IN CANTERBURY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 50, 28 February 1945, Page 4

IN CANTERBURY

RESTORATION OF RAILWAY

PA. TIMARU, February 27. Repairs to the last link in the 107 miles of main trunk railway between Selwyn and Morven damaged by the floods last week were completed this morning, when a breakdown crane tested the line over the filled-in washout at Temuka bridge. The express from Christchurch crossed the bridge safely and reached Timaru at 1 p.m. There were two major wash-outs, 37 smaller wash-outs, two major bridge and a large number of minor bridge repairs, and the reballasting of some miles of permanent way to •be contended with. The task of synchronising the completion of the repairs over the 107 miles of line called for considerable organisation and careful timing. More than 300 men from the Railways Department, the Army, and the Public Works Department were placed on the job, and they worked day and night. The gap at Temuka was 140 feet wide and 25 feet deep and 800 cubic yards of shingle were pushed into the gap in 2'i days. While the work of the big machines was spectacular, men with shovels played their part in opening the line in what must be a record achievement for the Department.

MINISTER'S THANKS P.A. DUNEDIN, This Day. When he received word tonight that the Main Trunk railway service north had been restored, the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) said that he wished to express to the engineers and men, and also to the men of the Armed Forces, the country's grateful thanks. "The job," "he said, "had been well done, and it had been carried out at phenomenal speed. When you consider that between 50 and 60 miles pf track was damaged, and some of it very badly damaged, I think I am justified in saying that no task of a similar nature has ever been carried out in such a short time."