MIDDLETON YARD TAKING SHAPE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 9

MIDDLETON YARD TAKING SHAPE.

LAYING OF SIDINGS TO START THIS WEEK.

The wqrk in connection with the construction of the new railway marshalling yards at Middleton is now well in hand, and if the weather keeps fine the laying of the sidings will be started this week. Mr H. C. Lusty, assistant district railway engineer, stated this morning that nearly three-quarters of the formation work, such as the levelling of the ground, was already done, and the remaining work would be completed about the middle of the month. Rails and sleepers for the sidings were on the ground. On Saturday approximately sixty drays and between seventy and eighty men were employed on the job, but this week it will be necessary to start reducing the number of teams, as fewer are required. Between seven and.nine miles of sidings will be laid in the yard. It was originally proposed to make provision for a small locomotive depot at Middleton for shunting engines, but this matter is now being held up in view of a suggestion that the main 10% comotive depot should be shifted from Lin wood to Middleton. The shunting engines used at Middleton will be housed at Linwood pending other arrangements. The work of clearing the ground for the new buildings to be erected at the Addington Workshops is also well forward, and a start is being made in laying down new sidings. Several of the existing buildings are also ready for shifting on to new sites.