48. There was little change in the repair cost of diesel locomotives per km. which was $0.159 per loco. kilometre as against $0.157 per loco. kilometre of the previous year.
49. The repair cost of coal and oil-burning locomotives was abnormally high this year. The considerable increase in repair cost was partly due to an additional expenditure of $180,000 for complete reconstruction of two boilers by Messrs. Taikoo Dock & Engineering Company and partly due to less mileage being operated by these locomotives.
50. Carriages and Wagons. In addition to routine mainte- nance, the following items were the more important work done on carriages and wagons:-
(a) Carriage No. 316 was given a major overhaul. Seven carriages Nos. 203, 100, 310, 205, 305, 308 and 319 received a medium repair.
(b) The floor width of two further flat wagons were widened to facilitate the transportation of tanks for Land Forces. (c) Sixteen carriages Nos. 319, 308, 305, 316, 205, 310, 100, 203, 327, 207, 328, 208, 329, 330, 331 and 302, two covered wagons Nos. 45444 and 45474 and one brake van No. 20450 were repainted (The number of carriages repainted amounted to one third of the total passenger rolling stock).
(d) The roofs of 43 covered wagons were repainted. (e) Carriages Nos. 317 and 106 were rebuilt to second class carriages by contractors and renumbered 207 and 208 respectively.
(f) A cattle wagon No. 45150 was constructed under special
expenditure for the transportation of horses.
51. Work Done for Other Government Departments. A great amount of work was done for other departments of Government:-
(a) The manufacture of 500 gallon hot water cylinders; one 1,500 gallon petrol storage tank, pulley sets, gear wheels and pinions; the machining of cast iron branches, bends, cylinders and roller bearings; and the painting of 26 dropside lorries for the Public Works Department. (b) Repair of 125 wheel barrows and 75 pickaxes for the
Resettlement Department.
9