Aramoana Delayed By Overloading

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29900, 14 August 1962, Page 16

Aramoana Delayed By Overloading

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 13. The scars of her preliminary voyage plated over, the Aramoana crossed Cook Strait on her first commercial run today. The first train of 13 waggons was accompanied by its own diesel shunter to withdraw it and future cargoes from the train deck at Picton. When the new car and train ferry berthed without incident at Picton the shunting engine nudged ashore the first two of seven 750-h.p. DG class diesel locomotives which are being transferred to the South Island for use on the Picton-Christchurch line.

This transfer, which will continue this week, will shift all the Railways Department's engines of this class to the South Island where, so far, main-line diesels operate only on the hills between Oamaru and Dunedin. On the Picton line, two will be linked for the first tough miles south of Picton One engine will draw goods trains the rest of the way. These 68-ton locomotives restricted, because of their weight, the number of goods waggons carried by the ferry on her first commercial crossing. A load of 1050 tons is permitted. On the return journey the ship was at first overloaded when 11 UL-type lumber waggons, each carrying 30 tons of scrap railway track from Middleton for the steel works at Otahuhu. were put aboard. Departmental officers said it was hardly expected that the first trips would run on schedule, but the departure for Wellington was delayed an hour and a half by the unfamiliar procedure and the removal of two of the waggons at the request of Captain J. E. Peake. Other north-bound cargo included potatoes and flour. With the rolling stock for the South Island was the I vice-Regal railway carriage which may be used during the Thai royal tour in the event of aircraft delays.

On her outward passage the Aramoana carried 126 passengers and 27 cars Among the passengers were two who sailed in the Tamahine on her first voyage across ‘he strait 37 years ago They are Mrs W. H A. Luke, of Wadestown, Wellington, and Mr D. Wylie, of Newtown, Wellington. Mrs Luke, who first came to Wellington from Pelorus Sound and has crossed the strait many times, also was in the Tamahine for her last voyage last week. She recalled today how, on that first trip, her lunch had been hot meat and vegetables. This time she ordered a ham sandwich. She got fish paste. The arrangements aboard the Aramoana. however, were generally admired by most passengers—-the ample and comfortable seating, the sheltered spaces, the efficient, frothless draught beer ser-

vice at tbe bar, the television programme as the ship neared Wellington rather later than planned. The intricate cafeteria service caused some surprise. The menu is limited to standard railway station fare and a check from the cashier bears a coded order to the stewards behind the counters In spite of their code cards for interpreting the eashregister message, some early confusion resulted.

But mechanically and nautically all seemed to go well today. All the rolling stock was secured by stays and in some cases jacks to prevent rocking. In 17 minutes. 27 cars were directed on to the turntable in the garage to direct them swiftly to the right quarter. At Picton, the cars were off the vessel in the remarkable time of 3min 45sec. The heavy locomotives delayed the rail traffic somewhat. Watching over the voyage for the Railways Department was the ferry controller (Mr S. G. Muir), who suggested that when the ship settled down changes might be made to the timetable and cater-

ing arrangements. Little use was made of the eight four-berth cabins, which compare favourably with those of the most modem ocean liners. The adjustable air conditioning, the variable recorded music programme, the pleasing decor were enjoyed by few. At least 200 persons waited for the Aramoana on the Picton jetty. In spite of a keen southerly, the ship turned smartly, took a long, reverse run in to the wharf, and nestled slowly and snugly into her berth. Two hours and a quarter later the Aramoana sailed toward* the Tory Channel, took a spectacularly sharp right turn around Dieffenbach point and headed at her average 17 knots for Wellington.