FLOOD DAMAGE ON WEST COAST RAILWAYS SEEN BY TRAFFIC MANAGER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18012, 24 November 1926, Page 13

FLOOD DAMAGE ON WEST COAST RAILWAYS SEEN BY TRAFFIC MANAGER.

Mr H. Chapman, district traffic manager at Christchurch, returned last evening from his ordinary business visit to the West Coast. He inspected the damage which had been done by the recent floods and he described it as very extensive.

The big bridge over Larry’s Creek between Reef ton and Inangahua was rapidly being repaired and it would be ready for traffic again within a fortnight. Repair work on the Blackball bridge was being gone on with without intermission day and night, apd .it was anticipated that it would be ready for traffic in a week’s time.

The subsidence at Omoho, a mile and a quarter north of Grej-mouth has been giving a considerable amount of trouble, but the position is improving. The subsidence on Monday night and the night before was only six inches in each case, but the track subsides slightly as each train passes over it. This has necessitated ballasting in order to keep the line up to normal. The engineer hopes -the slide has stopped and that the steps now being taken will have the desired result. Traffic is being worked over the ■ bad portion qif the break near Greymouth. Yesterday 2000 tons of goods • traffic passed through and to-day the line will carry 2500 tons. Mr ,T. M’Nair, district engineer, Christchurch, and Mr Bertinshaw, inspecting engineer from Wellington, went over to the West Coast to inspect the damage and the operations in progress.