New Type of Car for the Main Trunk

The Chief Mechanical Engineer (Mr. G. S. Lynde) is now engaged upon the final details of a new type of car for the Main Trunk. This car, with its handsome outline and generous spaciousness, promises to provide the ideal of comfort and luxury for day travel.

It is 50 feet long and has seating accommodation for 27 passengers. Mr. Lynde states that he has sacrificed three seats, as compared with the existing Main Trunk car, to give more luxurious accommodation for the travelling public.

There are 10 of these new type cars to be built, seven non-smokers and three smokers, seven for the North Island and three for the South Island. The non-smoking cars have lavatories at either end, one for ladies and one for gentlemen, and will be equipped with hot and cold water.

The car windows are of the frameless balanced type, opening from the top to the bottom, as opposed to our existing windows, which open from the bottom towards the top.

Above the balanced window is a sliding glass ventilator, and immediately above the sliding glass ventilator is the M.M. air extractor. The car will be sheathed with Vitron enamel steel sheathing, which is in accordance with the very latest practice. With this sheathing there is no painting or varnishing required. The Department's crest will be burnt into the enamel, also the class and smoking or non-smoking signs, as the case may be.

The platform doors open inwards, and, as will be seen from the plan, additional doors are placed at the entrance to the car inside so that draughts will be eliminated. The car is of the totally enclosed type, having vestibule ends through which passengers may pass to the next car without suffering any discomfort. The car will be fitted with

Plan of the New Type of Car which is Described above.

Stone's electric light and fans and electric water raising apparatus, the water capacity being 150 gallons. The water is carried on the underframe (a system which lowers the centre of gravity) as opposed to carrying the water in the roof. The underframe is of the solid trussed type, the truss rods being of 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 1/2 angle iron, and, in consequence, there will be no turn buckles for adjusting, the camber in the car being permanent. It is proposed to place under the car “Gibbins” type patent bogies. As will be seen from the illustration, these have long laminated springs as opposed to the coil springs, and it is claimed that these bogies will give far better riding qualities than the “bar” type, which has been our standard practice for years. In designing the underfram of this car care is being taken so that should it be decided in the future to apply automatic couplers, this could be done without any structural alteration. Although the seat shown in the diagram is similar in style to that of the present first-class seat, it will be more comfortable, and will be covered with our standard Moquette instead of the American leather in use.

The car will be steam-heated on the atmospheric principle. This will be controlled at four different places at the will of the passengers in the car. The advantage of the atmospheric system is that it will enable an equal distribution of heat to all parts of the train. In the three smoking cars a coupe has been provided, which will accommodate four passengers. This coupe is most generously designed and will give the maximum of comfort and luxury. It should prove a boon to the public who wish to engage a small compartment of the sort for private parties.