MAIN TRUNK LINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 7, 9 January 1937, Page 8

MAIN TRUNK LINE

DUPLICATION WORK MORE MEN BEING EMPLOYED. RESUMPTION AFTER HOLIDAYS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. Good progress is being made with lhe duplication ot the main railway line between Papakura and Hjrotiu, which was started early in November. The work was resumed after the holidays on Monday, when 40 additional men began preliminary formation work at Ohinewai. Another gang of 20 men is to be placed on the job next week, when there will be approximately 200 men engaged.

All the formation work between Ngaruawahia and Horotiu nas oeen inished, and a plate-laying gang has aid about one mile and a-half ot rails as far as Havelock Hill, a well-known landmark on the Hamilton Road. Between Ngaruawahia and Taupiri work is proceeding on :he bridge over the level crossing at Hcjuhopu, and at Taupiri, 40 men are working south toward Ngaruawahia. while at Huntly another big gang in working northward. This gang will be met by the one that started from Ohinewai on' Monday.

One big job that was carried out before the holidays was the demolition of the Mercer tunnel, which has been replaced by a cutting between 30ft. and 100 ft. deep. The removal of Lhe tunnel will give higher running speeds on that section of the line, as it is now possible to ease the curves there.

Another 40 men are to be placed on the job at Drury within the next fortnight, and these, with those who are already working at Papakura, will finish the Papakura-Drury section. The duplication work provides for the erection of “island" stations at Taupiri and Ohinewai, and the alteration ot the Ngaruawahia station co that type. There will be only one bridge over the Waikato at Ngaruawahia for the present, and it will be orought within the station yard. Safe working will be facilitated by an

interlocking signal system. Extensive alterations have been made at Frankton Junction to pro- | vide housing for extra engines which , will be stationed there as the result of I the closing of the Mercer and Huntly I Depots. Two houses behind the old [engine shed have been removed and a | new turntable has been put in to provide facilities for the “K” engines.