Geraldton Guardian (WA : 1906 - 1928), Saturday 14 March 1925, page 4


THE WASHAWAYS.

REPAIRS COMPLETED.

(From the 'Murchison Times.')

On Thursday, the day following the recent heavy rains at Cue, gangs of men were busy repairing damage done to the railway at points between Cue and Day Dawn, and between the latter town and Lake Austin. About 3 miles below the former town, near Median and Son's outcamp, for a distance of

30 chains ballast and earthwork had been washed away, leaving sleepers resting on mushy earth or suspended by fastenings to the rails. Early on Friday afternoon the repair engine and trucks loaded with old sleepers passed across this section and proceeded to the next washaway. 'Pigstying,' the temporary mode of repairing the washaways, consists of building up sleepers crosswise to replace ballast and earth, which have been washed away. A great many sleepers are required in breaks of 10 to 30 chains in length, and the completed work looks neat and somewhat artistic, especially where the washout is deep and tier upon tier of woodwork has to be erected. On Saturday afternoon the work was completed and the repair engine passed across pressing the last section of 'pigstying' into solid position. The gangs of men, chiefly permanent way men, under I. P. W. Ayrton deserve praise for the work which was evidently done well in a short time. The Perth train, which reached Mt. Magnet early on Saturday was not allowed to come further. Mr. Thos. Chesson, M.L.A. and Dr. H. R. Smith, of Cue, travelled to Lake Austin in a ballast train by which the District

Superintendent was proceeding. From Lake Austin to the first break the journey was continued by motor trolly, where the repair train was met. The train, which should have arrived at Meekatharra on Saturday morning from Perth, and the Sunday night train to Perth were cancelled, thus Meekatharra was without a train arrival or departure for a week. The train which left Meekatharra on Thursday of last week remained in Cue, the passengers departing by the following Monday's train.