MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY TRAINS. IS THEIR SPEED EXCESSIVE!

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 14, 17 January 1908, Page 7

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY TRAINS. IS THEIR SPEED EXCESSIVE!

[bt telegraph — r-REsa association.] AUCKLAND, 16th January The recent remarks of Mr T M Wilforcl, M.P., as to the rato of speed at which trains travel on tho main trunk line on the descent to Taumarumu, were referred to-day to Mr. D. T. M'lntosh, district engineer, who largely discounted the alarmist note struck by Mr. Wilford. The line, he declared, was in first-class order on the incline referred 10. Far from the track being dangerous, it was good for a speed of fifty miles a'i hour. The sleepers were all perfectly sound. As a matter of fact tho speed limit between Porotarao and Taumarunui On the down grade was thirty mile3-an hour. Mr. M'lntosh admitted that this paco was exceeded sometimes, aevertheless engine-drivers were supposed to *un down there at not more than thirty miles. Even so, there was no danger in a greater fato of travelling up to at Itast fifty miles an hour, except of the curves. Most of these were transition curves, as it happened (this in reply to Mr Wilford's statement that tho line was laid with an entire absence of transition curves). The district engineer knew nothing of the flip of nine acres of land into the river, mentioned by Mr. Wilford. Discussing the speed 'question, Mr. M'lntosh pointed out that 6ome cars do not run smoothly, and .Mr. Wilford may have beer r a rough riding one. lie denied altogether that the engine-driv-ers took their lives into their ( own hands. MR. WILFORD'S REPLY. Replying to the staiement to-day, Mr. Wilford said : "Mr. M'lntcsh says 'the lino is in first-class order and is good for a speed of fifty miles per hour.' In the same paragraph ho admits that the speed limit is thirty miles per hour. Ho also says that the sleepers are in good order. 1 don't deny that. I contend that the rails have spread at tho corners. Mr. M'lntosh, whilo admitting that the speed is thirty miles per hour, admits also that it is sometimes exceeded. That is my contention. He says 'there is no danger in travelling fifty miles per hour except on tho curves.' It is the curves I complained of. He also says 'most of tho curves are transition curves.' From / information gathered there from the msn "who made the line, i say there are no transition curves, , though ' they are putting them in from- Taumaramii Taihapewards. Mr, M'lntosh says ho never heard of mno acres of land slipping into the river. Ho has a' report in his office from ope of his own officers notifying him of the fact, and it was after these, officers had consulted with him that the loop-line over which I travelled was put in. My complaint was general, and not particular, irt regard to the lack of smooth running of the cars. I would like to say this in conclusion : If Mr. M'lntosh , instead of sitting in his office, will come, down and look at the line for himself and consult his officers, He will have a different story to tell."