HIGH SPEED BRIDGE BUILDING RESTORES GISBORNE RAIL TRAFFIC

Grey River Argus, 10 April 1948, Page 4

HIGH SPEED BRIDGE BUILDING RESTORES GISBORNE RAIL TRAFFIC

P.A. GISBORNE, April 9 Barely 24' hours later than the estimated time, the bridging of the wash-ed-out gap in the Gisborne-Wairoa railway at the entrance of the <iikiwhata tunnel, was completed late this afternoon in time for the express to traverse it to-night. The construction of a 66 feet trestle bridge has been a high speed job. in which fifty to’ sixty men, in bridging ana tracK repair', j gangs, worKeu n. shifts night and aay, under paricularly arduous conditions in the last three days with biting winas ana heavy rain squalls. The work was done under the direction ot Mr Simmers. District Civil Engineer, ot the Railways Department, Wellington. whose original estimate or incompletion of the bridging by Thursday night was only 24 hours out, due mainly to the severe weatner voiiui tions. The Gisborne railway staff did an excellent iob during the week’s suspension of the trains by handling alll passengers and freight, including perishable goods by buses and lorries.