MAIN TRUNK GAP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17173, 1 February 1930, Page 5

MAIN TRUNK GAP

S. IS. ROUTE! DESCRIBED SEA COAST FOLLOWED • , (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The whole route of the uncompleted section of the South Island main trunk railway can now be defined, following the formal proclamation in the Gazette of the centre line about six •miles from Parnassus, the southern terminus. The total gap is 76 miles, and for the greater part of the whole length the railway will be right on the edge of tho coast. Its grades will be easy, and fortunately the coastline is remarkably uniform, though the precipitous nature of the country, B rising straight from the sea to high points, keeps the route well to the coast line, j except where inland detours are made to secure the best river crossings. To describe the route to be taken: It leaves Parna'ssus, 85 miles from Christchurch, asid takes a short run over easy flats to cross the Leader River, involving a fairly long bridge. Three miles of fairly heavy construction follows, as the lino will rise on a one in 70 grade, involving banking and filling. This is the approach to the Hawkeswood shoulder, and the railway will run under the saddle in a tunnel one-third of a mile long. It emerges into a swampy gully, down which it will go on a one in 70 grade for two miles, crossing the river flats to the south bank ofi the Conway, , where a, station is to bo built. A long bridge will cross thi* Conway River, and the line will continue along its north bank eight miles to the sea coast, which it then closely follows for many miles. Some outstanding bluffs are to be tunnel;- d. ThO Kowhai River is reached two miles south of Kaikoura, and the line will cross tho base of the peninsula at the point of which Kaikoura township is situated. It is then 34 miles from Parnassus. The location of Kaikoura station has not yet been fixed, but it will be one or two miles from the township. The railway returns to the coast for two miles, and then runs inland a short distance to take a suitable crossing of the Hapuka River. Returning to the coast, the routo will be alongside the existing main highway. The next important point is the Clarence River, crossing it 56 miles Sfrom Parnassus. The railway bridge is located three-quarters of a mile downstream from the present road bridge. coastal lino is again to be closely followed to tho jnction with the northern terminus at Wharanui, 76 miles from Parnassus. The - total distance from Christchurch to Picton will 'be 217 miles.