ACTIVITY AT OTAHUHU

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 13

ACTIVITY AT OTAHUHU

NEW RAILWAY WORKSHOPS (From Our Own Correspondent) OTAHUHU, Saturday. The work of erecting: the buildings in connection with the Otahuhu railway workshops, s proceeding apace, and some of the constructions have now taken shape. The steel frame of the power house has been completed, ancl a start was made yesterday with the erection of the frame of both the now and repair car-shops. This building measures ■iSSft by 132 ft. The various parts are assembled on the ground, and are then placed in their respective positions with the aid of two electric cranes, which display no exertion in the work required of them. In the work of assembling the various parts, a number of pneumatic rivliters are rattling their calling, in imitation of a machine gun. Performing the same work, but in a more quiet, and dignified manner, is a pneumatic squeezer, which developes power equal to 100 pounds to the square inch. The power for this work is generated in a compressor plant which has been erected close at hand. Travelling the length of the works, and carrying five tons with ease, is an electric traversing crane on a gantry, moving the huge steel girders from one place to another, by the touch of a lever. Nearby Js the works mill, which houses a four-sided planer. A triple goose saw on a swivel is to be installed in the near future, permitting the cutting of any length of timber in a f raction of a minute. This week 300 tons of steel arrived at the works, necessitating the employment of an additional 20 men, bringing the total number employed at the works to ever 100, and if the necessary material arrives from England In the near future, it will probably mean the working of two shifts. The arrival this week of 76 t.ons ®f roofing lead was also reported. The timber shed, which is being built by the Railway Department, is practically complete, and it is anticipated that up to one million feet; of timber will be carried in stock. The contract time allowed for the completion of the erection of the buildings is up in January, but on account of the material being held up In England it is estimated that the completion of the work will take until April.