Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 2 (June 1, 1928)

Tribute to Mechanical Department

Tribute to Mechanical Department.

In looking over the last thirty years or so of the railway industry in the United States, the mechanical division may congratulate itself upon having largely contributed to the achievement of two objectives; first, the railway companies have handled a constantly increasing traffic successfully and to the satisfaction of the shipping public; and, secondly, economy of transportation as a result of mechanical progress has permitted the railway companies to maintain solvency. No finer contribution could be made to any industry than those two objectives which you gentlemen of mechanical science have accomplished in so short a period.

I think sometimes what you have done is insufficiently known, and it is a pleasure to take advantage of this opportunity to pay a well-merited and well-deserved tribute to the mechanical engineers of the railways.

However important mechanical progress may be, however important improved transportation methods may become; however important any activity of any of the railway departments may be, the whole thing, and all of the efforts of any department is subordinate to one single fundamental fact, which is the genesis of the railway business, and that is getting the traffic.

A well-handled train, a skilful engineman, a polite conductor, a good dining car service, all of these things contribute to getting traffic, and I claim that every officer and every employee of a railway can contribute something in the course of the year either directly or indirectly to attract traffic to the railway.

Your function as mechanical engineers is to provide a constantly improving power, to maintain your power and equipment in a serviceable condition with minimum cost, but back of all that is getting the business.

page 49
”Her voice was soft, gentle and low …“—Shakespeare. (A. A. Eoult, Photo.) Guide “Rangi,” one of the charming Maori guides at Rotorua.

Her voice was soft, gentle and low …“—Shakespeare.
(A. A. Eoult, Photo.)
Guide “Rangi,” one of the charming Maori guides at Rotorua.