Miles of Railway Laid Each Day

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 290, 6 December 1941, Page 8

Miles of Railway Laid Each Day

NEW ZEALAND DESERT SPECIALISTS

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, Dec. 3.

Doing the specialised work for which they were sent overseas, the New Zealand Railway Construction Companies, assisted by Indian railroad labourers, are working with drill-like precision on a vital artery of the Western Desert, the Army’s Hue of communication. It is reminiscent of scenes of epio American films as the great team of rail-builders push the track forward over monotonous wastes of sandstone and scrub faster than a snail can crawl and straighter than a crow can fly.

With the bare essentials of food and water, they build the raij at the rate ol several miles a day. To establish this record they had to lay 5000 sleepers, set 650 rails, bore 20,000 holes, drive 20,000 dogspikes, and turn 1300 bolts. Nine hundred tons of material had to be unloaded and “snigged” on to the location. Tractors, trucks, ejxcavating plant, and locomotives work unceasingly through the diminishing hours of the Egyptian daylight, and the tent town goes forward as the work progresses. Significant is the co-operation of the Imperial and Dominion troops, for these m£,n of diverse race and creed work with cheer and purpose. All are trained soldiers; they are prepared to lay aside the crowbar and hammer and take up jnachine-gun and rifle. The nights are often disturbed by air-raids, and the days are often blind with sand, but in spite of the danger and discomfort the work must go on. Beyond the railroad surveyors guide the excavators, who prepare the railbed for the gang laying the sleepers. Willing Indians, working to drill, lift the rails on to the sleepers, and skilled New Zealanders lace the fishplates and drive the dogspikes. Officers —railway engineers in civilian life—say that by using drill methods the maximum speed and efficiency can be obtained without straining the men. Inspiring is the picture of human activity. Hundreds of men working back far along the line from the railhead do allotted tasks and proudly feel that theirs is a vital job. Trained to achieve, they build for victory. Three days every week they are on a bully-and-biscuit ration, but the hard work, discipline, sunshine, and clean living are reflected by their fine physical condition. It is stated by a medical officer that the incidence of sickness among them is remarkably low. It is that cheerfulness, physique, skill, and ability to work fast and well which has madej the New Zealand specialised units so popular and useful to the Middle East Command.