68. The comparative statistics given in this report are of little value, owing to the over-riding influence of the Sino-Japanese conflict.
IV. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
69. All locomotives, carriages, and wagons were maintained in as good working order and repair as the funds available and the exigencies of traffic allowed.
70. The workshops were employed to their fullest capacity throughout the year. The staff were worked at high pressure and responded most loyally to all demands made upon them.
71. Considerable work was undertaken on behalf of the Canton-Hankow Railway. Four locomotive travelling cranes, and eighty 40-ton all-steel wagons were erected, tested and handed over. Five tender locomotives, thirty-one wagons, and one 30-ton travelling crane were either rebuilt or completely overhauled. To enable this work to be performed, it was necessary to convert the painting shop into an additional machine shop, the requisite machines being loaned by the Canton-Hankow Railway.
72. British Section locomotives continued to haul the through mixed trains between Kowloon and Canton. To minimise the risk of attack from hostile aircraft, the departure from Kowloon was delayed until late in the evening, and the return journey from Canton was commenced in the early hours of the subsequent day. In spite of these precautions, the trains were bombed and machine-gunned occasionally. The two main attacks took place on January 24th and June 9th, and caused damage to the extent of approximately $4,500 to two British locomotives and four wagons. In addition, one wagon is believed to have been totally destroyed.
73. A "B" class locomotive damaged during the latter raid was repaired and subsequently painted black with red side rods and gold monograms. This was done to save time. This new style of painting so enhanced the appearance of the engine that it was decided to standardize the method. Another advantage was the saving in money involved.
74. Owing to the demands of traffic, it was impossible to shop any of the "A" class locomotives for complete overhaul. Reasonably satisfactory maintenance was secured by making full use of the three spare boilers which the Section was fortunate enough to possess. By this means no engine was out of commission for more than two days.
75. Two new copper fireboxes for "B" class locomotives, which arrived from England at the end of last year, were fitted into their boilers, one in January and the other in April. In July, the 13 years old boiler of the remaining engine developed a crack in its firebox tube-plate, and the locomotive had to be withdrawn from the service to await the arrival of a new superheated boiler which, although ordered from England early in January, had not been despatched by the end of the year. The fitting of this unit will complete the re-boilering programme, after which it is proposed to renew the damaged fireboxes of the two surplus boilers and keep them as replacement spares.
76. As the result of the collision between an up special goods train and a down local passenger train, to which reference has already been made in paragraphs 15 and 42 of this report, two "A" class engines, one first-class all-steel carriage, one second-class wooden carriage and one 40-ton covered goods wagon were badly damaged. The steel coach was telescoped to a far greater extent than the wooden one. The damaged stock was rebuilt before the end of the year, invaluable assistance being rendered by the Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company in straightening and annealing the main plate frames.
$ 16
68. The comparative statistics given in this report are of little value, owing to the over-riding influence of the Sino-Japanese conflict.
IV. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
69. All locomotives, carriages, and wagons were maintained in as good working order and repair as the funds available and the exigencies of traffic
allowed.
་
70. The workshops were employed to their fullest capacity throughout the year.
The staff were worked at high pressure and responded most loyally to all demands made upon them.
71. Considerable work was undertaken on behalf of the Canton-Hankow Railway. Four locomotive travelling cranes, and eighty 40-ton all-steel wagons were erected, tested and handed over. Five tender locomotives, thirty-one wagons, and one 30-ton travelling crane were either rebuilt or completely over- hauled. To enable this work to be performed, it was necessary to convert the painting shop into an additional machine shop, the requisite machines being loaned by the Canton-Hankow Railway.
72. British Section locomotives continued to haul the through mixed trains between Kowloon and Canton. To minimise the risk of attack from hostile aircraft, the departure from Kowloon was delayed until late in the evening, and the return journey from Canton was commenced in the early hours of the subsequent day. In spite of these precautions, the trains were bombed and machine-gunned occasionally. The two main attacks took place on January 24tlı and June 9th, and caused damage to the extent of approximately $4,500 to two British locomotives and four wagons. In addition, one wagon is believed to have been totally destroyed.
73. A "B" class locomotive damaged during the latter raid was repaired and subsequently painted black with red side rods and gold monograms. This was done to save time. This new style of painting so enhanced the appearance of the engine that it was decided to standardize the method. Another advantage was the saving in money involved.
74. Owing to the demands of traffic, it was impossible to shop any of the "A" class locomotives for complete overhaul. Reasonably satisfactory main- tenance was secured by making full use of the three spare boilers which the Section was fortunate enough to possess. By this means no engine was out of commission for more than two days.
75. Two new copper fireboxes for "B" class locomotives, which arrived from England at the end of last year, were fitted into their boilers, one in January. and the other in April. In July, the 13 years old boiler of the remaining engine developed a crack in its firebox tube-plate, and the locomotive had to be withdrawn from the service to await the arrival of a new superheated boiler which, although ordered from England early in January, had not been despatched by the end of the year. The fitting of this unit will complete the re-boilering programme, after which it is proposed to renew the damaged fireboxes of the two surplus boilers and keep them as replacement spares.
76. As the result of the collision between an up special goods train and a down local passenger train, to which reference has already been made in paragraphs 15 and 42 of this report, two "A" class engines, one first-class all- steel carriage, one second-class wooden carriage and one 40-ton covered goods wagon were badly damaged. The steel coach was telescoped to a far greater extent than the wooden one. The damaged stock was rebuilt before the end of the year, invaluable assistance being rendered by the Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company in straightening and annealing the main plate frames.
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