MIDDLETON YARDS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 13

MIDDLETON YARDS

UNFAMILIAR OPERATIONS.

GOODS TRAINS DELAYED. Chiefly owing to the fact that the men employed at the Middleton railway marshalling yards are not familiar with the work, there was a delay at three hours yesterday morning in dealing with goods trains. No inconvenience was caused to passenger traffic. The yards were opened for traffic on Monday, but it was not till the evening that the full weight of the traffic was experienced. Working all night, the men handled between 500 and GOO waggons, which Mr H. Chapman, the District Traffic Manager, says is a big load when the men were not used to the new system. As time goes on and the men become better acquainted with the method and operation the yards will be worked more speedily. The 'greatest delay yesterday was in the running of the 4.45 a.m. north train from Addington, which did not get away till about 10 a.m. The goods trains for Springfield, _ Ashburton, Timaru, Culverden, Kaiapoi, and Little River also were delayed. The 3.10 a.m. for Timaru left at 4.45, and the 6.20 a.m. for Springfield about 9 a.m.

Passenger trains were kept up to time, except where delay in the goods service occurred, by altering the crossing stations. The passenger trains' crossings were altered to conform with the late running of the goods trains. The congestion was relieved by 11 a.m., but the goods trains were late last night on their return.