THE RAILWAY DEVIATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 17 December 1907, Page 2

THE RAILWAY DEVIATION

A tail' number of townspeople col- ! lected at the railway station and at every point of vantage on the route to see tii.' iirst train cross over the new railway line yesterday morning. There was no ceremony. The engine started oil' on its way briskly, but was pulled up hliglitly when it struck the grade of 1 in hj.), for the load was heavy. There was no necessity for the stationing of a man v/.th a Hag at a street crossing to warn the public of the approach of a train, tor now the trains cross no streets i.u th' traffic level, passing below the line trallic bridges that have Tieen erectel by the Department. At the new Ivizny station several of the suburban r;shb:iis congregated to see the iirst passenger train steam past. A dill'erent scene was enacted at the Eliot Street station. No notice had

been given of the Railway Departments iiitcn : :on to abandon the old route, and would-b.> passengers turned up as usual at the east ward Hag station to catch the i-ecoud train outwards. One man arrived with only a minute to go. A railway porter had been scut to direct the people on to the Fitzroy station, and b." told the miiiiiU'-to-spare man

that he had but little time. The belated one was indignant, for his business was important. The porter offered his bicycle, but the man could not ride a bicycle. Here was a quandary. In the end (lie man missed his train. The steepest grade on the new line is I in 8(1, and the curves la-chain curves. The iwl of the new line is supposed to approximate £40.(1(10, and the. deviated road is 2 miles S(A chains, live chains shorter than the old route.