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RAILWAY.
The extension to workshops started in June, 1924, was com- pleted in April and handed over to the Locomotive Department. The blacksmiths moved into the new portion of the building, and the old smithshop was overhauled and converted into a Store for tools.
The 5-cwt, pneumatic hammer, punching and shearing machine, power hack saw, electric motors and shafting were removed from the old Shop and re-erected.
The 360-ton wheel press was moved to a more convenient position in the new extension, and four other machines, 18" shaper, power screwing machine, axle-box boring machine and air com- pressor were re-arranged in more convenient places.
Four tracks on the site of the proposed extension of the carriage shed were extended for the full length of 500 feet to ac- commodate stock.
Two three-storied tenement houses adjoining the Locomotive Yard, known as 70 and 72 Chatham Road, were taken over aud reconditioned as quarters for workshops staff.
A small area of Railway land measuring 80 feet by 60 feet, situated in the Locomotive Yard at Hunghom, was transferred to the Public Works Department for the purpose of building a permanent workshop and quarters for electricians.
The materials for the new water tank and tower at Kowloon arrived in May and a contract was entered into for erection. This work was nearly completed by the close of the year.
The materials for the extension to the awnings over the main platform at Kowloon arrived from England and Canada in August and September, and erection was commenced in December.
The bridge at the second mile, known as No. 4 Bridge and referred to in last year's report, was completed in May and traffic diverted back over the eastern spans.
The laying of underground cables in substitution for aerial telephone wires was continued back from Taipo at Mile 13 to Mile 9. This work is being carried out by the Public Works Department.
At Lowu the sidings were extended for about 300 feet to facilitate shunting operations.
Considerable damage to the Railway was caused by rainstormus in July which culminated in a heavy downpour on the 16th when 13.48 inches of rain were registered. A 3-foot culvert at Yaumati Station was choked up by debris from private works on the hillside above, and the line flooded with slurry. Later on a heavy slip took place and buried both tracks to a height of four or five feet, thus interrupting traffic. At Mile 3, private works caused a diversion of the flood waters which cut away the railway bank for some hundred yards, and all traffic had to change trains at either side of the breach for two days.
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The following new machines were installed in the Carpenters Shop:-
(i) Planing and moulding machine.
(ii) Band saw and chain mortising machine.
During the year most of the machines in the Workshops were given a general overhaul.
The motor repair shop has been kept extremely busy through- out the year, overhauling motor vehicles belonging to other Government Departments.
The Workshops were very greatly handicapped during the middle of the year by the strike. All the No. I's however remained and with their assistance the train service was maintained. During the greater part of a month, running repairs of all kinds were done by these few men.
The year 1925 has again proved an unfortunate one for the Railway, directly attributable to the conditions obtaining in the Kwangtung Province, the Through and Joint Sectional Traffic being suspended throughout the year with the exception of 166 Slow Through trains. The Through Slow Service suspended in 1924 was resumed on March 17th. The Chinese Section passenger stock however was found to be in such a bad state of repair, that it was considered inadvisable to allow it to run over the British Section as had been done in the past, and passengers were therefore conveyed to and from the border in stock provided by the British Section.
The through service was again suspended from June 1st to the 17th.
On Sunday, June 21st, a general strike of Chinese in the Colony commenced and through traffic was again interrupted and was not resumed during the year. Between June 23rd and July 11th there was a general exodus of strikers from the Colony, 24,851 passengers being carried to the border.
A ballast train for the use of the Public Works Department was provided on the Branch Line for 100 nights commencing on June 22nd and terininating on the 27th October, in connection with the construction of the new road to Sha Tau Kok
The Railway Division of St. Jolin's Ambulance Brigade, under the direction of Traffic Inspector Winyard, has proved itself most efficient. There are now thirty-three members, all recruited from the Traffic Department. A First Aid Box is kept at each Station and also on each train, and expert attendance and suitable dressings are available in cases of accident.
The Division again won the "Holyoak" Attendance Cup.
As mentioned in my last Report, it was decided that this Railway should adopt the system of accounts employed on all Chinese Government Railways. The recasting from 1906 to date has now been completed, and for the first time the accounts are presented in accordance with the Classification of Revenue and Expenditure as prescribed by the Ministry of Communications.
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