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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 12 (April 1, 1928.)

[section]

The accompanying photographs illustrate a new postal car recently built in the New Zealand Government Railway Workshops at Hillside, to the design of Mr. G. S. Lynde, A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Loco.E., the chief mechanical engineer. The interior was arranged to suit the requirements of the N.Z. Post and Telegraph Department.

The general outside appearance conforms to the existing main line stock in the South Island, being painted Midland Lake and varnished. The body is built of well-seasoned kauri, the framing being braced with diagonal members to prevent working and creaking when in service. The outer vertical sheeting is of 2 × ¾ T. and G. timber and the horizontal sheeting is of 4 × ¾ T. and G.

To ensure the even distribution of the load, the mail sorting table, pigeon-holes, hoppers, etc., are placed in the centre of the car, in the space between two 3ft. 6in. sliding doors on each side. This arrangement allows ample space at either end of the car for storage of mail hampers and bags.

An interior view of the car shewing some of the fittings.

An interior view of the car shewing some of the fittings.

The two doors on each side of the car facilitate the reception and delivery of mail matter at stations. On one side of the sorting space are placed the letter sorting pigeon-holes, comprising seven rows of seventeen receptacles. Each row of pigeon-holes is provided with an octagonal roller, with the names of stations painted thereon. A different set of names is painted on each face of the roller.

A long sorting table is provided, with a stamping pad, running the full length of the pigeonholes. On the other side is located the paper sorting table, with eight mailbag hoppers alongside and with five rows of six pigeon-holes above, these pigeon-holes being provided with similar rollers to those for the letters.

A late fee letter post slip is provided on each side of the car, and the letter-box is placed under the sorting table on either side. A private drawer above each letter-box provides storage for the mail agents' instructions, etc.

At either end of the car are placed six removable stanchions, which enable a passage way to be kept between the stacked hampers and letter-boxes.

The car is provided with a lavatory, accessible by the mail agents at all times, and equipped with a wash basin, mirror, and trapped water hopper. A plentiful supply of water is obtained from a 70 gallon tank carried in the roof above the lavatory. A filter for drinking water is placed in the car, and a fire extinguisher is located within easy reach of the mail agents. The car is well lighted by twelve roof lights of clear glass, fitted with adjustable blinds, and fourteen windows frosted and suitably protected.

Lighting is provided for by Stone's electric installation, a dynamo driven from the trailing bogies supplying two batteries of 12 cells each attached to the underframe. These supply the necessary current for six electric lamps placed in a convenient position over the sorting tables. There is also a light in the centre of the car at each end.

As the postal car is usually run at the back of the train, side and tail lamps are also fitted. Separate switches control each light.

The car is provided with steam heat, a radiator being placed under each sorting table. Ample ventilation is obtained from twenty-one roof ventilators of the standard car pattern.

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The underframe is similar to the underframes used on passenger stock and is built of British standard sections, length 50ft. over headstocks and 52ft. 6in. over buffers. The brake gear is the Westinghouse, with a 10in. horizontal cylinder, and a hand brake is also provided at one end of the car.

The bogies under the postal car have a wheel base of 6ft., the axleboxes are made of cast steel journals 8 × 4 diameter, and the wheels of pressed steel have tyres secured by the “Gibson” ring fastening. The bogie bolster rests on laminated springs and the side movement of the bolster is controlled by coil springs on each side.