NEW RAILWAY LINK

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1933, Page 12

NEW RAILWAY LINK

AUCKLAND AMD TARANAKI THE FIRST EXPRESS TRAINS. MERRY BACK-BLOCK WELCOMES. Auckland, September 8. Wayside station platforms, thronged with laughing and excited crowds, giving full rein to their enthusiasm in cheers and song, indicated to passengers on the first express trains between Auckland and Taranaki this week the very real satisfaction felt by the back-block residents on the Stratford-Taumarunui section of the route at the fulfilment of a dream cherished for half a century. At 2 o’clock in the morning and at 11 o’clock at night whole settlements turned out to see the first trains through. For over 30 years construction work had been in progress. It seemed many a time that the task would never be completed. But, after innumerable setbacks, and in spite of economic stress, the final link was forged almost a year ago, and this week it became possible to make a night journey, lasting dess than 12 hours, between Auckland and New Plymouth. To settlers in the bush fastness of the rugged north-east corner of Taranaki the realisation of the dream seemed too good to be true. The rest of the Dominion may declare dolefully that the line will never pay. To Whangamomona, Ohura and similar settlements on the new route the occasion was one for celebration, not lament. ENTHUSIASM AT STRATFORD. The enthusiasm with which, the first train south from Auckland on Sunday night was greeted as it traversed the new section early on the following morning has already been described. But even larger crowds assembled on Monday night when the first express north pass-, ed through. Residents in New Plymouth, the Taranaki terminus, are finding a new tri-weekly diversion is seeing the Auckland express out at 7.10 p.m. There was a large crowd on the platform there on Monday evening, when the first northtrain left with seven first-class and 29 second-class passengers. But Stratford indicated even keener interest. The express from Auckland in the morning had arrived too early to attract very many residents from their beds, but the north train, arriving at 8.30 p.m., appeared to bring the whole town to the station.. In addition, it was stated that many settlers from country centres had motored to Stratford for the occasion. Through passengers alighted at Stratford at their peril. So densely was the platform packed that it was difficult to force a passage through the crowd, and to wander far from a carriage platform meant running the risk of losing the train through inability to fight one’s way back in time. When the express left Stratford it had 16 first-class and 61 sec-ond-class passengers, a total <of 77, which included only one sleeping-car fare, booked at Stratford. NO TABLETS; NO LIGHTS. However, while the Railway Department may have been disappointed at the poor patronage accorded the sleeping and first-class cars, the second-class fares so greatly exceeded expectations that two carriages, instead of the one arranged, had to be commissioned, making a total complement of four cars and a van. The train swung sharply east immediately after leaving Stratford. For a mile or two passengers passed through a lane of lighted windows, at which residents on the outskirts of the'town were gathered to watch the express pass. From that stage onward the journey assumed a flavour of pleasant eeriness. Mile after mile was traversed without the glimmer of a light, save that shed by a full moon, riding high in the sky. Tablets are not used on the new section, and at the first two stations at which the train halted after leaving Stratford not a light was to be seen. As. the teain rushed onward through the night the country became appreciably rougher. It was an impressive sight to observe the perpendicular acres and gaunt tree-stumps of north-east Taranaki softly silhouetted in the moonlight, with here and there a clump of bush, which, in the full light of day, would have" revealed its real glory. But, in spite of the rugged country, the railroad runs on a gentle gradient, with the number of tunnels increasing as the more mountainous area is reached. “THE BOYS FROM WHANGA.” Sounds of revelry brought passengers on to the platform at Whangamomona, where, under the dim light of the station’s solitary lamp, a group of young men was celebrating the occasion with song. In full-throated chorus they informed their brief visitors that “We are the boys from Whanga,” and, ,a “mayor” having been installed for the occasion, a mock address of welcome was delivered. A merry interlude ended as the train drew slowly out of the station to the accompaniment of deafening cheers. Incidentally, Whangamomona supplied the train with its second and final sleeper-car passenger. It was at Tangarakau, reached at 10.45 p.m., that passengers were able to appreciate the full beauty of the country opened up by the new railway. Tangarakau was the base camp from which was launched the assault on one of the most difficult sections of the line, and many wooden hutments were erected on the flat there to house, the workers. Now Tangarakau is a dying township/ Some who gathered on the rude earth platform there to watch the train pass through must have done so with mixed feelings. BEAUTIFUL TANGARAKAU. .. While waiting for a mixed train to arrive from Taumarunui, express passengers had the opportunity to admire the beauty of bush-fringed, hill-encircled Tangarakau, bathed in brilliant moonlight. It? was an unforgettable sight, and many lingered on the carriage platforms as the express drew out, crossed by a high bridge the beautiful stream north of the station, and plunged once more into the bush country. Appropriately, Ohura, which had begun the celebrations, headed by a band, when the south-bound train arrived at 2 a.m., gave the final cheers when the northbound train arrived at 11.45 p.m. There is the authority of the train crew for the statement that those who led the welcome early in the morning were still among those prominerst <et the midnight reception. To no distr.jt more than Ohura does the completion of the railway mean so much. There are great prospects for extended settlement there, and' New Plymouth has long worked for rail connection with that area. After leaving the Ohura Valley on the final run to Taumarunui, the train reenters rugged territory. Papa cliff faces, silvered by the moonlight, indicated the treacherous nature of the country, which in that vicinity is pierced by several long tunnels until the line links up with the Main Trunk system at Okahukura, a few miles north of Taumarunui. The first north train made good time, arriving at Taumarunui five minutes ahead of schedule.