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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 5 (September 1, 1927)

[section]

The interest of public and railwaymen alike cannot but be stirred by the visible signs of railway progress to be met with in all parts of the Dominion.

The now familiar Automatic Signal-ling posts, with their hooded lights, are making their appearance in new territory-sure sign of the advance of science in assisting the safe and expeditious handling of trains. Improved timetables and better rolling-stock have made passengers and freighters pleased and contented, a condition conducive to favourable reactions on the spirits and attitude of the staff. Better methods and machinery in workshops have lessened the cost of production, increased efficiency and created better conditions for those engaged in this work.

The general programme of railway improvements laid down in 1924 is proceeding apace. At Auckland everything about the new yards-their size, wealth of sidings, new postal outlet, and general evidence of organised activity in modernising the facilities of that important terminal-has favourably impressed primary producers, industrialists, and travellers alike-all, in fact, who recognise in improved transport facilities an important essential towards stimulating production and adding to the general well-being of the community.

At Wellington the three-quarter mile of sea-wall through deep-water, a structure intended to form the outer boundary of the new station yard reclamation, was commenced in May, 1923, and finished a month or two back-ahead of schedule. The filling in of this 68 acre area is now proceeding rapidly, dredges pouring material into the ample basin that the sea has resigned to the uses of commerce. The space still to be filled is known, the rate of filling is known, and no great strain is placed upon the engineering faculty in foretelling the approximate time at which the actual work of laying out yards and erecting buildings may be commenced.

But the “hope deferred” that “maketh the heart sick” has affected one writer so greatly that a sub-leader in the Wellington “Evening Post” of 16th August expresses doubt as to whether Wellington ever will have a new station-this, despite physical evidences, supplemented by an assurance from the Railway Board that the whole work of laying out yards and erecting station buildings would be well on its way in from 1 1/2 to 2 years. The Railway Department has been as anxious as the people of Wellington for this work to proceed, but the war period and subsequent term of high prices and industrial depression prevented the Government allocating any funds for the work before 1923. The four-year job of building the sea-wall an outstanding work in sea reclamation-brings us up to the present time, when a large portion of the actual reclamation (carried on concurrently) has been completed. The Department has its plans laid for pushing ahead with the yard-laying work as soon as physical conditions on the reclaimed area permit, and as Cabinet allocation of funds are made available.

The Middleton hump shunting yard to facilitate the sorting of South Island merchandise is practically completed, and the electrification of Lyttelton tunnel is under way.

All the above are among the major visible evidences of railway progress. No less real, however, are the indications of improvement in non-material things. Organised training of those entering the service, now applicable to all apprentices and cadets, has been developed quite recently but is already making its advantage felt at stations and in Workshops. page 3 Graded examinations promise to make clear the way for those possessing the necessary merit to progress to higher positions. The spirit of co-operation is permeating all ranks of the Service and assisting towards the effective prosecution of the Department's various business enterprises.

Optimism is every-where, and optimism like the roseate glow accompanying the first glimmering streaks of dawn-although not in itself the dayspring of prosperity is its best and most frequent forerunner.