Full description
The Ways and Works Branch was established following the passage of the Transport (Division of Functions) Act, 1932. Transport Commissioner Albert Cecil Fewtrell was given charge of the branch following his appointment on 23 March, 1932 (1) The Branch performed the civil engineering tasks for the New South Wales rail system. It was responsible for maintaining track work, bridges, buildings and structures in a condition suitable for the safe and efficient running of trains. It was also responsible for the overall management of the physical condition of the Right of Way property (often called the Permanent Way) and for construction of new works. The Branch recommended design policy and prepared working drawings, surveys, and costs estimates.
In 1956 the main sections of the branch were Maintenance, survey, construction, design and workshops. (2)
The Chief Officer of the branch was designated Chief Civil Engineer from at least 1956 and it appears that from about 1964 the branch was known as 'Chief Civil Engineer's Branch' although its function and structure appears to have been unchanged. (3) However by early in 1974 (4) the branch seems to have resumed the name 'Way and Works Branch'.
In 1982 the Head Office Maintenance Section of the Branch consisted of the following senior staff, Assistant Principal Engineer, Maintenance, maintenance services manager, manpower development manager, track production engineer, track services engineer, bridges and structures engineer, building maintenance manager, stores control manager and project manager, upgrading.
The branch was devolved in 1989 and ceased to operate on 30 June 1989.(5)
Endnotes
(1) NSW Government Gazette 23 March, 1932 p. 1045.
(2) NRS 15741 [36]
(3) Report of the Commission for Railways for the year ended 30 June 1964 p. 3 NRS 15070/1/92
(4) Annual Report of the Public Transport Commission of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June 1974 p. 18 NRS 15070/1/107
(5) NRS 16349/1/[19]
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