placed addition burden of work on the permanent way staff. Although slight improvements were effected on the cold storage wagons, following discussions with the Chinese Section, exchange of correspondence continued right up to the end of the year under review in the hope of finding a permanent solution. The following were works carried out during the year:
(a) The main line track was maintained to a good standard. All fish- plates were carefully inspected and greased. Some 192 lengths of 95 lb. rails, 1,730 cubic yards of stone ballast and 7,900 sleepers were renewed during the year.
(b) Badly corroded track components were renewed wherever neces- sary. During the year some 330 pairs of fishplates, 2,900 fishbolts and 30,000 dogspikes were replaced.
(c) For the purpose of restoring the rails to their proper inclination, the rails seats in the sleeper of the main line curves at Mile 11, 15 and 211 were adjusted by adzing.
(d) The expansion gaps of the rail joints from Mile 6 to Mile 63
were adjusted with the addition of 570 rail anchors.
(e) Five turnouts, three crossings and two sets of switches were renewed in Kowloon and Hung Hom Yards and at Ma Liu Shui, Tai Po Market and Lo Wu Stations.
37. Embankment and Cutting. Some 750 cubic yards of earth were sent out by ballast train to repair the shoulders of railway embankments from Mile 101⁄2 to Mile 122. As a safety measure, a total of 60 cubic yards of dangerous boulders in the cutting at Mile 101 was removed.
38. Signalling. The power signalling system at Kowloon Terminus worked very satisfactorily during the year. The gantries, brackets, arms of all signals along the line and the point indicators of all the points were overhauled and repainted.
39. Tunnels. All tunnels were inspected and maintained in good order.
40. Bridges
(a) Major overhaul was done to Bridge No. 24 at Tai Po Market. The work included the renewal of some 6,300 corroded rivets and the corroded steel members, the strengthening of the two 40-foot span girders reinforced with additional steel plates and repainting the whole bridge.
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