'Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919' [‎13r] (30/138)

19
APPENDIX 3*
Report on the working of the Nushki Extension Railway from 1st April 1918 to 15th
January 1919.
(The mileages in this report are counted from Dalhandin, which is 198 miles from
Spezand.)
(1) Between 1st April and 25th May 1918 the line was extended from
mile 137 * 72 to Juzzakmile 177‘5 and Juzzak station was opened to military tramc
on 1st June 1918. By the 15th June 1918 the main line was extended from mile
174 k o on the mainline to mile 179-9, which remained the railhead until 12th
September 1918, when the extension to Duzdap was taken m hand, ^ome time
was necessarily required for laying the extensive yard at Mirjawa (mile 189_ 8) and
a start from Mirjawa was not made till the 2nd November 1918. On January
15th railhead was at mile 226*8, i.e., 16-1 miles from Duzdap.
(2) The work of the season was greatly delayed—
(i) by the late arrival of railway construction companies for plate-laying,
one reaching railhead on 5th November 1918 and the other on 19th
November 1918,
(ii) and still more so, by the serious epidemic of influenza which delayed
the influx of Afghan labour for more than six weeks.
(3) Military traffic during the period was carried as far as Juzzak only and to
the following extent:—
April 1918
May 1918
June 1918
July 1918
August 1918
September 1918
October 1918
November 1918
December 1918
January 1919 1st to 15th
Vehicles
274
192
371
647
1,012
466
1,049
891
893
663
Nuskhi to Dalbandin.
}
l
From Nuskhi and
Dalbandin.
Nushki to Juzzak.
(4) During the dry season from April to November there were no breaches
on the extension and traffic was not interrupted for more than a few hours during
sandstorms. During December rain fell and breaches occurred between Daibandm
and Kundi which caused a cessation of traffic for 24 hours.
(5) There have been no serious accidents during the period under review.
The section of the extension between Nushki and Dalbandin may be
regarded as practically permanently completed though new works, especially at
Ahmedwal, are still in hand, The bulk of the staff has been permanently housed
and the waterways have been permanently protected with stone.
(7) The section beyond Dalbandin is still very incomplete; the staff is housed
in temporary sleeper huts (which however have been well made and finis ed and
are sufficiently serviceable for a year or two). The waterways have not yet
been properly protected owing to an insufficiency of locomotives and travel mg
tanks Materials are being collected and the permanent works will be taken
in hand as soon as military traffic requirements permit. It is hoped they will be
completed within the coming official year.
(81 No good water has been discovered in the vicinity of Kundi and the only
reliable supplies at present known in the Dalbandin-Mirjawa section are those at
Dalbandin and Mirjawa and, possibly, Yakmach. Borings between miles 77
and 132 are in progress. ,
Dalbandin : ^ T * ALBUM,
Dated February, 6th 1919. Engineer-in-Chief, NushU E xtension Bailaivy. j
♦(Appendices land 2 consisted of maps and sketches.)