CO129-596-7 Canton-Kowloon Railway 6-2-1948 - 25-8-1948 — Page 15

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55. The following spaces were let to local Advertising Companies.

Inside Kowloon Station Outside

Opposite Nathan Road

35

504 sq. ft. 1,294

39

32

}}

950

""

960 "" 1,026 233

37

23

Waterloo Road Bridge

Prince Edward Road Bridge

Balcony Strip

59

J

The total revenue earned from this source was $48,788.

MECHANICAL WORKSHOPS.

56. All locomotives, rolling stock, machinery and equipment were maintained in as good condition as their age and the shortage of tools would allow.

57. The principal difficulty which has confronted the work- shops since the re-occupation has been the shortage of machines and tools, as this affected both the cost and speed with which repairs and rehabilitation could be carried out. All the best machinery and tools were looted during the war, but twenty two new machines were received during the year, and this in con- junction with the arrival of materials from the Crown Agents has enabled considerable improvements to be made in the workshops outturn. Repair costs per engine, carriage and wagon were lower, and the greatly improved maintenance of rolling stock also led to a lower consumption of lubricating oil.

58. The last six of the Austerity locomotives were received during the year. They were all coal burners equipped with fixed grates which will be replaced by rocking grates as soon as the latter arrive from the United Kingdom. The total number in service was nineteen as classified below:

2 Shunters Tank

5

Engine Tank

12

Austerity with tenders 2-8-0

The position is satisfactory in so far as numbers is concerned, but the types are not the most suitable or economical for the work performed. The twelve Austerity and two small shunters which were built for war purposes in 1944, are not of modern design, but have rendered valuable service.

One old tank shunting locomotive which was practically unserviceable and too small for present requirements was sold for

scrap.

59. Carriages and wagons. General repairs and overhauls were given to eighteen carriages and twenty wagons while the arrival of some lighting sets from Great Britain combined with old equipment which was repaired in the workshops enabled lights to be re-installed in all British Section coaches. Fans were also re-installed in all first and second class rolling stock.

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60. The former Canton Belle and Taipo Belle motor coaches were converted into first and second class composite carriages and used on the local service. The Japanese had removed parts of the motors during the war, and the manufacturers were unable to supply replacements.

61. A Railway Motor Bus was built in the workshops by joining two Dodge Motor Truck chassis together. The Bus could be operated from either end and was used as a shuttle service to and from the New Territories.

62.

The Railway steam cranes were in constant use during the year.

The 65-ton crane was invaluable in clearing the track after the derailment at mile 10 referred to in paragraph 32 of this report, and also a bad derailment of ten loaded goods wagons and a locomotive which occurred at Pokut on the Chinese Section on August 15th. Revenue earned by the cranes from work performed in loading and unloading cargo on behalf of commercial firms, Chinese Government and other Government Departments was $42,662.

63. Considerable work was carried out in the workshops on behalf of other Government Departments and organizations. The most important were as follows:-

•

(1) The servicing and fitting of 27 U.N.R.R.A. locomotives and 6 U.N.R.R.A. shunting engines for the Canton Hankow Railway.

(2) Major repairs to three steam rollers, one motor roller, one concrete mixer and repairs of various plant and parts for the Hok Un Quarry on behalf of the P.W.D.

(3) Repairs and cleaning of hundreds of small surgical

instruments for the Medical Department.

(4) Heavy repairs to a buldozer on behalf of the R.A.F. (5) Small repairs for the General Post Office, and making of

various parts for the Royal Observatory.

64. There were nine major repairs of motor vehicles carried out for Land Transport, and 31 for other Government Departments. Several repairs of a minor nature were completed to Railway and other Departmental vehicles.

STORES.

65. Stores were well kept and maintained during the year, and were checked by a Board of Survey between the 28th January, 1948 and the 2nd February, 1948.

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