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The Railway Maintenance Branch
Its Organisation and Responsibilities.

The Maintenance Branch of the Railway Department is responsible for the safe, efficient and economical maintenance of the railway and its attendant bridges, buildings, and tunnels. A brief account of the important activities of the Branch is given in the following article.

The present head of the Branch is Mr. E. Casey, A.M.Inst.C.E., Chief Engineer, who after rising to the position of Inspecting Engineer was appointed Divisional Superintendent of the North Island Railways on 1st April, 1926, which position he held until he recently took over his present duties.

Associated with Mr. Casey in the Head Office are Mr. G. J. Bertinshaw, A.M.Inst. C.E., Asst. Chief Engineer, and Mr. A. S. Wansbrough, M.Inst.C.E., Designing Engineer.

Attached to the Chief Engineer's Office is a staff of Assistant Engineers and Draftsmen engaged in the preparation of standard and special plans for the guidance of District Engineers, also the preparation of plans, specifications and contracts for all new works, including station yard designs, bridge and structural work. They also prepare statistical data and keep a detailed record of the strength and condition of all bridges throughout the system.

The length of main line for which the Chief Engineer is responsible is 3320 miles, and the topography and physical conditions of the country which a great portion of the railway traverses make the maintenance of the track a task which imposes an arduous and heavy responsibility on the whole maintenance staff.

About half of the total mileage of the railway is constructed on grades steeper than 1 in 200, while one mile in every eleven is on a grade steeper than 1 in 50. Of the total mileage, nearly 6 per cent. is curves of 10 chains radius and under, nearly 12 per cent. has curves of 15 chains radius and under, while a total of 26 per cent. of the total mileage is curved track. The total length of bridges under the track on the New Zealand Railways is 54 1/4 miles.

For purposes of administration the system is divided into seven districts, each controlled by a District Engineer, with assistant engineers and clerical staffs.

The track itself is immediately under the control of Inspectors of Permanent Way, whose sections average about 110 miles and is sub-divided into lengths under the charge of gangers and surfacemen.

The bridges, buildings and various structures are under the charge of Foremen of Works in the various districts. The bridges in particular are carefully inspected at regular intervals by a Bridge Inspector, who is solely engaged in this work and makes separate reports on the condition of each bridge in his district for the information of the District Engineer and the Foreman of Works.