1946-1947 — Page 15

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The first consignment of 646 Australian hardwood sleepers arrived in June 1946.

During the year, the following quantities of sleepers were purchased:-

Hardwood sleepers.

FROM AUSTRALIA

FROM

FROM

INDIA

BANGKOK

2122

4996

6325

304

Bridge & Crossing timbers. 502

Some 600 concrete sleepers in the Main Line were damaged from time to time by defective parts hanging down from rolling stock before the staff was sufficient to carry out proper examinations.

52. The Department working short-handed had a very busy year in carrying out the heavy rehabilitation programme. The re-laying of missing tracks with loaned material and the repairs to tunnels, bridges and workshops had to be done concurrently in the interests of safety and, above all, without interference to traffic.

53. Re-laying Track. Five miles of track were removed by the Japanese during the war. The Chinese Government Rail- ways afforded assistance with the loan of 180 lengths 75-lb. rails, 600 lengths of 110-lb. rails, 5400 sleepers and a. corresponding number of fishplates. Unfortunately, they had no switches, crossings and fastenings, and so these accessories had to be made locally. The following lines were replaced:-

Siding along praya wall at Kowloon... Siding for assembling wagons at Hung Hom Loop line to Holt's siding..

Siding along praya wall at Hung Hom... Middle Road South, Kowloon...

Crossover between Mid-Road, South and No.

3 Road, Kowloon

1172 ft. long point to end. 1471 ft. long point to point

844 ft. 2460 ft. 1004 ft.

""

""

"7

""

""

"?

""

end.

188 ft. 1698 ft.

"

""

", point

"

""

19

>>

1501 ft.

""

Loop line at Yaumati Station...

Loop line at Taipo Market Station.

Portion of Main Line at Lowu..

Siding at Yaumati Station..

2144 ft. long.

484 ft. long point to end.

Materials for

Many other sidings have yet to be re-laid. these sidings have been indented for from the Crown Agents, with poor chances of delivery, and every avenue is being explored for the supply of sufficient rails as early as possible from other sources.

54. At Hung Hom, 1/4 mile of track was re-aligned in order to eliminate two sharp curves. Rails and sleepers for this work were obtained from sidings at Fanling and Lowu.

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