ARTHUR’S PASS TUNNEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1923, Page 4

ARTHUR’S PASS TUNNEL.

PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE. OTIRA, April 14. Air P. S. Groenshi-elds, the sub-con-tractor in charee of the power station and overhead wiring for the Arthur's Pass tunnel states that the wiring would probably he sufficiently advanced at Otira by the end of the present month, to enable the electric locomotives to commence their haulage trials. The erection of the trolley wires, stated Mi Greenshields i.s to be proceeded with at once, and given favourableconditions, should take about a fortnight at the outside. The work at Arthur's Pass is not so far advanced, hut that fact will not seriously delay the handling of goods traffic. Mr Greenshields stated that some months ago he was approached by several Christchurch timber merchants, who asked him when they could expect to receive timber through the tunnel, and 1m told them they should get it some, time during May. lie -still believed that that would prove the? case. The present intention is to bring goods through the tunnel during the trials of the locomotive, but nt first all the shunting at the Arthur’s Pass end will have to he done by .steam locomotives. It i- still possible that a certain amount of goods traffic might he handled tlsis month, but a proper start can hardly lie expected before next month. Tli-- handling of passenger traffic D nil entirely different proposition, and it is unlikely that passenger trains will be ‘taken -through the tunnel until at lea-L a month after the commencement of the trials. The view is hold liv Mr (;ivenshields and others conlinTcd with the work, that it would he unwise to convey any pas-enger traffic until ev .-I'ything is thoroughly tested and the drivers have heroine lully ar(piainted with the line and with the working of the locomotives. A train of nil:.- trucks oi elect iua I cC|ii:piiu-nt mi the English Electric Company was taken through the tunnel from .Arthur s Pass to Otira yesterday morning.