Heavy Rail Traffic Continues

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 8

Heavy Rail Traffic Continues

“It’s remarkable where all the people have come from,” remarked the stationmaster, Mr M. Curran, in reference to the number of rail passengers leaving Whangarei this week. Throughout the week very heavy traffic has continued between Wbangarei and Auckland, the majority being holiday-makers returning from Whangarei to their homes further south.

Limit Reached.

One day, when the train left Waiotira, the junction of the main route and the Dargaville branch, the southern express, with two engines, was composed of 15 cars, the limit for double-headed trains between Whangarei and Auckland.

Four extra cars were placed in commission at Whangarei, and, of these, two were fully booked.

Every seat on the train was occupied

Two or three times during the week additional locomotives have been necessary on the south-bound express.

North-bound traffic between Auckland and Whangarei has been above normal, trains of eight cars being wellfilled. ,

Goods Traffic at High Level.

Goods traffic has reached an unprecedented level since the holidays. On three days a week it has been necessary to provide an extra locomotive as far as Hikurangi on the early morning goods train from Whangarei

j to Opua. Fat lamb traffic from various stations in the Whangarei district for Moerewa has built up the trains considerably, and several times it has been necessary to provide a banking engine on the 7 p.m. goods from Whangarei.

Consignments of other classes of stock have shown a decrease, but butter shipments remain at the same level, and ordinary goods are taxing the rail services heavily.

Very heavy goods trains are expected next Monday.

Count Csaky, the Foreign Minister, will leave Budapest for Berlin to-day for discussions with Herr von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister.