PUKERUA BAY SLIP

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 256, 28 July 1942, Page 3

PUKERUA BAY SLIP

New Location For Railway Tracks The slip which has held up traffic on the Main Trunk railway line at Pukerun Bay is described as the worst which has ever occurred in this locality, from the point of view of its general effect. The ground, of wet sand and clay, kept soft by spring's, is very unstable. The position became worse during Sunday night', and the proposal to put in a temporary lino had to be abandoned. The permanent way is being movhd back 40 or 50 feet from its previous location. i Four bulldozers and a large team of men are working 24 hours a day to move the rail tracks back to firmer foundations, but normal traffic over the lint* is not likely to be restored before Thursday, and transhipments of express passengers will continue in the meantime, with some delays to schedules. The Wairarapa line is carrying heavy goods traffic. Though the main coastal road at Pukerua Bay is now open again after being blocked by the slip which left the railway lines suspended above, extreme care is necessary in negotiating it at this point, and a man is in charge to direct. traffic, reports the Wellington Automobile Association.

WAGONS DERAILED Railway Mishap North Of Marton Dominion Special Service. AV AN GAN UI, July 27. Seven wagons attached to a southbound mixed train were derailed at Cliff Road station, two miles north of Jlarton, shortly after midday today. The track was blocked for three hours, but some of ihe damaged wagons were, jacked clear and passing trains were able to use the loop through the station. A special train bound north was held at Marton for three hours, but it was not expected that the expresses from AVellington to Auckland tonight would be delayed further by the mishap at Cliff Road. The cause of the accident is not known.

• LINE OPEN AGAIN AT PATEA WANGANUI, July 27. Blocked to through traffic since Friday 'morning because of an extensive washout half a mile north of Batea, the main line between AVauganui and New Plymouth was opened again early this morning. Transhipping by road between Kakaremea and Patea was no longer necessary today, but a speed restriction has been imposed over the,affected section. The express from New Plymouth to Wellington was only half an hour late. The trouble occurred where the railroad winds round the left bank of the Patea River. The washout was so extensive that the engineers were forced to excavate portion of the hillside and build a deviation on solid ground.