RAILWAY EXTENSION

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12008, 10 December 1924, Page 6

RAILWAY EXTENSION

THE WHAHCAREI LINE FIRST BIG ENGINE THROUGH FROM AUCKLAND, THE TRACK COMPLETED. (Special to “New Zealand Times.’*) AUCKLAND December ft With the inauguration of the new railway through time-table between Auckland and the north, considerable interest has been aroused loc&Hv. The advent of the big A.B. locomotive which is to draw too express, and which arrived in Whangarci, was responsible for quite a large gathering at the Whangarei station. Hie engine, which weighs 72 tons, and is of a type similar to those need on the Main Hunk and Rotorua expresses, in addition to the crew, had on # board the district Public Works Engineer, Mr MnFnnia; the resident engineer. Mr Packard: and also the Railway Department engineer, Mr W. R. Bagge, who travelled on the engine over the section of line still under the Public Works Department from Huarau to Portland. It was stated that the track proved to he in excellent order. On arrival of the en- •. gine at Whangarei the turn-table at the new railway station was tested, with satisfactory results. It was announced that the HuarauPortland section would be treated for purposes of charges in all respects as part of the working railway system,. and all passenger fares and coaching and goods rates will he computed in acoordance with the provisions of tho tariff, on continuous mileage. Another important pronouncement was that the through checking of luggage from the Whangarei section to any other station in the North Island would fce operative from December 15th. The two matters were amongst others that were brought under the notice of the commercial representative of the New Zealand Railways, Mr Welsh, at the annual meeting of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce a week ago, pud the response to the wishes of the chamber in the matter of the issue of through tickets and luggage checking has been most prompt. .