TRAIN RUNS AGAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 4

TRAIN RUNS AGAIN

NGATAPA RAILWAY LINE TRACK REMOVAL BKOTNS The first locomotive for about six years to run on the Ngatapa section ol the railway made its appearance there a few days ago, when a gang commenced to rip up the rails for removal to the new construction work on the Gisborne-Napier line. The track will be removed over a distance of nine miles between Ngatapa and the railway bridge over the Waipaoa River at Patutahi. The future of the bridge has not been docided yet, and in the meantime the track between Makaraka and the bridge will not be disturbed. This work, the intention to proceed with which was noted in the Herald a short time ago, is being undertaken by the Public Works Department. As the settlers along the route had fenced off the line and had been grazing their stock on it, a great deal of preliminary opening of wire gates and removal of fences had to be accomplished to allow the locomotive being used in conjunction with the work to proceed. A few veors ago the bridge was offered to' the Cook County Council for removal. The council decided not to buy it, but urged that the bridge should be allowed to remain in order to provide a stock roilte between the Patutahi and Bushmere sides of the river. The idea secured almost general approval, but arrangements between the council and the Railway Department on the matter were not completed.

Supporters of the proposal have not given uo hoDe, and the fact that the track will remain undisturbed in the meantime between Makaraka and the bridge holds out some prospect of the bridge at some future date being used for live stock traffic.