LINE NOW CLEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23432, 23 August 1939, Page 12

LINE NOW CLEAR

MAIN TRUNK DELAY WEARY TRAVELLERS LONG WAIT AT TE KUITI SERVICE BACK TO NORMAL Tho Maim Trftnk line, which was blocked by a largo wash-out that occurred on Monday morning five miles south of Te Kuiti, is again open for traffic. After long delays, express trains for Auckland and Wellington were able to negotiate the wash-out early yes'terday afternoon and reached their destinations many hours late. Through trains were despatched from Auckland and Wellington practically on time yesterday afternoon and evening, and it was expected that they would arrive at the opposite terminals almost on schedule this morning. Arrival at Auckland The afternoon express despatched from Wellington on Monday did not reach Auckland until 5.56 p.m. yesterday instead bf 7 a.m. The limited express, duo at 9.30 o'clock yesterday morning, did not arrive until 6.36 p.m. Passengers on the two expresses which left Auckland' for Wellington on Monday night did not reach their, destination until aftCr midnight last night. A number, including members of Parliament, went on by special rail-car and reached Wellington early yesterday afternoon. Twelve Hours at Te Kuiti For tho remaining south-bound travellers a 12-hour wait at Te Kuiti was entailed, the combined train passing over the wash-out about one o clock yesterday afternoon. Passengers on the ordinary north-bound express had a 10hour wait at Taumarunui, while those on the Wellington-Auckland, limited were delayed at Taumarunui for about five hours. Prior to passing over the wash-out at about 2 p.m., these trains were combined, but were separated again at Te Kuiti before leaving for Auckland. New Plymouth Cancellation The New Plymouth express, due at Auckland at 6.30 a.m. yesterday, was cancelled from Taumarunui, passengers transferring to tho ordinary express from Wellington. Owing to fairly numerous cancellations, there were comparatively few passengers on the two expresses which arrived at Auckland last night. Most of the travellers were very tired after spending so marly hours in the train, but they accepted the situation philosophically and there were few complaints. Fortunately, the weather in the King Country was mild and fine, and, with the carriages well heated, no discomfort was experienced in this respect. Filling Work at Slip Fairly large numbers travelled on the ordinary express and the limited express for Wellington and on the New Plymouth express which left Auckland yesterday. Owing to the necessity for f transferring, several of tho carriages from the north-bound 'trains which arrived shortly before, the limited express was 20 minutes late in leaving. Traffic is now returning to normal between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui. Over the wash-out, it is necessary to reduce speed, as the rails sag slightly into the new filling, although not sufficiently to give rise to any fears regarding safety. Work is still proceeding on the filling and on the'temporary culvert replacing the one that was blocked. Owing to the level of water, it is still impossible to get at the blocked culvert, which "has almost certainly collapsed and will require replacement. . EFFICIENT WORK RAILWAY STAFF PRAISED TRANSFER OF CARRIAGES QUICKEST JOB FOR YEARS A tribute to the speed and efficiency of the men engaged in the work of reopening the Main Trunk lino near Te Kuiti was paid yesterday by Mr. H, W. Beasley, railway district engineer at Auckland, who, with other departmental officers, visited the scene. Mr. Beasley said the co-operation between the permanent way men and the signal staff and other specialists was excellent, in spite of adverse conditions.

Excellent work was also carried out at Auckland yesterday by a staff which was required to transfer five carriages from tho late north-hound limited, which arrived at 6.30 p.m., to the south-bound limited, scheduled to leave at 7.15 p.m. Each car had to be cleaned and provided with water, while brakes and lights had to be tested. After this, the entire train had to bo assembled, brought into the departure platform, and loaded with luggage. As tho train was only 20 minutes late in leaving, railway officials consider tho transfer was one of the fastest jobs carried out by tho staff at Auckland for many years. NORTHERN MAILS NO DELIVERY IN WELLINGTON [iJY TK.r.KOHAI'ir —OWN COIUU'.SI'ONURNT] WELLINGTON. Tuesday With the exception of air mail brought to Wellington by Union Airways' Lockheed Eleetra monoplanes, no Auckland correspondence was delivered in Wellington city and suburbs to-day. Tho bulk of the northern mails was on board tho first express, which arrived at Wellington late to-night attached to-the limited, after being delayed by the wash-out near To Kuiti. Normally the first express arrives at Wellington at 7 a.m., in time for correspondence to be delivered by postmen that morning, and the limited arrives, at fkliO a.m., mails by this train being delivered in tho afternoon. A special stall' was on duty in the mailrooni at the Chiet Post Office, Wellington, late to-night, to cope with the mails when they arrived. Letters and second-class matter will be distributed in the city and suburbs tomorrow morning. In addition to mails from northern offices, the combined express brought two overseas mails to Wellington.