OTIRA TUNNEL RAILWAY.
COSTLY WORK IN PROSPECT. CHRISTCHURCH TO GREYMOUTH. In spite of many difficulties, the work of preparing for the opening of railway traffic between the cast and west coasts, on the completion of the Otira tunnel, has teen undertaken in real earnest, says a Greymouth paper. Numbers of stations ■between Greymouth and Otira are to be enlarged out of all recognition. It is expected that several long goods trains carrying coal and timber will run to Christchurch daily, returning practically empty. Bcs!<'"s these, daily passenger ■trains from each coast will also use the line, so island platforms will be erected shortly, to allow,the traffic to pass on the journey. These platforms are to be built at Brunner, Stillwater, Kokiri, Kaimata Moans, Rotomanu, Inchbonnie, Aitkens, and Jacksons on this side, and at various stations up to Springfield on the Canterbury side. This work has already begun at Brunner, and will be commenced at Stillwater as soon as possible.
Very costly changes are to take place at Stillwater. At Otira 40 houses are to be built for the stall alone, which station, together with Arthur's Pass, will need very large yards. The reason is that an ordinary freight train will consist of, say, S)0 trucks, but only onehalf or even a-third of this will be drawn through the tunnel at a time, owing to the steep grade. It is the intention, therefore, of the Department to run goods through the tunnel night and day, the electric tractor to be worked in three shifts of eight hours each. The daily passenger train will probably leave Greymouth at 10 a.m., arriving at Christrhuroh at "> p.m. There will be no changing of trains during the journey, the train passing through the tunnel drawn by an electric tractor and connecting up with another steam en- [ giue on the other side.
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Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 3
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306OTIRA TUNNEL RAILWAY. Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 3
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