asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what progress has been made in the experimental work of using turf or turf products as a fuel for railway locomotives.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Locomotives: Use of Turf.
C.I.E. propose to construct a number of locomotives capable of burning either turf or oil as soon as a suitable prototype has been developed. I am informed by the Board that work on the development of the prototype is proceeding and that certain mechanical details are now being manufactured in the shops.
May I take it from that reply that, if these locomotives are capable of using either oil or turf as a driving power, as far as possible turf will be used as that driving power in preference to an imported fuel?
That is a separate question.
The Deputy may take it that, if a success can be made of this particular type of locomotive under ordinary operating conditions, it will be part of the fabric of C.I.E. operations.