SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 10

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY

MAIN TRUNK LINE GOOD PROGRESS MADE [ Per Press Association. ] BLENHEIM, Oct. 15. With mechanisation increasingly becoming a feature of the construction of the South Island Main Trunk railway, the progress of the work after something less than 18 months from the time it was recommenced is generally well in accord with the schedule originally planned, so an Express repreentative ascertained in the course of an inspection of the line. A knowledge of engineering technicalities is not necessary for an appreciation of the progress that has been made. More than 450 men are engaged on the section, mostly working under contract and using machinery which makes possible a daily rate of achievement which not many years ago would have required the efforts of a substantially greater number. The camps, which are really small towns, complete with many modern facilities, are to be seen at various points along the line from Wharanui to Kaikoura, and their general atmosphere of purposeful activity augurs well for the early completion of the great engineering scheme. Most of the work on the northern section is now concentrated south of the Clarence River in country presenting many difficulties and calling for major cutting, tunnelling, and bridging. In the operations north of the Clarence, however, there is still certain work requiring completion before the line will be ready for the final touches. The bridging work between Wharanui and the Clarence is well in hand. The total length of bridges in that section will be something over 1000 feet. At Shades, where there is a fairly large camp, the work of ballasting and forming the permanent way has been practically completed. Sleepers and rails been received in sufficient quantity to carry out the permanent way from Shades to the Clarence, a distance of about 12 miles, and it is expected that a start will be made with that work about the end of his month.

In the building of the Clarence bridge, though going ahead well, the late delivery of steel has caused some delay. Three out of 13 cylinders have been sunk. This bridge is one of the major works of the whole line. Including the cost of the bridge and approaches it is estimated that there will be little lef of £lOO,OOO by the time it is completed. Beyond the Clarence the line traverses sand-dune country where a god deal of formation work was completed previously. This is now being cleared.

Three miles beyond the Clarence the line enters a terrain where heavy construction work is entailed, and in this locality particularly remarkable progress has been made. Ordinary construction has been practically completed for a distance of about 18 miles. Surveys are in hand with a view to placing the line as near as possible to the township of Kaikoura. At present it is considered that the station yard will be constructed approximately in the position of the present Kaikoura show grounds, within a quarter of a mile of the northern end of the town.