asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when work on the design and construction of a turf-powered locomotive was begun; what progress has been made so far; and when it may be expected that such locomotives will be put in service by C.I.E.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turf-powered Locomotives.
I am informed by C.I.E. that preliminary investigations in connection with a locomotive which would be capable of burning either turf or oil began early in 1950 and actual construction work in November, 1951. When completed and tried on rails, however, the turf-burning locomotive proved to be unsatisfactory. Based on the experience gained by the first experiment, design work was commenced again at the end of 1953 and is now more than half completed. As design and construction are running concurrently, it is not possible to indicate precisely when work will be completed, but I understand that it is hoped to have a prototype constructed by the end of the present year. C.I.E. consider that when completed, it will take at least a year in trials to ascertain whether or not it would be suitable as a locomotive for ordinary working.
Would the Minister let us know whether or not the emphasis is on the utilisation of turf for the propulsion of the locomotive?
The general intention was to operate it on oil and use it for particular traffic such as the carriage of beet and the working of live-stock specials. Only in emergency cases was it contemplated to use turf.
Was it ever the intention to make this locomotive suited to the use of turf alone?
The experiment in this case was designed to propel the locomotive with turf or oil.
That is the danger ous thing about it.
That is the problem being investigated at the moment.
So it will work on oil or turf.