Palmerston North Electric Power Station Inc.

Destruction of the National Engines

The three National engines were finally disposed of in late 1953 and early 1954, with Percy Foot, of Palmerston North, receiving the contract to undertake this work. This sad photo, taken on Monday, 4 January 1954, shows the crankcase from one of these engines on Percy Foot's truck outside his College Street home. We estimate that since then the metal concerned has probably travelled back and forth between New Zealand and Japan several times over, in various generations of Japanese cars.

This photo was supplied by his son Noel Foot, who has been involved with PNEPS since its beginnings.

Last updated: 12/6/2001