74.
Work done for other Government Departments included providing the 65 ton steam crane for unloading the traverser at Hung Hom and removing redundant rail turnouts. Other work included the manufacture and modification of night deposit safes and various iron, bronze and aluminium castings.
75.
An order was placed during the year for a new wheel lathe to replace the existing lathe which had reached the end of its useful life and was beyond economic repair. The new lathe, which has a higher turning speed, will enable wheels to be profiled in about one-eight the time of the existing lathe. As train frequency increases, wheels will wear at a higher rate and need re-profiling with increased frequency in order not to endanger the safety of trains.
76.
Statistical statements relating to the analysis of train and locomotive running, fuel oil expenses, consumption of lubricants and the cost of repairs to locomotives, carriages and wagons will be found in Appendices XI to XIV, while the classification of rolling stock is shown in Appendices XV to XIX.
77.
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Approval was given by the Colonial Secretariat to adopt a heavier rail section weighing 54 Kilogrammes per metre and to use pre- stressed concrete sleepers with continuously welded rails.
Some equipment
to facilitate the change has been purchased and more, including the welding equipment, is on order.
78.
It is expected to start using the heavier rails on concrete sleepers by the end on 1976. At first welding will be confined to rail of 36 metre lengths, but eventually when the track conditions are suitable the rail will be welded into longer lengths.
79.
The increased frequency of traffic makes the time available for track maintenance during the day limited and during the night, periods for absolute possession have been reduced. This reduces the efficiency of the
To track maintenance work and the increased traffic causes heavier wear. deal with this situation authority is being sought to obtain machines to carry out track maintenance.
80.
Studies were carried out of route alignments from Tai Po to the proposed industrial estate there and to Tuen Mun via Yuen Long in order to define a railway reservation and tentative plans were made of a possible freight terminal adjacent to the container terminal at Kwai Chung.
81.
New Works and Improvements
(a) The station at Lo Wu has been improved with the following
modifications :-
(i) the platform surface at the southern end of the
station was extended by about 500 feet;
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