AUCKLAND RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147690, 8 September 1911, Page 6

AUCKLAND RAILWAYS.

IMPROVING THE GRADES. . : • • . • - Y

BIG WORKS IN' HAND.

The important works undertaken ;,by|j£:; the Railway Department in reducing the grades and in dispensing with the sharper : - curves on the main line between Auckland and Mercer are now being got well under way. The first section, involving extensive alterations at Tuakau, has been so far- w' completed that it is hoped to have the new portion of the line brought into use by Sunday next. The line at the station has been lowered 14ft, providing a grade of one in .600 in places of one in 41, as. formerly, and the approaches have also been eased to one in 100, as against . one in 46. In all about a mile of track has been improved in this way, and the opportunity has been taken at the same time to erect a new station giving more office and platform accommodation. All that now remains to be done is the removal of the goods shed and the pulling ' up of the old varcL The works, _ when completed, will have cost £8000. * : Another £11,000 is . being spent by the Department in improving the section between Tuakau and Buckland, a distance of 2j- miles. There being 10 curves on this section varying from 10 to 24 chains' radius, several important deviations are being made. On the new line there will only be three 30-chain curves, and' the grade will be eased to one in 100 r-r compared with one in 40 at present. - It is hoped to have this work completed in about six or eight months from now. During the past month the Department!, - has put a still bigger work in hand at Pukekohe, extending for a mile on either side of the station. Three curves there of 20 chains' radius are to be replaced by' i two of 30 chains' radius and one of 40, and the grades are to be improved from one in 42 to one in 100. The present station yard will be removed about :20 chains south and lowered about 18ft, and a new station will also be erected. This * work, which involves an expenditure of about £15, will be completed in about 12 months. . Other works of the same description oa the Auckland-Mercer section will be commenced as soon as the necessary plans hava been prepared. < r _ V