EAST AND WESTRAILWAY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1923, Page 4

EAST AND WESTRAILWAY

THE TUNNEL SECTION. j GOOD PROGRESS REPORTED. (Lyttelton “Times” Correspondent). OTIRA, Sept. EL Si nee the official aliening of the Otira tunnel on August 4 lack of knowledge has existed in regard to the handling of goods traffic and varied reports have gained circulation. Inquiries made amongst officials of the Public Works Department, Railway Department and the English Electric Company at Otira to-day elicited the staiemeni that all three are working in complete harmony and that, up to the present as much traffic has been handled as could ho accepted without interfering with the construction and testing work that had to he carried out. Oil the opening day a mishap occurred in the tunnel, and upon examinaation it was found that the trouble was caused through the pressure of four pantographs, the equivalent of trolley poles, against the overhead wire. This was too much for the overhead gear to stand. As there are two pantngraphs on each electric locomotive that meant that it was unsafe to use two locomotives on one train in the tunnel until the equipment was rearranged, consequently since the opening day all the trains on the up grade from Otira to Arthur’s Pass were limited to the capacity of one locomotive, which is ltd tons only. Steps were immediately taken to effect the alterations necessary in the tunnel overhead equipment, so that double header trains with a capacity of 280 tolls could lie taken through, and those adjustments were completed at the beginning of this week. The result lias been that instead of double header trains being able to go through tho tunnel from the opening day, with one exception all the trains have been taken through with one locomotive only, thus limiting the load to MO tons for each trip. Apart Irom this inconvenience everything in connection with the electrified section has worked without the slightest hitch, and no delays worthy of any notice have occurred to either passenger or goods

weight will he accepted by the Public "Works Department. At the present time the daily timetable on the up grade is as follows: 7.110 a.in., 0.20 a.m., 11.10 a.m. and 12.08 p.m., the last being the express train on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and a goods train on the other days Each of these trains is now limited to M 0 tons gross weight, hut next week it will he hauled by two locomotives and will have an average weight of 280 tons. That amount is probably as much as the Railway Department can cope with just now owing to the shortage el rolling stock. As showing what amount can he handled with even

single-header iruins, ;i total weight of •111110 toils was taken through on lhe up grade in the six days from August 27 lo September 1 inclusive, an average of 8-10 tons a day. During that period live or six trains ran through each day. Exclusive of what, was brought from Arthur’s Pass from August 7 to August 01 (twenty-one working doys'i 11.022 tons were taken from (Mira to Arthur’s Pass, there being twenty-four passenger and 1-10 goods trains, each hauled hy a single locomotive. Tonight there are 570 tons weight at (Mira ready to go through the tunnel, and together with another 100 tons due to arrive from (Ireymouth in the morning it will he taken through tomorrow. the lirsi irain of 1,'15 tons leaving at 7.00 a.m. Although the electriiied section is still under the control of the Public

Works Depart im.Mil , with consequent higher freight charges, there is no kick of goods offering from ilio Westlaiid side, and it will probably be found that even with the increased loads that will be taken next week there will still bo more traffic olfering than ea\ be conveniently handled. To satisfy the demands of traffic it may he necessary before lone; to increase the number ol locomotives, of which there are at present live for main line work and >llO for shunt inn; purposes. The central opinion among officials at Otira s that the Railway Department will lot he prepared to take over the eleej'ilied section for at least another two nonths, possibly longer. All the rail-ray-men want their Department lo assume control as soon as possible, but it is considered that it is too big an undertaking for (he Department to take over until it has been through the most exhaustive tests. Meanwhile the Public Works Department cannot be accused of deal-

ing very generously with either passengers or consignees. Each first-class passenger is charged 3s fid for the single nine-mile trip from Arthur’s Pass to Otira, as against Is lOd which would he 1 lie Railway Department’s charge, and second-class passengers 2s (id as against Is 3d. Even members of Parliament have to pay for the short distance, the Public Works Department not recognising "passes of any description. To take a motor-car through the tunnel costs LI 0s 3d, and ordinary goods are charged approximately 50 per cent above railway rales. To a certain extent the high charges are militating against traffic from the Canterbury side, and it is not unusual to see repeated trains of empty wag- , gnus from Canterbury. The return I freight is one of the problems that do- ! serves careful consideration by Cantor- 1 , bury business men. | There appears to bo a great deal of j work still to be done in connection j with the alterations in the line between Rolleston and Arthur’s Pass, but it is being pushed forward expedi-

tiously. The townships on route appear to have grown considerably in size, and at Rolleston, Darfield, Springfield and other stations new houses and new businesses have sprung up with groat rapidity. There was, however, comparatively little rolling stock standing at any of the stations on the line, giving the impression that the trucks are being kept in use all the time. Springfield has become an important station. A good deal of shunting is done there. The new station yards at Rolleston will not he ready for some little time, I but when they are in use Rolleston I also "'ill become an important shunt-j ing sta'tion. |

The electric signalling system which is in operation between Otira and Arthur’s Pass has worked without the

slightest hitch until to-day. when a j minor interruption delayed the train j from Christchurch for a couple of: minutes outside the station. The' trouble was caused liy a motor-jigger j giving the contact and automatically j setting tho signal against the train, j However, the matter was quickly rectitied and it is not likely to occur again. It is intended to instal electric signailing from Rollestoii to Stillwater. I near Greymouth. The coloured lights ! arc already installed between Otira ■ and Stillwater and Rollestoii and 1 Springfield, although not yet in opera-' 1 tion. The section from Otira to 1 Springfield will be in operation in 1 about two months, and the Otira-1 1

trains. i The specifications of the electrical equipment provide for the haulage of 1000 tons, including weight of rolling stock, through the tunnel from Arthur’s Pass to Otira each day. That is all that the present equipment is intended for, and the Railway Department has been notified that commencing from Monday next the maximum

Stillwater section will be a little longer on account of tho rough country. The opening of the tunnel has resulted in a big increase in the passenger traffic, and already the railway dining-rooms are being used to the full capacity of ninety persons. When the coaches were running, the average number of passengers from the West Coast on each trip was about 40, and now the average is over one hundred. To-day there were 130, and recently there were 180 on one day. From the Canterbury end the average has increased from about 60 to 00, but it is expected that during tho summer months there will be very heavy traffic. To-day there were eighty passengers, and on Tuesday lit). The British and Intercolonial Exhibition to he held at Hokitika from December 15 to February. 2, and which is expected to he on a larger scale than the recent Christchurch Industrial Exhibition, is certain to attract a great many visitors to the Coast.