S.I. MAIN TRUNK

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1929, Page 6

S.I. MAIN TRUNK

BIG CONSIGNMENT OF RAILS. PROGRESS OF SURVEY AVORK. BLENHEIM, December 10. The longest single line of goods that has ever entered Picton will reach the port on Friday next, when the first consignment ol 2000 tons i>l rails lor the South Island Main Trunk railway will arrive. The rails are of the special heavy quality used only ifor main lines, «and weigh 701bs to the yard. It is computed that the consignment represents some 2 milesO of completed single-track railway line. Such rails as have already arrived for the job have been of a lighter type, which are used for the construction of the temporary ‘service” lines laid down to facilitate the building of the main railway. Friday’s shipment of rails really represents the arrival of the first of the permanent material for the line, and it is to be expected that from now on there will he a more or less continual running of freight trains from the port to the railhead. The Railway Department will he hard put to it to provide haulage on account of the shortage of suitable trucks on the local section.

Also expected shortly at Picton is a keystone diamond drill, which will be used for boring to test the foundations for bridges, etc. It is anticipated, also that the next few weeks will witness the arrival of two huge steam shovels. It is anticipated, if the work goes on according to plan, that the.railway will he completed as far as the Clarence river within twelve months. Difficult country on the southern end of the new railway link lias made the task of survey and performing grade test for alternative routes one of more than usual difficulty. Here the survey lias been finished and the grade tests checked, while the route that the new line will follow on tli is section is now practically determined. Round about the Conway, however, work proceeds, and definite date for completion of the survey can he given by the Public AA’orks Department. On the AA’haranuu section, however, formation work is being steadily pushed ahead. A total of 120 men about half of them relief workers, are employed here.