) and carried forward to the “track layer” by which it is lowered into place. The new machines can also be employed for pulling up track.

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Weighing Locomotives.

Among the equipment of the locomotive sheds at King's Cross, London, is a device (of British design) for weighing locomotives. The device is in the form of a hydraulic jack which is placed in turn under each wheel of the locomotive it is desired to weigh, the weights obtained then being added together.