MECHANICAL WORKSHOPS
35. During the year under review, the railway workshops move from Hung Hom to Ho Tung Lau, Sha Tin and a new locomotiv running shed, together with a temporary carriage washing shed, wer provided at Hung Hom. The new locomotive running shed commence operation on 3rd June, 1968. The transfer of the workshops from Hun Hom to Sha Tin was carried out in 8 stages, commencing on 1st Jul and ending on 19th August, 1968.
36. All locomotives, rolling stock, electrical and mechanical equif ment, machinery and plant have been maintained to a good standar1 during the year.
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37. Locomotives. Forty-two 5,000 mile inspections, twenty-nin 10,000 mile inspections, seven 30,000 mile inspections, five 120,00 mile inspections and one 480,000 mile inspection were performed o the nine diesel-electric locomotives. The engine lower bearings an1 thrust collar of locomotive No. 52 were renewed. Twenty-four tractio motors were overhauled. Locomotive Nos. 54, 55, 56 and 58 had thei wheels turned and the wheels of locomotive No. 53 were renewed The harmonic balancers of locomotives No. 51 and No. 54 wer rebuilt with new spring packs. Locomotive No. 54 had its auxiliar drive gear renewed and air compressor overhauled. The chrome-platei cylinder liners fitted to locomotive No. 58 in the previous year corl tinued to render satisfactory service. Preliminary investigations reveale1 that the rate of wear on the chrome-plated liners, which had been use for 17 months, was much lower than that on the ordinary cast-iron one:
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38. The availability factor of the diesel locomotives was 83.96 compared with 90.47% in the previous year. The decrease was mainl attributable to the very heavy maintenance and repair work falling due, causing locomotives to be withdrawn from service for longe periods. During the transfer of the railway workshops from Hung Hom to Sha Tin some major repair work was held up during the re assembling of the heavy machinery. This lengthened the periods c repair for some locomotives and formed a secondary cause for lowerin the availability factor. In spite of the heavy work load coupled with the difficulties arising from the removal of the workshops, adequatɩ motive power was made available at all times during the year to copf with traffic requirements through careful planning and improved contra of work schedules.
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