'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1860-61' [‎34v] (64/164)

[ Bombay]
PUBLIC WORKS—RAILWAY.
Except two rather large bridges between MemooJa.jcd (12o miles frorn
Surat) and Alnnedabad, there are no heavy works to be done, and no scarcity
of anything, but good ballast. The expense of land carnage for the material's
of the bridges will be great, for these will have to be begun before the rails are
laid up to them, to ensure the line to Ahmed;!bad being i eady by tins time
next year; the line may be finished to Meraoodabad by JNo\ember next.
On the open line much still remains to be done ; more ballast has to be
spread, station buildings to be finished, extra sidings, carriage landings, cranes,
roods’ platforms, water-tanks, turn-tables, &c.,ha\eto oe provided. Audi how
ever is being done in the way of improvement. It may be necessary to explain
that permission was given for opening the line with various temporary expe
dients, in order to get some return as soon as possible. The style of construction
of many of the stations falls short even of that lately ordered by the Govern-
Tnent of India. Some 3rd Class Stations are now being put up in this latter
style, they will cost rather less than half what permanent stations, affording equal
accommodation, would ; but the economy of building them thus is questionable,
and it would probably be better economy to build a part only of the station at
once substantially, and make shift wdth that till times mend.
The praiseworthy exertions made to finish the line between Broach and
Baroda (45 miles), opened last January, deserves mention. This portion of the
line, and that from Surat to Bulsar, benefited for a time by the misfortunes of
the rest; for when the works were stopped elsewhere, they received a large
accession of Engineers and skilled labourers. Too much praise can hardly be
awarded to the courage and industry which have pushed on the Nerbudda
Bridge to completion, in spite of its various engineering difficulties and a try
ing climate, and have been rewarded by a successful termination, the last girder
having been laid on the 27th of May, and one of the heaviest locomotives havino-
crossed on the 11th June.
i ue working oi the Traffic Department is improving. Ao accidents,
involving loss of life or serious injury, have been reported on the open line dur
ing the yeai. 1 here is often great unpunctuality, there are sometimes other
irregularities; but it must be recollected that the line is unfinished, that a rapid
] ei liK>re Tan half a mile wide divides it in the middle, and that the stock of
engines and carriages falls far short of wdiat is required for both portions.
m workshops the Company is very behindhand. There are at present
Oiu) ■ ome temporary shops of inflammable material at Amrolee near Surat, they
^.e being einmged and somewhat improved ; but no consideration of economy,
rovevei, ougnt long to defer the construction of permanent shops and stores;
more need not be built now, than is required tor the present work, but stability
ana security from fire seem indispensable.