RAILWAY BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21886, 12 September 1936, Page 21

RAILWAY BRIDGE IMPROVEMENT

, - I 4*Booo EOR WEST COAST I f- LINE ’ W-; PROVISION FOR HEAVIER ENGINES A scheme of bridge strengthening, about £BOOO, to be carried out . railway between Christchurch ■md Arthur’s Pass, was announced yesterday by the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). The object of the scheme, the Minister stated, ■was that engines of the heaviest type •in operation might be worked over that area in addition to the lighter tvoe of AB engine which is at present doing the major portion of the work. Foot or five bridges are involved in the programme, the chief of these being the Kowhai viaduct. It is anticipated that the work will be completed next vear and that the total cost of the bridge work will be £BOOO. The Minister stated that, in addition to the bridge work, the programme also included the replacement of the present 55ft turn-table at Springfield with a triangle, and the present 55ft turn-table iat Arthur’s Pass with a 70ft turn-table. Biese alterations were necessary because of the increased length of the heavier type of locomotive that would ‘be run between Christchurch and Arthur's Pass as soon as the bridgestrengthening work had been completed. "The purpose behind these improvements,” said Mr Sullivan, “is of course the economic factor. The utilisation of the heavier and more powerful type bf locomotive will enable considerably {increased tonnages to be hauled by a angle engine between Arthur’s Pass and Christchurch, where the loading is particularly heavy, and has been injereasing during recent years. ‘This policy of meeting the increased demands of trafiic requirements will .be followed on other parts of the system. Very shortly tenders will be called for the construction of the piers .of the Rakaia bridge, which will replace the existing combined rail and rdaa bridge.”