XN000022-1977-03-08 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1977

SHIPMENT OF TWO LOCOMOTIVES DUE ON FRIDAY

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A SHIPMENT OF TWO NEW DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ON FRIDAY (MARCH 11).

THE AMERICAN-MADE LOCOMOTIVES WILL BE UNLOADED IN THE HARBOUR AND TRANSPORTED BY A BARGE TO THE KOWLOON TERMINUS (HUNG HOM) FROM WHERE A FLOATING CRANE WILL BE USED TO LIFT THEM TO THE RAILWAY SIDING.

THE LOCOMOTIVES, EACH OF WHICH IS OF 2,000 HORSE POWER, ARE GENERALLY SIMILAR TO THE LAST LOCOMOTIVE BOUGHT FROM THE SAME AMERICAN MANUFACTURER IN 1974. THEY WILL TAKE OVER THE ROLE OF THE TWO DIESEL ONES PURCHASED IN 1954.

THE GENERAL MANAGER OF KCR, MR, REGINALD GREGORY, SAID THE NEW LOCOMOTIVES WOULD HAVE A MORE SPACIOUS CABIN FOR THE DRIVING CREW AND THE FACILITY OF ENABLING A DRIVER OF ONE UNIT TO CONTROL THE SECOND.

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THEY HAD BIGGER FUEL TANKS AND FASTER ACCELERATION.

+THEIR WEIGHT HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 98 TONS TO ENSURE THAT THE GREATEST PROPORTION OF THE AVAILABLE HORSE POWER OF THE LOCOMOTIVES CAN BE USED UNDER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, HE POINTED OUT.

HE ADDED THAT TO IMPROVE THE UTILISATION OF THE LOCOMOTIVES, AND THOSE OF A SIMILAR TYPE, A SPARE BOGIE WAS ALSO BEING SUPPLIED WHICH WOULD ENABLE REPAIRS TO TAKE PLACE ON A UNIT EXCHANGE BASIS AND SO REDUCE THE TIME A LOCOMOTIVE NEEDS TO BE OUT OF ACTION UNDER REPAIR.

MR. GREGORY SAID AFTER THE UNITS HAD LANDED AT THE TERMINUS, THEY WOULD BE TAKEN TO THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS AT HO TUNG LAU AND WOULD BE CHECKED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLETE AND SAFE TO OPERATE AND, AFTER A FEW DAYS TRIAL RUNNING IN NORMAL SERVICE, WILL BE MORE FULLY INTRODUCED INTO OPERATION WHEN A NEW TIMETABLE IS INTRODUCED LATER THIS MONTH.+

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE DELIVERY OF THE LOCOMOTIVES. HOWEVER, THEY SHOULD FIRST TELEPHONE THE STATION MASTER (TEL. 3-646321 EXT. 234) ON THAT DAY (MARCH 11) TO FIND OUT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE DELIVERY.

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