THE TRAM TRACKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 6

THE TRAM TRACKS

PERMANENT WAY WORK. DETAILS OF “Fairly extensive work has Loen carri out during tho past year on the tram permanent, way, relief labour under the No. 5 Scheme being utilised to assist the parnianent way gang wherever possible,” says the annual report of the tramway engineer (Mr. J. 8. L. Deem). “The chief works are summarised as follow: — “(1)A shortening and relaying of St. John’s loop in Victoria Avenue in the vicinity of Glasgow Street; the laving of a new curve at the Victoria-Glasgow Street Corner, and the reconstruction of the inward track in 741 b Lorain section rails between Victoria Avenin and Harrison Street; the construction of a short new loop in conjunction with this work in Glasgow Street between Bell and Harrison Streets, and the lifting of the old outward track between tho last mentioned loop and Victoria Avenue. The foundation under this portion of tho track proved to be of a very spongy nature and had to be dug out and replaced with lOin to 12in of good face metal. A rubble drain was also placed alongside the new work. “(2) The placing of a rubble drain alongside Victoria Avenue track, between St. John’s loop and a point approximately midway between Ingest re and Guyton Streets. “(3) Tho re construction of the track between Calver’s Corner and Kaikokopu Road, the old 631 b rails being discarded and replaced with 741 b rails. The construction of a new loop in the vicinity of Kaikokopu Road and the removal of the shelter shed from Quick Avenue and its rc-erection alongside this loop. “(4) The re conditioning of the track. northwards from Kaikokopu Road to the vicinity of Mitchell Street. The lifting of the old loop opposite Aramoho Post Office which no longer served any useful purpose, tho material so obtained being u«ed in connection with the building of the abovementioned loops iu Glasgow Street closer to the city. “(5) The reconditioning of the track between the Jubilee Home and the Aramoho Terminus. “(6) The tar sealing of the Castlecliff track from the Cemetery Corner to Uastlecliff via Alma Road. “The welding plant has been operated full time in welding joints and rebonding tho above-mentioned work. Welded joints have been ground down with the grinding machine and the planing total of 593 rail joints aud fish plates have been welded and about 1200 bonds have been welded to rails. “During the year £7,098 6s 6d was expended upon the permanent way. Included in this figure is £3584 10s 9d of Government subsidy under the No. 5 Relief Scheme and £3513 15s 9d from the tramway revenue account. Of the latter amount of £3513 15s 9d, the sum of £2514 13s 3d was charged against the permanent way maintenance account and £999 2s 6d on permanent way renewals. “Since the rehabilitation of the permanent way was undertaken some two years ago, approximately 10 miles or a little over 70 per cent, of the track been renewed or re-conditioned. It is essential, particularly in the interests of the underground public utility services, that sufficient funds be provided in the coming year’s estimates to allow of tho balance of the track being attended to during the year, thus enabling the earth leakage current to be brought within the limits of the regulations.”