16 T. H. HOUGHTON. 



Dyke Wharf, and this, like all innovations, came in for a large 

 amount of adverse criticism. The prejudice has, however, 

 now almost disappeared, and the hoist has proved itself 

 equal to at least two cranes, when loading under ordinary 

 conditions. Records show that with large hatches a rate 

 of from 500 to 550 tons an hour can be maintained until 

 trimming commences. 



A coal handling plant at Pyrmont Jetty was provided in 

 1908 to deal with bunker coal, with a capacity of 200 tons 

 per hour. In the same year work was commenced at 

 Flemington in connection with the lines and platforms 

 required for the new Abattoirs now in course of completion, 

 and the ever increasing traffic called for further marshal- 

 ling facilities between Auburn and Clyde. The six and a 

 half miles of sidings provided at Clyde in 1892 became 

 inadequate, and separate sidings were required to deal with 

 down traffic, leaving up traffic to be handled at Clyde. 



The duplication of the North Coast line between Hornsby 

 and the Hawkesbury was completed in 1909, and between 

 Lindfleld and Hornsby in 1910, that between St. Leonards 

 and Lindfield having been opened in 1901, including the 

 remodelling of all intermediate station yards, and increased 

 accommodation at Hornsby. Beyond Hawkesbury, the 

 duplication towards Newcastle was extended to Wondabyne 

 in 1909, and linked up to Teralba in 1912, completing the 

 double line between Sydney and Newcastle. By this time 

 traffic throughout the lines had increased to such an extent 

 that long single line sections had to be divided, and cross- 

 ing loops provided at suitable sites. In all forty-seven 

 pops were laid in, and when designing them, care was taken 

 to ensure their linking in with the future duplication. 



The Otford Tunnel on the South Coast line was for some 

 years an awkward spot for enginemen and uncomfortable 

 for passengers. This tunnel is nearly one mile long on a 



