TRAINLOAD ITSELF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 8

TRAINLOAD ITSELF.

ARiAPUNI SLUICE GATE. WILL FILL FIFTEEN" WAGONS, GROSS WEIGHT OF 260 TONS. The sluice gate for the diversion tunnel at Arapuni, which has arrived in the Ivaramea, will require a, special train to take it to its destination. It has coine out in parts which aggregate a gross weight of 260 tons, and will require about fifteen of the biggest railway wagons to transport it. The heaviest piece of the machinery weighs approximately 10 tons. Tlio sluice gate is an auxiliary to tha one which at present holds the water back in the diversion tunnel, and its installation was recommended by Professor P. G. Hornell, the Swedish expert who came out last year to advise tha Government on the restoration of Arapuni. He suggested that an extra sluice gate should be installed in view of the importance of always maintaining a. tunnel prepared for use in the event of the occasion arising for the draining of the headrace. It was built by Messrs. Glenfield and Kennedy, of Kilmarnock, and is probably the most heavily loaded sluice gate in the world. No difficulty is anticipated in transporting the heavy machinery to Arapuni as the width of none of its parts is too great for the railway gaujre. It is likely that 15 or 10 "U" or "LB" wagons will be necessary for its transport. A "U" wagon is capable o! transporting 10 tons and a "UB" tons. Though the hydraulic cylinder is the heaviest piece of machinery, weighing 10 tons, many of the others arc massive. There are two weighing eight tons, two between seven and eight tons, nine between six and seven, four between five and six, and 34 ranging from two to five tons.

The unloading' of this machinery, which is sure to create interest on the waterfront, will begin cither on Saturday or at the beginning of next week.