MECHANICAL WORKSHOPS
31. During the year under review all mechanical equipment and plant was maintained in an efficient state. There were only five cases of train delay due to engine failure and all rolling stock gave practically no trouble.
32. Locomotives. The steam locomotives were very rarely used during the year and practically all traffic was run by the five diesel electric locomotives which functioned with high efficiency and economy. The availability factor of these locomotives for the year was 97.53% and the cost of maintenance dropped down from $0.232 to $0.193 per km. or a decrease of 16.81%. The workshop staff was further reduced from 261 to 246 as the diesel electric locomotives require less maintenance than steam engines.
33. During the year forty seven 5,000-mile inspections, thirteen 10,000-mile inspections and eight 30,000-mile inspections were per- formed on the diesel electric locomotives.
34. Carriages and Wagons. (a) During the year the programme for conversion of wooden bodied carriages to steel was continued. A total of five wooden bodied carriages Nos. 203, 301. 302, 309 and 314 were rebuilt. Although the primary reason for conversion from wooden to steel bodies is the passenger safety factor in the event of accidents, economies are being effected due to the less frequent need for major repairs to the converted carriages.
(b) Carriage No. 312 was given a heavy overhaul. The internal panelling of this carriage was relined with a laminated plastic surface and the floor was renewed with porcelain tiles.
(c) Carriages Nos. 322, 329 and 330 were given a general inspection, minor repairs and repainting.
(d) Flat wagons Nos. 45100 to 45109 and Covered wagons Nos. 45459 and 45491 were repainted.
35. Effect of Rail Lubricators on Tyres of Rolling Stock. Rail lubricators were installed on the sharp curves of the main line track to reduce excessive rail wear caused by diesel electric locomotives. As a result of these installations, the wear on tyres of the locomotives has also been very much reduced. It was found that the tyres of the diesel electric locomotives which, prior to installation of the lubricators had to be turned after running 90,000 miles, were still in good running condition at 120,000 miles and it is estimated that they will run for
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