1952-1953 — Page 14

All carriage springs, with the exception of those of carriages Nos. 205, 206, 103 and 104, are semi-elliptic solid eye back plate type. Quite a number of these springs break every month. The breakage is on the back plate just in front of the solid eye.

A number of methods of reducing this breakage has been tried. The only method that gave any success was the discarding of the solid eye back plate and the use in its place of the loose washer type of back plate. Six carriage springs to this type of back plate have been altered and after nearly a year in service, not one has broken. It has therefore been decided that when the present stock of solid eye back plate semi-elliptic springs are exhausted, they will be replaced with the loose washer back plate type of semi-elliptic springs.

33. FOUNDRY BUILDING. The new foundry building completed in March 1952 was made ready for use at the end of June 1952.

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34. WORK FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. considerable amount of work was done for other Hong Kong Government Departments. The most important items were the building of the bodies of two armoured cars and five bullet deflectors for the Police revolver ranges.

35. STATISTICS. Statistical statements Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 13 relating to analysis of train and locomotive kilometrage; coal and fuel oil running expenses, and repairs to locomotives, carriages and wagons will be found at the end of this report.

WAY & STRUCTURES

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36. MAINTENANCE. Way and structures were main- tained in good order during the year.

37. TRACK. The programme of re-railing the main line commencing in 1947-48 was completed in February, 1953. Approximately 44 miles of main line track were renewed during the year.

The renewal of Loop Line at Taipo Station was also completed in March, 1953.

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