ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1923, Page 4

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS MADE'. TRIAL OF LOCOMOTIVES. OTIRA, June o. The electrification of the Otira tunnel works is quite complete now. cx-,-ept for a certain part of the overhead work. This information was gleaned | to-day in conversation with some of the officials in charge of the electrical installation. The batterv locomotive "Inch made its first trip on May 7th.. is taken out daily by Mr A. J. Jell's, "ho is in cilarge of the locomotives. To-morrow a party of visitors will lie taken for a ride in this locomotive, which can go to Arthur's Pass and back on one charge. It hauled a steam locomitivo Enough the tunnel on the occasion ol the big slips a few weeks ago. Its use is mainly for repair work, and is independent of the overhead lines. The main line locomotives wilt rceeive their first test on Thursday morning, when Mr Jeffs will drive one of them under full power for the first

time. ‘■The Dress” representative made tne journey yesterday in company "it 1, Messrs' A. J. Shaekletmi, E. M. Campbell G. 1). Aschinaii. and G. T. Cut i|.ort advanced electrical engineering students of Canterbury College, who were invited by the Public Works Deportment to assist in the testing ol the locomotives. Ihe p:U'l> * s forward with interest to seeing the main line locomotives at \\o:k. The automatic signalling plant is now complete, except lor minor adjustments, and the fact that locomotives can now be tried out under full power shows that good progress Ims been made. Since ‘‘The Dress” representative last visited Otira. about six weeks ago. overhead work has mainly engaged the attention of the stalls. The battery tests then being carried out were completely satisfactory. The party made the journey Iron Arthur’s Pass to Otira by eon eh, and as it was a perfect day following upon a recent heavy fall of snow, the farfamed scenery of the Gorge was seen to full advantage. It is to be hoped that the road will be preserved after the tunnel is opened, for the Gorge will always he a strong attraction for visitors. On the railway journey from Springfield particular note was taken ol the work done at Otarama and nt the A’n. !) tunnel. The Railway Department deserves great credit for the manner ju which it has coped with the was.inits. At Otarama. particularly. a

great change has been made since the discovery of the big slip.