MIDLAND LINE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24742, 6 December 1945, Page 6

MIDLAND LINE

RESUMPTION OF TRAFFIC TO-DAY LIKELY From Our Own- Reporter GREYMOUTH, December 5. Unless anything untoward happens within the next few hours, it is expected that a ready clearance of trains will be effected on the Midland line during the next 10 hours from midnight to-night. Working ceaselessly throughout, this afternoon two' bulldozers forced a way through the debris at three points on the Midland line, and just before 10 o'clock to-night the first train made its way through the breaches from Otira to. Rocky creek with a third heavy bulldozer, which was then carefully unloaded from the truck to assist the other large machine on the spot. Some hundreds of tons of spoil, gravel and rocks of varying sizes were removed in a few hours by the - bulldozers, and the clearing was probably accomplished in record time.

It has been definitely ascertained that-the initial trouble, which began at Nelly's creek, was caused by a cloudburst. This fact was corroborated by the guard and crew of a goods train which was at Jackson's early yesterday morning. The guard reports that there was a loud noise, followed by a deluge of rain, which eventually spread throughout the valley nearby, creating vast deposits in the watersheds, which rushed down depressions and gullies in the hillsides and-carried heavy deposits of debris towards the road and rail routes.

After clearing for some hours this afternoon, heavy rain again set in in the affected locality to-night, though this is not expected to cause any undue embarrassment, as the main volume of. water has drained away to the Otira river.

It is expected that the Otira Gorge road will remain blocked for some days, as present efforts are being concentrated on clearing the railroad track.

Passenger Service A special bus,, arranged by the Railways Department, and a car load of passengers made the trip from Greymouth to Christchurch, via Lewis Pass, late this afternoon, and a bus also left Christchurch this afternoon with Grey-mouth-bound passengers. It was also intended to run other buses to-night over the same route as an alternative to the rail-car services, but the clearing of the weather and the prospects of a clearance of the line to-night resulted in these plans being cancelled. The Railways Department has preparations in hand for the immediate movement from the West Coast of heavy consignments of coal and timber, aggregating 7000 tons, after the clearance of the perishable goods trains from Canterbury and the West Coast. These trains left at the usual time tonight, and are being given priority. They are expected to arrive at their destinations within an hour or so of the scheduled time, providing nothing untoward occurs meanwhile. This evening's rail-car service from Greymouth was not maintained, but the present intentions of the Railways Department are that the 2.20 a.m. rail-car service will be resumed tomorrow (Thursday) morning, while the regular express trains are scheduled to run a full complement of passengers on the Midland line to-morrow.