1948-1949 — Page 13

13

WAY AND STRUCTURES.

63. Maintenance. Way and Structures have been main- tained in a satisfactory condition although sufficient engineering supplies were not forthcoming.

64. Tracks. 912 tons of 95-lb. rails arrived from the United Kingdom in June, and the fastenings in September. The cardinal importance of supplying fastenings with rails cannot be too strongly stressed.

The replacing of old 85-lb. rails with new 95-lb. in the Main Line at Mile 5 to 5 and 9 to 13 was started in October and completed in January. Four and a half miles of track were renewed. 1245 rails and 2305 sleepers were replaced. The relaying time was 75 nights, and work was done without inter- ference to normal traffic. The long term speed restriction of 30 m.p.h. over section Mile 9 to 13 was removed on 22.1.49.

Other renewals in the Main Line were as follows:-

(a) Timber sleepers

Bridge & Crossing timbers.

Concrete sleepers (second hand)

(b) Ballast stone 2′′

(c) Rails 85-lb. (second hand)

Rail 110-lb.

(d) Crossing

Switches

...

2,993 pcs.

666

""

133

>>

1,510 cu. yds.

88 lengths. 1 length.

1 no.

Nil.

65. Sidings. In anticipation of the arrival of 50 heavy locomotives on their way to China, an U.N.R.R.A. supply from Australia, a siding 1,164 ft. long leading to the 100 ton crane of the Hong Kong &. Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd. was re-laid in November. The locomotives so far have failed to materialize.

Seven sidings at Hung Hom Station, totalling 6,874 feet long were re-laid in January, but were incomplete at the close of the financial year owing to short supply of switches and crossings.

The second loop line at Shatin Station, 1,365 feet long was re-laid in March.

All the above sidings were removed by the Japanese during the War.

A new siding 866 feet long, 'Y' shape, was laid in the Hung Hom Loco Yard for connection to the future 100 feet turntable.

66. Bridges. Sidewalks were provided for Bridges Nos. 31, 34 and 35 at Fanling and Sheung Shui to prevent pedestrians from walking on the railway track.

At the request of fishermen in Taipo, old piers in Bridge No. 20 were removed to enable junks to get shelter during typhoons.