DUPLICATION OF MOSGIEL RAILWAY LINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 12

DUPLICATION OF MOSGIEL RAILWAY LINE.

PLANS NEARLY READY.

The plans for the doubling of the railway line to Mosgiel are now almost prepared, and immediately they are completed and approved of no time will be lost in making an actual start with the work of duplication. One step already taken towards the carrying out of the scheme has been the purchasing by the Government of residences facing Cameron street and King Edward road, with a view to their removal — the work of demolition has already been put in hand, — and the placing there of the existing -public siding tor the south end. The side line will branch off the main line just past Kensington in the direction of the Hillside Workshops, and then double back in a direction almost parallel with the main line. Some facts as to the formation of the double line have already been made known, but something additional in that direction would be tho means of further enlightenment and, at the same time, prove interesting. In the first place, the line will run practically parallel with the present route to Mosgiel with the exception of a gradual deviation to the left when leaving Caversham, and a subsequent tunneling which will bring the line out somo where at tho rear of the City Abbatoirs. Further than that, nothing can at present be said as to the direction the line will follow.

Commencing to rise a short distance south of the Jetty street overbridge, at a grade of one in a hundred, the iine will reach the Anderson's Bay crossing at an elevation of 20ft above the road, over which the line will be carried by bridge. From this the track will run dead lev-el to .Kensington, where, at its then elevation, there will naturally be necessity for a second bridge. The next rising will commence about six chains south of Kensington, and, -at a .grade of one in eighty, .will continue so to tbe Caversham Gasworks, and from there on at a grade of one in 250 for a distance of about 25 chains. Then right up to and through ,the new tunnel the line will have a grade of one in 80. The only deviation from the present route worth speaking ,of will commence just prior to reaching Sydney street, Caversham. from which placo the new track will gradually deviate to the left and cross the Ca>versham Val--ley road on its level in the direction of the brick works. The new tunnel .will commence at about 12 chains from where the line crosses the Caversham Valley road, will be so built as to accommodate two distinct sets of rails, and will be about 1400 yards in length, or almost half as long again as the present Caversham tunnel, which runs into something like 950 yards. Crossing Sydney street the new line will naturally be at a very much lower elevation than the existing one. and, running across Sydney street at. nractically the same level as the street itself, a bridgo with a gradual .ascent from the Main South road, and a like approach on the opposite side will be erected over tho lines of rails, and thus traffic along Sydney street will not, in any way be interfered with. Other streets will also bo bridged, and as the railway in cutting through there will be considerably below their lev-el, the overbridges will merely recmire to be thrown from one side • to the other, and will present no great difficulties in their formation. In accordance with th*> deviation from the present route, the Caversham Station will be moved from its present site to about opposite to wh^rc the ol'l immigration barracks onco stood, access from the Main South road being by road with a grade of oni> ! in 20. The new station will have a yard accommodation about four times lararor than the exi<;tinff one. There will be a platj form on each side of the station, tho outgoing one on the Caver&ham town side and the incominsr one on tho hill skip. This is what is known as the " Island "' tvop of .station. Each platform will bp 500 ft long and 40ft widp. and generally up-to-date. The whole work when started on is "vidpntlv gninjr to bp one of nons ; dp ra bio magnitude, hut notwithstanding this, the Government will make every effort for an early comnletion. Surveys in connection with land io be takfn by the Government for ■ourpo^'? of the railway between Konsington and thp proposed new funnol at Caversham aro practically ooninleted and as soon a<= thp timp allowed by law aft«»T thf> is'uinir of tbo proclamation j announcing 1 tTw> taicintr of t'ao lands has I o]av>«pd. thp work wi'l immediately bp I put in bond At an thr» wholp work of duplication will pytenrl into thint; likp five or sK year tt .

A. rhpcr'u! sordini 'hat i '<-,j.es mental vJ oouro our -WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS.