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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 9 (January 1, 1929)

How Trains Are Operated

How Trains Are Operated.

Let us watch the operation of a train about to negotiate the trip up the “hill.” The practice is for each “Fell” locomotive to be placed at the head of its respective load. When a train arrives at Cross Creek the train engine is detached and the leading “Fell” engine couples on and draws its load up to the commencement of the centre rail, against which the centre engine grip wheels are compressed. The page 39 second engine next couples on to its load and then draws ahead to couple up with the first portion. In like manner a third, or fourth “Fell” engine will be attached to their loads, the requisite number of “Fell” vans placed on the rear of the train, the whole coupled up, the Westinghouse brake tested throughout the train and then the train starts off on its three-mile climb. As the second and successive engines reach the centre rail, the inside engine is put into operation. The speed of trains on the “up” journey is necessarily slow, being five miles per hour. The speed on the downward trip is also, for obvious reasons, curtailed to about ten miles per hour. Close fitting doors and windows are provided on all engines to minimise the discomforts of smoke and exhaust steam when passing through the tunnels. The carriage lamps are lighted during the same period.

At the sound of the gong in the Summit tunnel, the pressure of the gripping wheels is released, the wheels are swung clear and the inside engine ceases operation. After arrival in the Summit yard the “Fell” engines and vans come off the train, which is then made up into one portion, and is ready to continue the journey to Wellington.