THE MIDLAND RAILWAY
4 NEW RECORD FOR GOODS TRAFFIC Although heavy floods on the West Coast caused ’ slips and wash-outs on the railway line, interrupting the service, and the Blackball Bridge was seriously damaged and later destroyed the goods traffic from the West Coast to Canterbury during 1925 established a new record, says a Christchurch paper. The mishaps mentioned were not the only’ factois militating against steady’ and uninterrupted traffic, for in addition the Canterbury’ section of the line was alfected by wash-outs, and there were prolonged stoppages at the State mines. Early in 1924, however, the traffic fell away through a mining deadlock which caused an interruption of production at the Blackball and Paparoa collieries, and there was a strike m April. These factors must be taken into account in any comparisons made.
As will be seen from the figures in 1925, May, June and July were the busiest months, and the weekly aggregate frequently exceeded 9000 tons. Only approximate figures can be given, as the tonnage is compiled for the purpose of apportioning the loads for the goods trains, and the weight of the trucks is included in the total,. amounting to approximately one-third. The total traffic through the tunnel since it was opened on August 4, 1923, has been 742,357 tons. When the Alps were pierced it was confidently anticipated that the volume of traffic would show an increase annually. Although the Railway Department does not ieep a daily record of the tonnage from east to west, this traffic is keeping up steadily’. Figures giving comparisons of the number of passengers using the line are not available, but there has been no sensational increase, although the traffic is growing steadily. The following figures supply a comparison of the weight of goods trains in the past two years, the first figure, being for 1924 and the second. in parentheses, lor 1925: Januarv. 18.157 (20,050); Febre <rv, 21,836 ’(26.4111; March, 22,781 (26,069) ; April, 19,24$ (28,912) ; Mav. 34,121 (35,672) : June., 25,264 (34,86:1); July, 27,208 (40.580); Aurast, 27,837 (32,531) ; September. 28,797 (30.659) ; October. 28.165 (26,434) ; November. 25.723 (26,708) ; December, 22,906 (23,255). Total.’, 302.043 f&69,143). 4
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Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 88, 8 January 1926, Page 8
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354THE MIDLAND RAILWAY Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 88, 8 January 1926, Page 8
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