New Passenger Locomotives.

Irish rail travel is on the increase, and this growth is most evident on the Great Southern Railway, the big consolidation having its headquarters in Dublin, and operating fast services between that point and Cork. For passenger train haulage over this section, there are being introduced new three-cylinder 4-6-0 fast passenger locomotives, built in the company's shops at Inchicore, and known as the “800” class. The engines have an overall length of 67 ft. 9 in., and a total weight in working order of 135 tons. Cylinders are of 18 ½ inches diameter by 28 in. stroke; heating surface, including superheater, is 2,338 sq. ft.; grate area, 33.5 sq. ft.; working pressure, 225 lbs. per sq. in.; and tractive effort at 85 per cent. boiler pressure, 33,000 lbs. The first of the new locomotives has just been placed in regular traffic, and has been greatly admired. Incidentally, particularly liberal space is allowed the engine crew, the cab actually being 9 ft. wide inside. Other details making for comfort and efficiency are a windscreen wiper on the driver's look-out window, and sliding side windows.