RAILWAY DEVIATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23021, 26 April 1938, Page 14

RAILWAY DEVIATIONS

WORK IN HAWKE'S BAY SHARP CURVES ELIMINATED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Monday Railway curves in the Hawke's Bay district which reduced the speed of freight and passenger trains have been removed, and it is now possible for trains to run over a long length of track without a reduction of speed. Deviations have been completed near Tnkapau. 56 miles from Napier, near Opapa, 26 miles f rom Napier, and also on the Port Ahuriri line.

Two 10-chain curves near Tnkapau have been replaced with 20-chain curves, and at tlm foot of the Opapa gradient the curve has been reduced to one of 21 chains radius. For heavy passenger trains about to climb tho "bank" n speed restriction at ' this point was undesirable. Jt is now possible for trains to gain a certain amount of speed at the foot of the gradient. On the Port Ahuriri line there were three sharp curves which followed the winding bed of the Tutaekuri River. River diversion works and the earthquake resulted in the ground level being raised to an extent that made it possible to straighten the railway at a small cost. Consequently, two easy curves and a straight piece of track have been substituted for three sharp curves.