THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 73, 13 March 1908, Page 3

THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

The Main Trunk railway line is now rapid!}' nearing completion, .and it is anticipated that the rails at the north and south heads will be joined by the end of next October [(says the Wellington Times). -

Particulars supplied by Mr R. W. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief, show that with the exception of one bridge the line is now completed up to Waiouru, 60 miles from the Marton Junction. From 70 to /2>S miles the formation is still under construction. This is where the deviation was made, and it is at present in use. Passengers are are now. being .run .to Ohakune station yard, and the coaches meet the train a little beyond this place on a temporary line that is run into the Hapuawhenua viaduct. It is anticipated that the formation of the unfinished part will be completed in about three months, when the rails will be laid, the ballasting completed, and the line ready for traffic right up to Ohakune. From 85? 2 miles to 87M miles it is expected that the formation will be completed, the rails laid, and the line ballasted by about the end of May. This will include the Hapuawhenua viaduct and the Raetihi tunnel. From 87% 'to miles the earthworks are heavy, and there remains a considerable amount of work to do. Upon the completion of this earthwork depends the connecting of the rails with the northern end. The Taonui viaduct, which w r as completed last December, occurs in this latter length. All the concrete work is completed with the exception of four piers in the bridge over the Haeremaria Creek. The construction of these is being gone 011 with so as to be ready some time before the earthwork.

From 90?4 miles right through to the railhead from the northern end, .which is now at about 103 miles, the formation is practically completed. The heaviest portion of the work remaining to be done is a part of the cutting at the north end and the Makatote viaduct. The completion of this cannot be effecteel until the anchorages of the wire rope used in connection with the viaduct are removed" The actual distance between the railheads at the present time is I7 x A miles. From the northern end rail laying is being proceeded with, and it is anticipated That it will be completed to the Makatote viaduct at the end of March. A mile and a-half of the southern end will probably be finished at the same time, and this will reduce the gap to ten miles. From 103 miles through to Raurimu, at ill miles, the rails are laid, and all the works may be considered completed but about 10 per cent. From Raurimu to Taumarunui the line is completed, the latter place being the southern terminus of the northern end of the line open for traffic. No further section of the northern end can be opened for traffic for some time, as the ballasting pit is close to Taumarunui, from which supplies will be obtained nearly down to Ohakune. The connecting of the rails will depend upon the completion of the Makatote viaduct and the earthworks at the southern end. Any delay in carrying out the viaduct mentioned would cause the work carried out by the Government to be delayed until the winter, and then delays could not be estimated.

"If all Igoes well," said the engineer, " and making a fair allowance for contingencies, we anticipate having the rails connected about the end of next October. The moment we get the rails connected we will run a passenger train through."