bridge No. 11, in order to sustain a high level of locomotive utilization, tem- porary arrangements were made to perform all examinations and servicing at night. Maintenance cost rose from $1.386 per km. in the previous year to $1.684 per km. The increase was the result of the increased cost of spare parts due to inflation. To cope with the increasing volume of passenger and freight traffic, two more locomotives and one spare locomotive bogie ordered the previous year arrived in Hong Kong on 11th March, 1977. After passing through commissioning tests and track runs, the two locomotives were released to service on 14th March, 1977.
77.
The average consumption of diesel oil was 3.74 kg. per engine km. compared with 3.52 kg. per engine km. in the previous year, reflecting the heavier weight of trains. The total average cost of maintenance and oil con- sumption per locomotive km. was $4.07 compared with $3.72 in the previous year.
78.
Carriages and wagons
Availability of carriages was 89.93% com- pared with 88.13% in the previous year and the maintenance cost per passenger coach km. $0.331 compared with $0.305 in 1975/76. Again the higher mainten- ance cost was mainly the result of inflation. Four first class passenger carriages were equipped with air conditioning and released into service on 7th February, 1977. Two spare passenger carriage bogies ordered from Japan last year arrived on 3rd February, 1977. Two more covered wagons were con- verted into brake vans for the Traffic Section. A public address system on trains and advertisements in carriages were introduced in this year. Modi- fication of 40 Japanese coach alternators was completed early in the year increasing output from 70 to 95 amperes.
79.
Plant and Equipment In order to cope with the increase in work load in the Workshops, minor improvements, including the construction of a spray painting room, sand blasting room and cleaning pit were started and should be completed in the year 1977/78.
80.
An order was placed last year for a new wheel lathe from the United Kingdom to replace the existing lathe which had reached the end of its useful life and was beyond economic repair. The new lathe which has a higher turning speed will enable wheels to be profiled in about one-eight the time of the existing lathe. As the number of trains increases, wheels will wear at a higher rate and need re-profiling with higher frequency in order not to endanger the safety of trains. The wheel lathe was scheduled to be delivered in 1976, but delivery was delayed to 1977/78. Because of the introduction of the metric system, one of the existing lathes was converted from imperial to metric sizes and a new metric lathe was ordered for delivery by the middle of 1977.
81.
Additional electric lights were installed by the Workshops at Lo Wu as part of the station improvement, Tai Po Kau passenger waiting shelter, Hung Hom Lorry Holding Area and Fo Tan Goods Yard. Under the supervision of a service engineer from the Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. of the United Kingdom, the Workshops Section Provided assistance in the installation of a signalling system at Fo Tan sidings. This project was expected to be com- pleted in early 1977/78. Building services items within railway premises, plant and equipment were maintained to a good standard during the year.
Work done for other Government Departments included manufacturing
82.
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