TRAINS AT A STANDSTILL

Evening Star, Issue 18257, 23 April 1923, Page 6

TRAINS AT A STANDSTILL

CAVERSHAM TUNNEL BLOCKED. BLIPS NEAR SAWYERS BAY. CENTRAL LINE PARTIALLY WORKING. Slips on the Port Chalmers lino interrupted the Sunday service. The 5.23 train from Port to Dunedin got no further than Burkes, on account of two slips between Burkes and Eavensbourne. These slips were cleared before evening, and then a fall of earth at Black Jack’s Point held up the 9.10 train from Port at Ravensbouxne. Taxis were put on by the Railway Department to bring the passengers on to Dunedin. This morning Mr Benzqni (Railways Engineer) went to Sawyers Bay to supervise the clearing away of a slip that occurred there last night and another that was reported this morning near the tunnel. It was hoped to get that portion of the line clear this afternoon, also that a slip which brought down a big rock at the Mihiwaka tunnel would be cleared. If their hopes were realised, Mr Williams (district traffic manager) intended to despatch the afternoon tram fro* Dunedin to Oamaru. The south line was effectively blocked Yesterday afternoon by two big slips, one In the Gaversbam station yard, another at the Burnside end of the Cavershnm tunnel. An engine was sent out last night, but could not do anything owing to the torrent of water, which flooded the Burnside yard. Besides this doube block at the tunnel, washouts wore reported early this morning at Kakapuaka, Warepa, Toiro, Waihola, and near Lovell’s Flat. Three breaks occurred on the Gatlins Between Riverside and Glad field, on the Outram branch, there was 3ft of water on the rails this morning. On the Lawrence line washouts occurred at Manuka and near Waitahuna, and Clarkville was under water. Sluicings also damaged the Fcrnhill branch and tho Walton Park branch. The Dnnback lino wafi affected by a ■washout at Meadowbank. On the Central Otago line a lot of debris was piled up against tho Silvcrstream bridge, and a washout blocked the rails in the’ gorge near Mount Allan. Tho morning train from Cromwell ran only as far as Ranfurly, and she was ordered back to Omakau. The District Traffic Manager says that he cannot make any, definite statement about tho resumption of traffic on the south line, but he has a hope of being able to despatch some trains to-morrow. The road men are all very hard at work both north and south, and doing their best.