FIRST TRAIN ACROSS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19339, 1 June 1937, Page 14

FIRST TRAIN ACROSS

VIADUCT AT MOHAKA MATERIAL DRAWN OVER Drawing six trucks laden with material used in the railway construction work, a small engine of the Public Works Department on Saturday passed over the Mohaka viaduct, on the Gisborne-Napier line. This, the first train to cross the giant structure, played the leading role in, one of the most important events since the reconstruction of the East Coast railway was commenced. The engine upon which was conferred I lie distinction of taking the first train across the viaduct war, a small petroldriven locomotive which lias been working for some months on the Napier side of the Mohaka Gorge. It was actually conveyed to the line in the first place on the back of a large motor wagon. The little train will make frequent trips during the next week or two lor the purpose of returning to the Mohaka station side of the gorge, the material which has been employed in the erection ol the towers of the viaduct. There will be no through train, either from Napier or VVairoa, for some time. March of Progress Cmittendod by ceremony or rehearsal of any kind, Saturday's event bore a significance of which even the driver of the pioneering train was probably blissfully unaware. As the locomotive and the six trucks rumbling in its wake crossed the skyline far above the roadway below, it' was carrying out a mission liir more important than tile mere hauling of a few tons of material from one side of a gorge to another; it was setting the seal on a feat of engineering which it is confidently believed will reflect itself on the future development and progress of the entire East Coast. Its brief journey, too, /narked the taking of yet another step towards the completion of a project for which the people of Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, and the l-'iist Coast districts have been striving for years. The Mohaka viaduct, the construction of which was completed recently, is the largest railway bridge in the Southern Hemisphere, 'l'or the purpose of the erection of the fabricated steel work in the giant structure it was necessary to string a steel cableway spanning the gorge lor a distance of 97011. and at a height of 410 ft. above the river below. This was used for carrying portions ol ihe .steelwork to any part ol the viaduct on which work was in progress. The viaduct itself is 908 ft. long and 31CIt. above the river. It is not known yet when it will he possible for a regular train service to he inaugurated between Napier and Wairon. Some months will pass, at least-, before this can he brought about, but the opening of the Mohaka Viaduct brings the carrying of passenger and goods Ira Hie over the route appreciably nearer. A large number of public works men are still working on the line, carrying out the final details of construction neces-

sary in preparation for the opening ol the regular service. It is understood that it is the intention of the Minister of Public Works, the lion. R. .Semple, to inspect the Napier-Wairoa line shortly, but it is not known when this visit will take place.