Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
In preparation for the building of the new overbridge to the north of Yaumati station, the embankment was widened and ballast laid later for carrying the necessary railway deviation round the site of the new bridge during construction.
Early in the year new rails were laid through Beacon Hill tunnel (2,403 yards). The time occupied by this work was 30 nights, seven lengths of 36 feet each being renewed each night.
The siding at Shatin station was connected to the loop line at the far end and now forms a second loop which has proved very useful. A low temporary wooden platform of old sleepers was erected between the main line and No. 1 loop.
At Taipo Market station a small open shelter consisting of a tiled roof on reinforced concrete columns has been provided for the convenience of consignors of live pigs and fresh fish while waiting for trains.
At Fanling station the road approach to the goods yard was completed.
Since the train service has necessitated a train being stabled each night at Lowu to form the first inward train in the morning, it has become necessary to provide siding and stabling accommodation at this point. During the year spoil was tipped to form an area for yard and sidings, and work was commenced on a single line running shed 150 feet long of brickwork with a tiled roof. The work, however, was not completed at the end of the year.
The 8-foot span bridge at mile 16, referred to in my last report, was doubled as proposed, and no fear of further flooding at this point need be anticipated.
The road bed at mile 16 where passing over a band of clay was taken up, drained and reballasted by night work. This place has given much trouble each year, owing to the moist nature of the subsoil during the rainy season.
Many of the steel bridges were given their periodical repainting; the steelwork of the workshop buildings was also gone over, repaired where necessary and painted.
Experiments were made with tar and asphalt surfacing on portions of the Kowloon platforms, and as these have proved successful so far, it is intended to asphalt the whole of the platforms and concourse area.
The rainfall for the year was above the average, a very large proportion occurring in the months of May and June; in fact 43.2 inches, out of a total for the year of 97 inches, fell in May; the heaviest fall per hour recorded being 3.25 inches. The railway, however, suffered very little damage, which is no small reward for previous expenditure in combating the rainstorms frequently experienced in this country.
There were two or three occasions on which typhoon blows occurred but fortunately none was serious.