EAST COAST LINE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 22 November 1941, Page 4

EAST COAST LINE

COMPLETION IN JUNE DEMANDS ON PERSONNEL MINISTERIAL SURVEY Unless unforeseen circumstances enforce further changes in plans during the next few months, the Gisborne-Waikokopu section of the East Coast Main Trunk railway will be ready to band over to the New Zealand Railways Department late in June. 1942, according to a statement given to the Herald to-day by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong. The statement represents a survey of the progress on the line in recent weeks, and the prospect of progress for the coming months. It has been reviewed in the light of demands which are being made on the Public Works Department’s organisation throughout New Zealand for civilian construction forces for urgent defence works. A heavy demand has been made recently in this direction, and the Gisborne-Waikokopu . railway, in common with all other major works in the country, is suffering a temporary but heavy loss of trained personnel. The inevitable consequence is that completion dates of works becomes delayed somewhat more than was forecast a year or so ago, said the Minister’s statement, which proceeded to deal with the position on the line as under. Great Arch-Span Bridge “Bridges have been completed except for two in the Kopuawhara Valley, one in the Tikikwhata Valley and one near Bartletts. Of these, the most important, is the high-level, reinforced concrete structure over the Waiau Stream near the camp 7 miles 15 chains north of Waikokopu. It comprises a number of shorter spans and one arch span of 180 ft. “The stage has been reached where all superstructure except that carried by the arch is complete, the arch rib is complete, and staging removed, and the spandrel column construction is well advanced. The remaining work comprises only two 27ft. high spandrel columns, and 180 lineal feet of beam and deck construction. “Construction of the bridge has ■"been somewhat protracted, owing to the continued shortage of bridge workers, but completion should be assured now by the end of February, 1942. Further Structures Northward “Another large reinforced concrete bridge about two miles upstream, over the same river, was completed recently. The other bridge under construction in this valley is a smaller reinforced concrete structure at 10m. 17ch. from Waikokopu. Foundations had to be taken deeper than was expected, but have been completed, together with the piers they support, and construction of spans has been commenced. Completion may be expected by the end of March. “The uncompleted bridge in the Tikiwhata Valley is one which at a late stage in construction was substituted for a retaining wall. Work on the substructure has been completed, and work on the superstructure is at present in abeyance pending completion of plate-laying and ballasting on the section of 2£ miles to the southward. It will be resumed early in the new year, and completion is due by the end of May. Hardwood Replaces Steel Spins

“The other uncompleted bridge is near Bartletts, 15 miles from Gisborne. All that remains to be done there is to place one 60ft. steel plate girder span in position. Steel for this has not been obtainable, and as it is not likely to arrive before the rest of the line is completed, temporary hardwood beam spans have been erected over the gap, and the steel span probably will have to be substituted by the working Railways Department after taking over for traffic. “Fencing is well advanced, and will be completed in line with other classes of work.

“Plate-laying is proceeding both from the north and south ends. The railhead at the south end is 7m. 30ch. from Waikokopu, with a short gap at the concrete viaduct. The railhead at the north end is in the 149 ch. tunnel at about 11m. 50ch. from Waikokopu and 23£m. from the Gisborne railway station.

“The permanent rails are slightly over one-third of the way through the last of the major tunnels, and platelaying from the northern end will terminate when the southern portal is reached, within a week or two. There will then remain a considerable amount of ballasting to be completed from the northern end. This will take until the end of April. Ballasting is being carried out continuously.

Plate-Laying at South End

“Plate-laying and ballasting from the southern end will be completed about the end of March. At this end, ballasting is fully completed for seven miles, and has recently, after a period of suspension, been resumed north of the arch reinforced concrete viaduct, in conjunction with plate-laying. “Station yard water supplies have been arranged for, and will receive more concentrated attention in the next few months.

“Goods sheds have been erected at Matawhero, Muriwai and Wharerata, and a contract has been let for the remaining goods shed at Opoutama. Contracts have been let for all other stajtion buildings, except for single men’s bunkhouses at Waikokopu and Wharerata, which have been built by the department. "In respect of railwaymen’s living accommodation, a contract has been let for the erection of five houses at Opoutama, and work has commenced. Contracts have been let for all remaining permanent dwellings. These comprise a total of 19 buildings, divided between Wharerata, Muriwai, Matawhero and Gisborne.

“It should be possible for private enterprise to construct these buildings by the time the rest of the work is expected to finish, that is, towards the end