RAILWAY PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 14

RAILWAY PROBLEMS

N.Z. DIFFICULTIES

WORSE THAN IN AUSTRALIA

"Railway engineering difficulties in Australia do not compare with those in New Zealand," said Mr. A. C. Ahlston, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Victorian Railways, who has left for Australia after spending a fortnight in New Zealand, following a visit made two years ago.

"The engineering job done from the Otira Tunnel out to the Canterbury Plains is a wonderful one. I can recall only one place like it, and that is from the Mount Cenis tunnel going to Italy."

Railway grades and curves in Australia were not so sharp as those here, he said. They had several grades of 1 in 30, there was one of 1 in 48, and one of 1 in 50, but there was nothing like the grade of 1 in 14 on the Rimutakas, nor were there any five-chain curves. There was, however, an eight chain curve on the Noojee line, which was considerable for a sft 3in gauge.

The Noojee bridge, a high trestle, was destroyed by the bush fires, the rails dangling from the remains, but, on the whole, the railways did not suffer great damage, as the fires were chiefly in the high, heavily timbered country.

Mr. Ahlston spent most of his visit at the Franz Josef Glacier, where he climbed Mt. Moltke, and did other mountaineering. He was greatly pleased with the services given by the Tourist Department, the plans made in Australia and arranged through them being carried out perfectly.