RAILWAY DEVIATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 212, 23 September 1937, Page 10

RAILWAY DEVIATION

Work Between Turakina and Okoia Good progress is being made with the railway deviation which is being constructed between Turakina and Okoia* Three tunnel ends are now being pierced and the Wanganui end of the Denlrur tunnel lias been penetrated for about 50 feet on the top leading and abdut 15 feet on the bottom hehding. A start on the bottom heading at the Turakina end of this tunnel was tuade earlier in the week, Bacause of the damp nature of the country it-was iiecessary to begin this portion of tho work first, but when soiid ground is stuck the top heading will be cut. Afc the southern end of the Turakina luuneJ, which will be the, longest of tho three tuunoJs on tho d.eviatioii loute, tho top heading hua been pierced for approximately 24 feet. So i'ar, howovcr, no concreting has been done iri the tunnels. An additjonal 40 quartcrs for married men are to be erected in the hear future. The majority of these buildings will be constructed at Beynolds, a settlemeut near Turakina which is named after the man Who surveyed the original deviation. When the buildings are complete 89 quarters will be available for nlarried men, in addition to which 20 dwellings will be used by the administrative staff. Two battery-type electric locomotives are working at the Wanganui end of the Denlair tunnel, and two Diesel locomotives and a mechnical digger are being ompJoyed at the northcrn end of the Turakina tunnel.