BIG HAULING JOB

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1930, Page 3

BIG HAULING JOB

WORK ON MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 25

A spectacle unusual in Canterbury' »vas to be seen in the bed of the Leader Llive-r yesterday, when a railway locomotive was hauled, through the stream uy a team of five motor-tractors of tile crawler type. The engine was bound for a site on the Hawkeswood Saddle, where it will be used in connection with the construction of the South Island Alain Trunk Railway. Preparations are now in hand lor driving a tunnel through the Hawkeswood Saddle and a. steam navvy is at work a mile Inflow the site ol tlie tunnel making the necessary cutting. A section of railway track has been laid to enable the spoil to be removed for the purpose of filling. The engine which was hauled across the river yesterday will be used on this section. To get tlie locomotive across tlie river and to the site ol tlie work, it was mounted on a sledge, made up of heavy bluegum trunks. Rails were laid on the sledge, and on these the engine stood, heavily, roped to tlie timbers. Heav.y chains were attached, to the framework, and to each chain was hooked a tractor. One led the way and the other lour were abreast, y guide preceded this strange procession, and signalled to the five tractordrivers when to tanc up the strain and wlien to ease off. Progress was necessarily slow, but every precaution against accident was observed. . , . A shallow portion of tlie river was selected as the scene ot tlie fording, and, although, loose shingle- luid to lie traversed, the crossing was made without difficulty.

AI ANY AIEN AT WORK

A total of 250 men are now engaged on tlie Pnrm..,sus the line, parties wonting as tar -as nine miles anuad of the present rail terminus. ,He farthest camp is on the north aank or the, Conway River, and tins ga..g are i, or king aoout a mile, north oi the river.

it is lntelv, that, in tlie epufse of a month or two.'a beginning will be made ■ v o drive the oig Hawweswood Tunnel which is one ' f the principal job's'c'onmoned with -he construction 'of tlie .nc, Alreads equipment for this purpose is be,..g "gatiieietl at the' Uub-lic orksv aepot. at Parnassus. " Ine depot itself is now taking on a more permanent look. Nearly thirty wooden huts have been coustrucieu lur single men, and soon married men’s q .alters wifi be begun. Tlie tents winch atj/'at present Used to nouse the me.!'will be moved to the outliving Ouiiips as the work progresses.

The forina(joji ; work for an approach to the bridge ,which is to be built over life Leader. River, about half a mile irom Parnassus,, is now well in hand.

A shingle digging plant lias been installed, and this keeps five drays employed loading .up with shingle, which ■ s dumped to form tiie approach for me bridge. These approaches will be comparatively high, in order to raise tlie lino abovcj.possible Hood level , and lo maintain the level of tlie track ,lvoin ■ - ill :.! Parnassus northwarus.

Another Public Works Department locomotive is at present being fitted up lor work at the depot and another steam shovel is being assembled in the yard of the Parnassus Railway Station. At the present time, all the work in hand is being carried out efficiently, and from what can be seen then* seems to be no doubt that tlie first section of the line is now well under way.