Rimutaka Tunnel Awaits Machinery

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1948, Page 6

Rimutaka Tunnel Awaits Machinery

'•Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 21. In a statement outliniug tlie progTesrf made vvitli the Rimutaka railway tunnel scheme, the Minister 'of Works, Air. Semple, said tliat thougli sofne phases o'f the scheine are held up pending delivery of essential equipment "such as l)ig «compressors and generators from Great Eritain, the project as a whole was being steadily udvanced. The route from the Wairarapa" to the JELutu Valley, part of whieh had been reeentlv revised, had now been linally fixed. A deeision had first been reaclied on the loeation of the Wairarapa portai. It lav in a gully leading from Pigeon Bush. The area rpund the 'exit was now in an advanccd state of preparation for piereing. Arrangements had been made. with the Del'ence Department to hoime the workmen in Featherston Camp, as. llat sites nearer the tunnel were liable to winds sLrong emough to blow a train oll' tlie liue, niucli less upset a work man's shaek. The portai 011 the Wellington side had also been lixed at the nprthern end of Alangaroa Valley. As linally determined the leiigth of the tunnel would be 5 miles 36 ehains, the longest in New Zealand, being about 400 yards ■more thun the Otira uinnel. By the time the deeision 011 the west ern portai was arrived at, winter was setting in but in spite of bog up 1o their knees in places, men were put on at onre to provide aeeess and cunip sites. ■ Prefabrieated buildings were stacked ready for the carpenters while suivevs and preparatory work was pro eeeding. Mr. Semple said a close study was being made of . tlu; most modern niethods to be employed in driving the tunnel, us the resulf of tunnelling researeh. A list of tlie necessarv equip nient had been •irrived at and teudei's had alreadv been plaecd both in Nen Zealand timi Lugland, witli a minimun. amount from doliar countries! Wheu all the equipment was on liaml, the tui: nelling woubl proeeed on a new teidmique. Instead of working the facc from a small jijlot lieading, an attempt would be made to drive 011 the full faciat once.