During the early months of 1950 the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants expressed some concern regarding the amount of staffing, or, more precisely, the lack of it, on some Otago Central trains. Assistance was provided for guards on passenger trains between Dunedin and Ranfurly, but not beyond. Cromwell guards felt that they too should have assistance beyond Ranfurly. In June 1950, Traffic Inspector Alfred Dowall, who was stationed at Dunedin, was despatched up the Branch for three days to investigate the situation. During this period he kept a meticulous record of the traffic offered - which included goods picked up and put off, wagons dropped off or uplifted, passengers joining and leaving, and any relevant remarks (including time-keeping).
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