- 30
RAILWAY.
The new bay to the carriage shed referred to in the last Annual Report was completed.
On the arrival in the Colony of the necessary steelwork for the New Carpenter's Shop, a contract was entered into for its erection. This structure was nearly finished, but as it was urgently required by the Locomotive Department in connection with the building of wagons, its completion was delayed,
Indents were sent home through the Crown Agents for steelwork, roofing and glazing required for the extension to the Workshops. This material is expected to arrive early this year.
The boundary wall at Kowloon Station for which provision was made in the Estimates, was not proceeded with. In May an indent was forwarded for a quantity of steel fencing of similar pattern to that now in use, for repairing portions of the existing fence, but the consignment had not arrived at the end of the year.
The over-bridge to the north of Yaumati Station referred to in last year's report was opened on May 10th. The bridge is completed with the exception of the drains which will be laid as the roadway below is formed.
5,285 sleepers were renewed in the main line, of these 1,180 were of reinforced concrete. During the year 1,314 reinforced concrete sleepers were cast. These sleepers are proving most satisfactory and are found particularly useful in checking rail creep, and where laid continuously they entirely prevent it.
Three areas of vacant railway land were let on short leases for the erection of motor bus and car garages at remunerative rates, and further vacant areas of the Hung Hom railway reclamation were leased to the Hongkong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company as timber yards.
In July it was decided to erect quarters at Blackhead's Point for those of the traffic staff who are required to reside near to Kowloon Station; and who are at present accommodated in rented houses. Designs were prepared for two blocks of three floors each in reinforced concrete suitable for housing 60 men, and a contract for their construction was awarded by the end of the year.
A new operator's cabin was built at Hung Hom which relieves the operator from all danger in crossing the lines in order to exchange tokens.
Traffic between Kowloon and Sha U Chong in Chinese Territory via the ferry from Taipo, increased to such an extent that the licensee running the ferry service put on a new and much larger launch to cope with it.