Subs: Some are still outstanding. It is somewhat disappointing that some members take a very long time to pay their subs. Our fees are actually very modest when compared to other clubs of a similar type.
Sandfill: I am not allowed to call it the slump now. The roadbed was ballasted in mid April and graded soon after. We arranged for 1 days use of a large digger to lay track sets but were told that "the digger stays until the job is finished." On the first day the track from Downers Crossing to the sandfill was completely relaid using tracksets recovered from Mahons mine - about 23 x 30ft tracksets. Once all the necessary gear was sorted out and everyone used to their part of the job, a very impressive speed of laying was accomplished. From the time the digger dropped 1 set in place, drove 1/4 mile, picked up the next set and got back to lay the set in place, was down to 12 minutes. This work was helped by colin x 2, Bob, Ian plus a couple of helpers from Coalcorp The work carried on for 5 days. Bob was there all the time and Ian and myself helped when available. Up to 3 of Coalcorps staff helped as well. The end result was that the line is laid from Downers Crossing to the far side of the sandfill. A gap of 1 trackset has been left at the far end so a new culvert can be put in. The hole is dug and the pipes are stockpiled at the Junction so it should be fairly easy to take them up and lay them in place. If the measurements are right, a trackset will be built to bridge this gap and the line is hooked up to Glen Afton again.
Special thanks to Bob for staying a lot longer than he intended, Ruth must be getting used to his stays getting extended for urgent jobs. The line still needs some pulling into shape - particularly through the cutting just past Downers Crossing. The job mightn't sound much on paper but in those 5 days nearly 1 mile of track was laid. This has very nearly exhausted our supply of tracksets obtained from Mahons mine. Once all the kinks are taken out, we intend using the line as is to see how it settles down, then it will be ballasted. Work trains have been up to the sandfill but not over the new formation yet.
Shop: Teresa still finds painting to do on this, still it keeps her out of trouble.
The pie warmer is working and pies have been on sale. A set of cupboards has been made for the kitchen part of the shop. Paula has been re-doing a lot of signs.
Open Days: May open day was pretty quiet as far as passengers go. The strange weather continued with several fires being lit. They were put out very quickly by Trev and Bruce. The Peckett was used up and down the line, driven by Eric and part time by Chris. A good turn out of members meant all jobs were covered and several spare to work on some restoration.
Power Cable: Some months ago the P.D. gang dug a cable trench from the station to the loco shelter. The cable was laid in March and the trench filled in that day. Bob Wiseman is working on the switchboard and once installed - we will have power and lights in the shelter.
Ds: Late April saw a burst of activity on this loco. With the help of the P.D. gang, Mike lowered the loco until its axle boxes entered the horn guides. Work is now progressing on fitting the axle box oil pipe work before the loco is completely back on its wheels. Mike has put a lot of time into this job so far and a lot more is needed.
Keys: In last newsletter, I mentioned several breakins and that we had changed the common padlock on most sheds. We had another breakin - this time 2 people were found in the Shanty and arrested. They appeared before a Judge who added to their P.D. sentences. A search of their houses failed to find any of the missing gear. As a further precaution, we have changed the door locks on the Shanty and the workshop. New keys have been issued but if you haven't received one and need one, contact me.
Safety and Shunting School: A school will be held on Saturday 6th August at 2p.m. Please remember to bring your shunting booklet with you. It would pay to study the shunting signals before you arrive.
Station: Ken is continuing with his little museum of signalling equipment in the station office and it proves popular on open days. He is presently setting up a small leverframe beside the station. This is intended as an exhibit only.
Working Bees: The next ones are:- July 23 - 24, August 27 - 28 and September 24 - 25.
There is always plenty to do, so please turn up and help.
The next open days are:- August 7th and September 4th
PLEASE fill out the attached work notice and return it.
At Easter we held an extra open days on the Saturday and Sunday happened to be our normal open day. This idea was very successful and we want to do the same for Labour weekend in October. This is an advance notice more in next newsletter.
F185: As spare time allows, more pieces are being put on. The oil lines are complete except for the section up through the area under the smokebox floor. Most steam pipework in the cab to the gauge glasses and pressure gauge is complete. The next job is to put the saddle tank on.
Jigger Shed: Richard spent a day getting the foundations for this shed put and held together. Bob and him spent a day and a half getting the shed off the wagon, skidding it across the track and into place.
Cambridge Historical Society are holding a special day at Cambridge on 10-9-94.
The Cambridge branch railway opened in 1884 and is closing in 1994. As a celebration, they intend having C847, recently overhauled by Glenbrook Railway, running trips between Cambridge and Hamilton, plus all sorts of other attractions - you might even see Andrew driving one of our jiggers.
Train fares are :- Cambridge - Hamilton return $20.00
Cambridge - Hamilton single $12.00
Our club is invited to attend.
Jigger Shed: The doorways need widening a bit before the jiggers can be put in out of the weather.
The committee reminds members that all expenditure of any kind must be approved. There have been several instances recently when this has not been followed.
STOP PRESS*****
Saturday 6th August is planned as our shunting school. After the shunting school it is planned to have a BBQ. tea - completely bring your own. All salads will be put on a table. This will be followed by a film evening
Charter Trips: We have had one morning of charters so far and have bookings for another 3 mornings. These are all for kindergartens or playcentres.
Fire Fighting Wagon: Jan has completed cleaning and repainting the underframe and assisted by Richard, has started putting the framework for the deck on.
The following section on Bisleys siding was taken from N.Z.R. & L.S. Waikato
branch newsletter and was put together by Trev Terry. You might ask - what has this
to do with our club. One of our little diesel locos, the red "phone box" worked
in this siding after being converted from a tunnelling loco. When declared surplus
by Bisleys, the loco was loaned to Farmworld who in turn loaned it to Waihi railway.
It was not used there and the loan transferred to us. I can't imagine it being
man enough to shunt C wagons of grain.
BISLEY'S PRIVATE SIDING
Points and tablet locks were installed. The siding was opened for traffic on 20 March 1952. It was on the left hand side of the line with standing room for 12 wagons. Entry was gained from the Morrinsville end. Originally the siding was designed for two main line connections but only the eastern U connection was provided. The frame lever operated 'he main line points and a trap switch with ground target. Shunting of the siding was carried out by Bisleys own small diesel shunter The completed siding cost just over $4000.
No doubt few who took photographs at the old Claudelands station would have ventured beyond the station limits but 1.56 kms to the east was a small private siding off the main line. This was the siding of Bisleys Industry Ltd. In February 1950 the company applied to the Resident Engineer at Hamilton for a private siding. However it was not until February 1952 that the construction was completed and the middle of March before the main line in June 1969. Coal wagon C2 was approved for the conveyance of grain from the siding to A.G.Frankham grains discharge point located in the old engine shed at the Auckland loco depot.
In March 1953 N.Z. Loan and Mere Agency Co Ltd purchased property adjoining Bisleys and required a private siding. The Company reached agreement with Bisleys to extend their siding and the joint use of that siding for the delivery of wagons. Shunting would be done with Bisleys loco. N.Z. Loan and Merc. carried out the formation work on the siding. The N.Z.R. work cost just over $4200. The siding held 46 wagons and came into use on 1-4-1956.
With the introduction of CTC to Morrinsville on 2-7-1967. The tablet locked points were replaced with a switch lock and on Wednesday 23 February 1974 was removed thus ending the life of Bisleys private siding.
Huntly Railway Station : In the days of steam this was a busy station with a loco shed holding 2 Bb's, turntable and coal heap and crane. It had a staff of engine-drivers, guards, shunters, train examiner and all the necessary station staff. When steam finished, the loco shed, turntable and coal heap disappeared. Later still the goodshed closed, the train examiner took all his gear into the goodshed and the old train examiners shed disappeared. The loco shed drivers office and amenities remained and up to 4 Dc's were stabled there. By the time you receive this newsletter, the loco staff will be redundant or re-located to Te Rapa, most if not all shunters redundant, the station staff reduced to two. I hear the train examiners will be built up to 2. This yard is still very busy but the largest section of coal traffic is now by express goods to Glenbrook. Usually 3 trains of up to 24C wagons travel through the yard each day.
Since starting this newsletter a week and a half ago - a tremendous amount has happened to our railway. F185 - the saddle tank was put on and yep, you guessed it, it doesn't fit. It had been made approx 21mm too long. After some careful measurements, the easiest way to make it fit was to cut the whole end out of the tank and reweld the end in to a slightly shorter tank. The end was nearly cut out by Mike until he ran out of oxygen. Spacer blocks to fit between the live steam pipes and the cylinder block in the smokebox have been obtained. The necessary stud holes and steam hole through the centre have been marked out ready for machining.
Line to Rotowaro: Friday 20/5 saw Coalcorp start on removing the Rotowaro end of our line. Altogether approx 1 mile of line is being lifted. Bob and Trev have been driving the loco that has been taking away wagons loaded with tracksets. Some of these tracksets are stockpiled beside MacDougals crossing for use in our future terminus and the rest stored at the top end of Pukemiro yard. Coalcorp have supplied 2 diggers and drivers plus at times 4 workers. The weather for most of the job was wet to wetter, making the job drag on. All in all the job took until Wednesday 25/5 and would not have been accomplished if it wasn't for Bob being able to stay.
We have also met Coalcorp twice to sort out what we want for our new terminus and where it will fit. The new road from Glen Afton to Huntly is not going exactly where we were originally told.
DON'T FORGET TO RETURN YOUR WORK NOTICES!!