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RAILWAY.
The
The Water Tank and Tower at Kowloon was completed. old tank together with the wooden coal ramp was dismantled and the existing water column connected by a 6 inch pipe to the new tank. The base of the tower was covered with a cement concrete floor.
was
A contract for the Extension to Platform Awnings, Kowloon was let in October of last year. Owing to the softness of the column_foundations, hardwood piles had to be substituted for the usual China fir piles. Apart from this, the construction exactly similar to the existing portion. Considerable delay was experienced in completing this work owing to the Asbestos Corrugated Sheets arriving in a badly damaged condition. Approximately only 50% were intact aud fresh sheeting was obtained through a local firm. This arrived in good order and the work was completed before the end of the year.
2,200 feet of Cement Concrete Channels were laid in No. 1 Cutting. A good deal of rock cutting was involved.
out.
At Taipo Station a considerable amount of work was carried All drains at or near the station have been attended to with a view to preventing as far as possible mosquito breeding areas within the Railway boundaries.
A portion of the existing channel in Gills Cutting was taken up and relaid.
A further 3 bays of the Running Shed roof were stripped and replaced with Asbestos Corrugated Sheeting. Only 2 bays now remain to be done.
The brick arches formerly partitioning the old and extended portions of Running Shed No. 2 were dismantled in order to give more room for overhauling locomotives. The glazing in the roof of the Machine and Erecting Shops was painted green in an endeavour to lower the temperature of these shops which is very oppressive during the summer months.
A new butt end loading ramp for vehicles was constructed at the siding near the Railway Pier, Kowloon Station.
The Sea Wall in front of Kowloon Station was grouted with cement mortar.
The shafts on both sides of Beacon Hill Tunnel were found hollowed out on the top. They were filled in, and turfed and channels constructed around them.
Attempts were made to lessen the water leakage inside the
tunnel.
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The painting of Fridge No. 49 was completed without trouble. This work was held up in 1925 owing to interference by Strike Pickets. Small repairs were carried out to the abutments of Bridges Nos. 25 and 33.
In view of a number of derailments at points No. 48 of Kow- loon Station, an emergency crossover was laid near the half mile post.
The storm which visited Hong Kong in early morning of July 19th when nearly 20 inches of rain fell in eight hours, caused very little damage to the Railway considering the heavy rainfall.
Slips occurred in No. 1 Cutting, North Face of No. 2 Tunnel and Lowu, also at Wo Hang and Ma Mei Ha on the Fanling Branch Line. Although the amount of soil in No. 1 Cutting was about 1,000 tons it was cleared with little interruption of traffic.
Other damage consisted of a wash-out near the Sea Wall opposite the block station at Hung Hom. The pitched slope to Railway Bank was damaged at Miles 104, 11 and 12 respectively. The inverts of some bridges were washed out and there was slight damage to the Engine Sheds at Fanling and Shataukok.
In anticipation of heavy traffic during Fanling Hunt Race Meetings, the approach road to Fauling Station was widened for parking purposes. The level crossing for the main road between Fanling and Taipo was timbered and extended to allow for the turn of motor vehicles proceeding down the road to Shataukok.
The conditions obtaining on the Railway as a whole during the year have shown a very appreciable improvement over those of the previous year. Nevertheless the train services have been subjected to frequent interruptions and late running, over which this Section had no control.
Early in the year the through train services were resumed consisting of a third class slow train in each direction daily. The locomotives and stock of the Chinese Section were in such a bad state of repair that the trains could not run to time and on some occasions the passengers had to remain at the border over-night, coming forward the following morning.
It was felt that this slow through service imposed a distinct hardship on the passengers and it was therefore decided to run the one train each way as a fast train over the Chinese Section with corresponding fast trains on this Section to connect. They were discontinued on October 25th when the time-table was revised and it is found possible to put on an express train and a slow train to and from Canton daily.
On July 22nd all morning trains were cancelled due to a typhoon in close proximity to the Colony.
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