1948-1949 — Page 16

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A local trading company failed to carry out the contract for the supply of 1,000 bridge and crossing timbers owing to the sudden imposition of a 10% export tax by the Siamese Government.

77. Concrete Sleepers. Up to 31.3.49 there were

19,935 concrete sleepers on the Main Line

8,565 3,785

""

""

on sidings

وو

lying in yard (not on track)

32,285 concrete sleepers against an approximate total of

35,000 manufactured between 1920 and 1934.

It is worthy of note that after an average period of 22 years, 90% of Baker's concrete sleepers are still in existence. Unfor- tunately it was necessary, however, when replacing 85-lb. rails with 95-lb., to remove the concrete sleepers from the curves in the Main Line due to the wider bottom of the new rail and the insufficient spread allowed by the concrete sleepers. The concrete sleepers thus removed were re-used in other places.

78. Kempas Sleepers. The majority of the timber sleepers removed from the track after the war (i.e. 1946 to 1948) were Singapore Kempas sleepers obtained as an experiment in 1938. These sleepers were creosote-treated. They started to rot from the core, and this was not easily detected from the outside until they were in an advanced state of decay.

79. Australian Sleepers. With the exception of the 2,000 pieces put in the track during Autumn 1946, all Australian hard- wood sleepers found in this Railway are over 15 years old and are still serviceable. No hardwood sleepers in these latitudes so far handled can compare with Australian Eucalypts.

80. Siamese Sleepers. Some Siamese sleepers were purchased six months ago, but it is yet too early to comment as to the probability of their useful life.

81. Borneo Sleepers. Borneo timber sleepers were received in the Colony in January 1949, and were first put in the track in April. Here again, it is too early to comment.

82. We are indebted to the Forestry Officer for the advice. and assistance afforded to the Department on sample timbers, and the inspection of sleepers imported for Railway use.

STORES.

83. Details of stores purchased during the period April 1st, 1948 to March 31st, 1949 are as follows:-

Coal

Oil, Petrol, etc.

Sleepers

Local Purchase Government Stores

Other Departments Crown Agents

$ 533,712.14

998,538.03

56,783.32

364,875.40

117,431.12

235.98

1,300,133.40