21

1). —2A

Rails, Sleepers, and Ballast. The gauge of the track of the New Zealand railways is 3 ft. 6 in. The rails used are the steel Vignole pattern to British Standard Specifications : Main lines, 70 lb. per yard, 42 ft. long ; branch lines, 55 lb. per yard, 36 ft. long. 100 lb. rails, 42 ft. long, are laid on the Otira electrified section—i.e., between Otira and Arthur's Pass and in the Lyttelton Tunnel. With regard to rail strength, we are of opinion that all new lines likely to become main lines should be laid With rails having a minimum of 70 lb. section. It is unfortunate that a contract should have been arranged for 55-lb.-section rails for certain portions of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway. There were at 31st March, 1924, 1,613 miles of track with 56 lb. rails or lighter, and 1,451 with 70 lb. rails or heavier (including 16 miles of 65 lb. track). The fish-plates are of British standard plain type. Bed-plates are used at joints on softwood sleepers and some on curves, the number depending on the sharpness of the radius. The sleepers are of imported hardwood or New Zealand softwood, measurements being 7 ft. by 8 in. by 5 in. ; jarrah from Western Australia has of late years been largely used. The total quantity of sleepers in track approximates 7,000,000. the annual replacements taken over the last ten years averaging 198,500. The ballast is, as a general rule, river-run shingle, but, where this is not obtainable, broken metal is used. Maximum Speed of Trains. The maximum speed allowed varies from 25 miles per hour on a 5-chain curve to 50 miles per hour on the straight, but the general instruction as to speeds is as follows : —

In his evidence the Chief Engineer said that the trains could ran with safety at a higher rate of speed than was the case to-day, but he had not been approached in the matter by either the Locomotive Department or the Traffic Department. Rail-breakages. The rail-breakages during the last five years totalled 347, 60 per cent, of these being at joints, 11 per cent, at split heads, and 29 per cent, fractures in web, head or bottom flange. The number of these breakages in terms of age of rail was '

Maintenance of Track. Minor repairs to track, surfacing, &c., are carried out by line gangs. These men reside, as far as possible, at each end of their length, and make an inspection going to and from work. The length is also inspected by the ganger once a week.

Miles per Hour. Description of Line. — Express and Mixed . Good s. Passenger. On curves 12 to 15 chains radius . . . . 35 30 25 On curves 9 to 11 chains radius . . . . . . 30 25 20 On curves less than 9 chains radius .... 25 25 20 i • ... I . .

Age of Rail. Years .. .. .. .. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 • Number of breakages .. .. 4- 37 104 59 30 25 51 21 16