A Veteran Railwayman Passes.

Michael Travers, late enginedriver N.Z.R., passed away at Woodville on 15th January, aged 71 years. He retired from active service in August, 1916. The passing of this veteran railwayman calls to mind an incident of his railway-career some forty-five years ago. On that occasion he was firing one of the T class engines of which W. Ames was driver on the 2 p.m. goods from Dunedin to Balclutha. In those days (the early 'eighties) the Dunedin Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway was in operation and the junction of this line with the main line was in the vicinity of the Anderson's Bay Road, which then crossed the railway on the level. The crossing-keeper also attended the junction points.

On the day in question the points had not been locked after being used by the previous branch train, and the engine of the 2 p.m. goods left the rails and rolled off the bank into the harbour, with the fireman underneath. Fortunately the tide was out and “Mick” was able to crawl out unhurt, but he had a close call.

* * *

A New Safety Device for Railway Crossings.

The treadmill was an early invention to force the victim to keep on walking without getting any further. So, for theatrical effects, horses and men may be sent running at full speed on the stage but still stay within sight of the audience. The effect is produced by the portion of the stage on which the running is done itself moving (in the opposite direction), at practically the same speed as the runners, so that relatively to the rest of the stage, and to the audience, they remain in the same place. The same principle has, we learn from an exchange, been applied in an American invention to prevent motor cars from passing over railway crossings when a train is approaching.

Rollers are sunk in the pavement of the road. They extend all the way across the road in front of the crossing gate and are rotated backwards. A car standing on them then continues to stand, even when its wheels are revolving, as the part of the roller on which the wheels grip simply turns backwards away from the crossing gate. A roller platform, 18 feet in length, is fixed on each side of the crossing, tests having shown this length to be sufficiently effective.

The idea of the invention is that the rollers are to be actuated by machinery for an adequate period before the approach of a train, so as to prevent reckless drivers, as well as runaway cars, from crossing the line. In its fullest development, the approaching train itself is intended to switch on the current, and also to operate the locking switch on passing out of the danger zone.

* * *

Closing the Gap in the Bay of Plenty Line.

The Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth Co., Ltd., contractors for the railway construction work in progress in the Bay of Plenty, announce that the section of line (fifteen miles in length) from Tahawai to Te Puna, has been completed. The Public Works Department assumes control of the new section forthwith.

The completion of this length of line gives through rail communication between Waihi and Taneatua, thus adding a further 85 miles of permanent way to the Auckland Railway District and placing Auckland and Taneatua in direct rail contact. The speedier transport of produce to Auckland which the new railway provides in this fertile part of the Bay of Plenty gives the farming community special cause for gratification.

* * *

A Super-Speed Train.

A committee of European railway experts to whom plans were recently submitted of an elevated super-speed train composed of cigar-shaped coaches and capable of attaining a speed of 200 miles per hour, reported favourably upon this new development in rail transport.

The super-speed train is to be driven by a propeller, the motive power for which is derived from a Diesel motor.