31
motors, etc. The machinery for this purpose was taken over from the Company on its vacating its premises adjacent to the locomotive yard and removing to a new site about a mile away. The rotary convertors are not, however, of the most economical type and may have to be replaced.
In preparation for the building of the new over bridge 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.
A new brickwork latrine was built at Yaumati Station to replace the old iron one.
Early in the year new rails were laid through Beacon Hill Tunnel (2,403 yards). The time occupied by this work was 30 nights, 7 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.