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METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS.
EAST PERTH LOCO. DEPOT.
NEW WORK NEARING COMPLETION.
Within the next three mouths, should
present expectations be fulfilled, the engine
stock utilised for the purposes of the
metropoilitan railway system will be transferred
to the commodious new running yard and
sheds now nearing completion between the
East Perth and Mount Lawley railway stations,
and the unsightly sheds between Melbourne-
road and West Perth will be vacated.
These will in all probability, be subsequently
demolished, much to the satisfaction
of the lovers of the city beautiful, to
none Help
PLAN OF THE NEW DEPOT.
whom they have for years past constituted
a conspicuously offensive eyesore. The
construction of the new sheds, the first steps
towards which were completed, in June,
1915, has been necessitated by a number
of circumstances. The big increase in
engine stock, arising from the rapid
development of the system, has had the effect.
a taxing the western depot to far beyond
its capacity, and consequently of rendering
the economical and expeditions handling
of engines a matter of extreme difficulty.
Moreover, the land upon which the depot
stands is required for traffic sidings and
the extension of the passenger and goods
yards. Chiefly for these reasons it was
decided by the railway authorities to transfer
the engine stock to the eastern side
of the central station.
Extensive resumptions of private property
were made with a view of obtaining
sufficient space for the layout of the yards,
and the next step taken was that of grading
the area to the required formation. This
preparatory work entailed the removal of
about 149,000 cubic yards of sand. The laying
of the sidings was begun last year and
is now completed. In the layout, provision
has been made for the possible conversion
of the 3ft. 6. gauge to a 4ft 8½ in.
gauge, and at the same time by an extension
of the engine shed and sidings, it will
be possible to provide for the 4ft. 8½in.
gauge separately, should the Great Western
line be continued to Perth. To deal with
coal supplies, a bin 150 feet long, with
a holding-capacity of 200 tons of coal, has
been erected, and this will be fittcd with
10 sets of chutes for filling tenders or bunkers
of engines. Provision is made for the
future instalation of a mechanical coal
loading apparatus. Drainage has received
the attention due to its importance, an
elaborate system being provided. Ample
provision has been made for water supply
which will gravitate from the 50,000 gallon.
overhead tank at Summer-street through
12in., 8in., and smaller mains. Ten water
columns have been erected, two between
each pair of roads and opposite the outside
engine pits at the south end of the new
running shed, and two opposite the mechanical
coal bin. The engine pits, which are
entirely of brick, aggregate 5,000 feet in
length. At the south end of the now engine
shed provision is made for eight pits,
each 165 feet long, and pits extend under
each road through the buildings. The shed
is 362 feet long, with a width of 187 feet.
and is capable off stabling 50 engines. It
designed to permit of future extension,
more than doubling the present capacity.
The permanent, walls are of brick on con-
crete foundations and a distinctive feature
ot the shed is its tiled roof. This is not
only a pleasant change from the
customary galvanised iron, but also
possesses a marked practical advan-
tage over a roof of galvanised iron
by reason of its immunity from the effects
of engine fumes. Iron roofs on similar
structures have, owing to the corrosive ac-
tion of the fumes, proved a constant source
of trouble and expense. An 80ft. turntable,
capable of taking engines equal to the type
used on the trans-Australian railway, has
been erected. Connection to the main lines
is gained at both East Perth and Mt. Law-
ley, under the control of the signal cabins
at those stations. The sidings in the depot
total about six miles of line, and are of
60 lb. section rail; they branch out into ten
separate roads, running into the new shed
at the south end, and then converge again
at the north end. Through the building the
grade of the sidings is 1 in 264. In addition,
a siding and shed to house the break
down crane will be constructed. About
900,000 bricks from the State brickworks at
Beenup hare been used in the construction
of the new depot, which covers a total area
of 22 acres.
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