Rushing Repairs To Gap In Railway

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1949, Page 7

Rushing Repairs To Gap In Railway

WANGANUI, August 8. Bulldozers, meehanical shovels and angledozers, assembled from various parts of the North Island, are cutting into the face of the feia Iwi bank, where railway engineers are constructing a deviation to overcome the blockage of the main line to New Plymouth caused by an extensive subsidence last Thursday evening. The work is being pushed ahead day and night, the object being to have the line open to traffic again as soon as possible, but the weather will be the determining factor. No forecast ean yet be given as to when the line will be open. The decision . to construct a deviation was made by the engineers after consultation with Mr H. E. Fyfe, senior geologist of the geological survey division. To make the deviation, which will be about 15 jchains in length, it is necessary to cut linto the face of the hill up to a distance of 50 feet from the site of the original permanent way. As the spoi! is excavated it is being dumped iuto the gap left by the subsidence, in places 50 feet deep. Much preparatory work was necessary and plant had to be assembled from various parts of the North Is land. The job is progressing night an>t day, with the men working long shifts. A inobile .lighting plant wa: taken by rail to the scene of the subsidence on Saturday evening. Poles carrying powerful lamps have been erected at the Kai Iwi end of tlu

deviation, power being supplied by a generator. Similar lighting is also being provided at the Maxwell end. The engineers have the job well organised but a eonsiderable amount of work must be done before through traffic is restored. In the meantime, passengers, luggage and mails travol ling by the New Plymouth expresses are still being transhipped by road between Waitotara and Wanganui or ! Aramoho.