RAILWAY DEVIATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 1 September 1938, Page 11

RAILWAY DEVIATION

PROGRESS AT MILSON. PART PLAYED BY MACHINERY. Now gaining impetus with the addition of further machinery and the general development of the undertaking, the railway deviation work at Milson is presenting a scene of steadily increasing activity. Rails are being laid on the track formerly used, pushing their way from Longburn across the border of the Kairanga, and at the goods yard site work is moving forward to have the progress there synchronise to a degree with the arrival of the railhead.

Two Diesel-engine shovels, which each handle three-eighths of a yard of spoil at a time, are now stationed on the job, although at the present time one is engaged elsewhere in the securing of metal required for roading purposes on the deviation. Further, a “bulldozer,” a large blade not unlike a giant grader blade mounted in front of a tractor, is jiushing spoil, freed either hy the shovels or by man-power, to more convenient positions. NEW MACHINERY.

Motor lorries are using the roads being laid out within the main cutting, the spoil being transferred to- the lower end of the deviation site above Rangitikei Line or shifted to points where it is required tor the temporary roads. Both sides of the main cutting (which leads from the lower end about haltway along Boundary Road to under the bridge at Milsoirs Line} have been given attention, and the sides are being taken back, this spoil being dumped in the bottom of the cutting and used in the roading system. Some of the spoil shifted into the cutting by machinery will remain, to be covered later by metal. The sides of the cutting are being brought down to the top of a stratum of metal and shortly a “carry-all” is to be brought into use, this machine being linked with a Diesel tractor. The “carry-all,” capable of shifting 12 cubic yards of material at a time, is like a box on wheels, open at the front. Running forward,' it fills, itself when the front edge is lowered ; when full, it is drawn to the required site and then the back portion of the “box” is brought forward to push the soil out over the front lip, the height of the lip from the ground determining the depth of soil being laid. While this machine can deal with large quantities very quickly, it also can undertake delicate work in slightly raising the height of a level piece of ground and, in addition, a smooth surface is left. Two mechanical shovels are to arrive shortly and will play their part in speeding up the job. Twice as large as the shovels now used, this pair will make a considerable difference in the amount of spoil being handled, and in view of the fact that about six overhead bridges are scheduled for construction in connection with the new line through to Longburn, the first being at Longburn itself and the last at the Rangitikei Line crossing, there will be ample scope for the machinery. In the larger of the two cuts now in existence there will he provision for no fewer than 23 railway tracks, and in the other cutting, the further from the city, will'be situated the line to lead off' to the Main Trunk or to swing trains back on to the other main outlet to Hawke’s Bay. Between the two there is now a considerable height of spoil in its natural 'state. and the two cuttings are being joined by a further one. Two “islands” will thus be formed, but the lower one is to be removed altogether and expectations are that a considerable section of the one nearer the Milson’s Line bridge will be taken off to provide the spoil required at other points. About 70.000 cubic yards of spoil will be required for filling at the site of the station, beyond Rangitikei Line from the deviation. BRIDGES AND BUILDINGS.

In order to give a passage over the Kawau Stream (running through the deviation site) for both rail and road traffic, a temporary bridge has been built, and the piles are now in position for another bridge to span the Mangaone Stream below Rangitikei Line, this bridge being required for the railway line now approaching from Longburn. It is estimated that the line will reach 'the deviation in about four months. Timber from a former Post Office in Palmerston North has been used for the building of administration offices, and it was found to be ill an excellent state, despite its great age. A main store, 60ft by 30ft, has been erected .and there are other buildings storage of materials on the site Rails are piles in readiness for the laying of temporary tracks about the deviation, these being of a lighter weight than the usual permanent way in order that they may be shifted the more easily as the operations demand. About bU men are now employed oil the undeitaking.