There can be no question of the success of the new “K” locomotives recently introduced on the New Zealand Railways. Three of these locomotives are now in service and are doing everything that is asked of them. One of these locomotives, stationed at Auckland, works the most important goods trains of the North Island (these are the through goods trains which run between Auckland and Wellington) over the section between Auckland and Frankton, regularly. Another works goods and mixed trains on the Frankton-Te Kuiti run. The third is operating in the Middle District. These locomotives are hauling loads approximately 50 per cent. greater than the general purpose engines which formerly ran these trains. They are not only hauling this extra tonnage, but, due to the greater boiler capacity, are also capable of travelling with these loads at a more uniform speed, and this advantage has on occasion saved delays by enabling better time to be kept.

The reports from the Road Foreman and others directly handling the locomotives state that the performance of the new “K's” is very satisfactory, and this opinion is supported by both the Traffic Managers (who are responsible for the traffic operations) in the districts through which these locomotives work, and also by the Locomotive Engineer (responsible for the locomotive operation).

It is also to be noted that these additional advantages are all being gained by the new “K” class engines with a fuel consumption no greater per unit hauled than that of locomotives hauling a lighter load, and in this respect the “K's” compare more than favourably with older types of locomotives.

The Department is so satisfied with the performance of the new locomotives already in use that as soon as a sufficient number of them are available for express services they will be used on a number of the principal trains of the Dominion, thus cutting out many banking engines, with a corresponding reduction in operating costs.

The “K” was designed for all classes of work, and to operate at the highest permissible speed.

The Railway Workshops in the Hutt Valley are well ahead with constructing the remaining twenty-seven of the order for this powerful locomotive.