.jpg)
The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 12 (April 1, 1930)
Economy in Light Power Units
Economy in Light Power Units.
It is a trifle curious that at a time when railways the world over are seeking to turn out bigger and more powerful locomotives for main line working, there should also be proceeding a very serious search for an efficient light haulage unit for branch line operation. Light page 22 power units such as steam rail-cars offer great prospects for efficient and economical operation on lines of low traffic density, and as time goes by, light rail-cars will be increasingly employed by railways everywhere.
The Home Railways employ considerable numbers of rail-cars. The L. and N.E. system has in service 44 Sentinel-Canmell steam rail-cars, 11 Clayton steam rail-cars, and one petrol rail-car. Steam rail-cars on this system are worked by a driver and fireman, no guard being carried. They attain a maximum speed of 40 miles an hour, and their average fuel consumption works out at between 12lbs. and 13lbs.
.jpg)
per mile. The L.M. and S. Railway has 13 Sentinel-Cammell steam rail-cars in branch line working. On the Great Western system there are 39 steam rail-cars in regular employment, and, in addition, 75 steam auto-trains are run. These auto-trains consist of a small tank locomotive, with one or more passenger carriages attached at either end, the arrangement being such that, without turning, the train may be driven in either direction.
Britain'S Biggest Passenger Locomotive.
The powerful new 4-6-4 type of Express locomotive (described in the letterpress) of the London and North Eastern Railway.