DUNEDIN-MOSGIEL RAILWAY DUPLICATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 18

DUNEDIN-MOSGIEL RAILWAY DUPLICATION.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK. The important work of duplicating the present single line of railway froai Dun«dm to Mosgiel is being steadily and surely prosecuted. At the present time about 350 men are employed on the whole works, and ft-oni a point at about the south end of the Dunedin -goods sheds right up to where tho Tiig tunnel is now being pierced on the Main South" rqad, near the brickworks, is a scene of great activity almost o\er the full distance. While every detail is part of the whole scheme, by far the most important part of tho undertaking at the present time is the driving of the first tunnel, a short distance past the Caversham Station and on the southern side of tho Main road. This tunnel is to accommodate two sets of raik, and therefore necessarily be a large one. Its distance from end to end will be almost one mil« — seven-eighths of a mile, .to be exact. Its termination on the south side will be ju^t above the abattoirs. Cp to the present time driving hae been extended in for a distance of fhe chains. The speed at which driving can be cairied on must, however, be regulated by the progress of the other works, more particularly in regard to the works north of bhe Anderson's Bay crossing. Work there, which consists of the construction of new engine sheds, side lines, pite, and turn-tables, is being pushed on rapidly; in fact, as fast as possible, and when mattere ha\e advanced to suoh a stage as will atlow of the new sheds being brought into use the old structure can be pulled down and the other work there prosecuted more expeditiously and the driving o-f the tunnel pushed on accordingly. The- material being met with in the course of driving the tunnel is what is known as Caversham etone — a soft sandstone similar to that in the present tunnel, and which does not necessitate the using of powerful drills. Accordingly miners' drills are beins; used for thp work. They are worked by hand, and th<- drilling of holes for blasting is by no. means slow. A 19 h.p. gas engine js being installed near the mouth of the tunnel for the purpose of driving the ventilating fans, which will be in working order in a few nays. For the driving of the ventilating fans, at the south end of the tunnei and at both ends of the Chain Hilk 'tunnel oil engines are being procured. With a ■due regard for the comfort of the men, provision has been made -at the mouth of the tunnel in the way of rooms for those engaged in the work of tunnelling. Here meals can be partaken of and changes of clothine effected before and a-fter work, -while hot and cold baths have also been installed. These rooms are now completed.' On the south side of the new .tunnel srori k' also being carried on with a good deal of despatch. The necessary cuttings for the approach to the couth end of the tunnel have been' started. The yard for the new station at Cattle Yards- is being foi-»ied. and other incidental work batwesn that poim and Burnside is in a forward s»ate. Pat of tho vr-rk in this ]o"n''ry consist* o' tho mak'ng of a con-ei<Jer,-blf> c'evialjon in the Kail.orai Strain, anc 1 i!'a. work ,« v r>" ,i''v?i!fd. A hirge r.-Li'tiinjr wall .■>■ al--n hrrjr tonsil : CU (1 opy.-.-, •)><> P, !•!.<• !p (V -.--ii* ''nrip-:nv"6 wo '.- V i'- BunivrV y . H - <n ,1,, , ar th wo-k in ' >ri(i r>-<ir '-»*- i b" H -i umt ho-uv iii'-'n-o T))f wm i! „ ■' iV W.-Hoiii P'lL b.a>. h hi.<- „ .-•,.,•1,1 ... c'errikintr th.it has been co-am eneed, txie neceieai-j

I land having recently been acquired. Extensive earth works are being carried out bei yond Burnside towards Abbcjtsford. Early j in March, when some necessary land is acquired, work at Wingatui will be put under way. Here theie will be some exceedingly heavy earUi uoik to cope with, and the department is accordingly endeavouring to jwecure a steam navvy. In addition to the new Gaversham tunnel, there has also to be constructed a new tunnel ■st the Chain Hills. This will be four chains in length, and its position w.iH be about one-quarter of a mile seaward of the existing one. At the new engine-sheds and thiiir vicinity there is considerable work in progress. A number of new pits aie being ■put in, also a turn-tablo. A second turntable will be constructed later. In connection with thi'so sheds there are to be constructed extensive repair shops, s(< res, and officer. The erection of these will be put in hand very shortly. The old enginosheds wiU be pulled down in the course of the next^wo months. At the present time their position constitutes a hindrance to trestling work in that locality, but once they are out of the way faster progress will be-jnade. A certain portion of land has been reclaimed here and the roadway diverted so as to allow of trestling work being carried out. Temporary bridges have "been erected over various roarls and streets near Caversham. Permanent structures are out of the question until the present line is abanI doned. The material for the superstructure of the bridges over the Anderson's Bay road. Kiiiig Edward and Neville streets, and the Main South road has arrived, and the contractors (Messrs M'Gregor and Co.) have the work under "way The locations and grades rieht through to Mosgiel have now been deo : dcd on, and the whole work set out. From about a quarter of a mile from the Cattleyards Station the route follows the existing railway as far as Abbot's Creek. Frini ihac point the line will run almost direct to Winpra/fcui. A new st^Hon will be constructed at Winijatui almost opposite to race-course, and ample facilities will be r>rov ; ded there for dealing with heavy race traffic. The 'ir.eV. will follow the present route from Winjpptui to Moseriel. The Burnside Station will be a few chains south j of t.he present one, and about 15ft aVyjve its present level, while the Abbotsford Station will remain in practiriliy the s^rro , position, the only material difference being that it will be' situated at a level 20ft lower than th/» present site. From Abbots- | ford southwards there will be «o<rie b:g I cuttmgs but i-t is r-ot pxpeetod that the work will prove afi difficult as .'t t>H in the «**e of the cuttineis made between Dun- • fidin and Abbotsford. Still. som<> of th*» i proposed cuttings south of Abbotsford will .he as deep as 53ft. It is interesting to Vnow that the grade from the iron over1 bridge to the Andenson's Bay r«.-\i will "be 1 in 100., from that point to King EdJ -"ward .street it will be actually level, and j-from there to the Caversham Gasworks 1 in , 80. The prp&°nt eride there is 1 in 50, ex■terrHnjr as far as Caversham Station. The Railway Department has necessarily had to acquire a cood leal of lan^i for th" new line of railway, and if jia'u'ai.y ! tak«^ time to complete negotiations for the '■ vnr'ou« purchases. When everything in ihit direction has been completed, howp-. pi. it -vs ill K> possible to c^en nurcase tV>o present rate of proerr-"^s, which will ' I rr^-n that more men will be put on the 1 WOIJIC.