Discomfitures decreased by rail

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 280, 28 March 1989, Page 16

Discomfitures decreased by rail

by

Dennis

Beytagh

Main Trunk Line - Progress Report. "Day by day work on this great line. is being prosecuted with great vigour and the gap is being reduced. At the end of this present month a further length of four milesWaimarino to Erua - is to be opened by the Public Works Department. This will result in the shortening of the present coach journey

by some five miles and will doubtless be appreciated by those who make the overland trip by coach and rail. In view of the many discomfitures incidental to a sea trip from Wellington to Auckland, an increase in the overland traffic may confidently be looked

forward to. The Department is making every provision to cope with the traffic. The line has been completely ballasted between Mataroa and Karioi and from that point northwards the work of ballasting is being steadily proceeded with. The station buildings

at Turangarere and Waiouru have been completed for some time past. In view of the early completion of the line to Ohakune and the station buildings it is surmised that the Department intend to include that length in the next section to be opened for traffic. It is likely that the Government will run a train from Wellington to Ohakune daily and arrangements may be made in the near future

by which passengers will be able to reach Auckland from Ohakune by rail and coach on the same day." (W.C.C. Monday 23/3/1908). "The Hapuawhenua viaduct - the longest on the Main Trunk Line - is now completed and the structure, across which the rails have been placed, is now being painted. The Makotuku is also within a week or two of completion." (W.C.C. Wednesday 15/4/1908)