OPEN DAYS: These continue to be well patronised and the extra income is very welcome. Thanks to all who continue to show up and help out in all jobs. All open days have been run in fine weather, which makes a difference.
We could do with more help well before the first train departs to assist getting everything sorted out and ready.
The next open days are:
1st Sept 10.30 to 3.30
6th Oct 10.30 to 3.30
Labour weekend 26th Oct 12.30 to 3.30 ... Sat
27th Oct 10.30 to 3.30 ... Sun
3rd Nov 10.30 to 3.30
Please fill out the attached work notice and return them.
We often get parties of visitors on open days that are either too small for a charter trip or choose to come as a group on an open day, These help boost our passengers and save the hassles of a charter trip.
SOCIAL EVENING: We have had very few replies about this. Jan went around asking who was going to attend during August open day, and there are enough to warrant holding it. Any one who hasn't replied contact Jan.
CHARTER TRIPS: The requests for kindergarten trips are coming in thick and fast. We often have trouble trying to fit them in. We have had one morning of trips and have another two mornings planned. We also have a Sunday charter trip for Carter Holts planned.
The charter trips are the 'cream' on top of our open day income.
CB: The boiler was hydraulic tested to check the repairs and surprise surprise - another broken stay was found. This was in the worst place possible - hidden by the loco main frame, so the boiler had to be lifted enough so the stay could be cut out and replaced.
A new stay was made and screwed in. Luckily the power station welder again came to the rescue and seal welded both ends.
After a charter trip, the boiler was warmed by steam from the Peckett and tested. All looked good so an appointment was made with the boiler inspector for the official test.
The chance of having a loco in steam and a few spare hours after our own hydraulic test was too good to let go, so the steam hose was hooked up to the engine and the engine run for about 1/2 hour. Richard got a bit bored with this so lifted a plate in the floor, squirted some more oil around and pulled a handle to put the drive in gear. The loco was able to move up and down the track driven by its engine onto the rear bogie. The front bogie drive hasn't been connected yet. The loco was able to move about three engine lengths each way. This is the first time the loco has moved under its own power since the early 1960's. At one stage Richard let out a shout that the worn gears were jumping but close inspection showed it was actually wheel spin!
Richard has made a new main steam line from the boiler to the engine and is presently fitting the lubricator. The engine had no reversing lever but lying in a shed-was,,a regulator handle from a 1930 NZR C loco. This has been fitted to our CB and works very well. Richard is presently boring out new brake hangers and making brake rigging as required.
PD GANG: The gang or sometimes two gangs continue to come out most weeks. They continue to work on the roof of Eric's carriage. They have spent three days putting in sleepers under Bob's supervision and a further two days doing general cleaning up and digging drains.
In view of our recent weather pattern I thought this was entirely appropriate.
WEATHER: The latter part of June and all July was the wettest for many years. Our railway has not suffered any slips so far and doesn't appear to be waterlogged at any point. This trouble free time is due in part to Bob's work in getting existing drains cleaned out or new ones dug.
F 185: Work continues on this as time permits. Work is progressing towards fitting the Pyle National generator. So far the generator has been cleaned down and painted. New steam pipework is being run.
PECKETT: For the first time ever, the Peckett had to be taken out of service on an open day with a feed check valve on the feed water line to the boiler that wouldn't stop blowing back. At that time, steam pressure was too low to work the other injector properly. The loco was used later in the day after the good injector had been proved.
A week later, the offending check valve was pulled apart and what looked like a small piece of woollen cloth was removed. The loco was tried out a week later for a charter trip and all worked well.
CJ's NEW HOUSE: Jan continually says that I may as well take my bed to the rail way line and stay there. Perhaps I should have a set up like this.
This house - or castle - is at the end of a railway tunnel on a busy line in England. Until very recently, it was owned by the railways and a railway worker lived in it.
The new owners are trying to find someone to rent it.
1996 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF RAIL SOCIETIES CONFERENCE
This year it was held in Auckland hosted by Glenbrook Railway and Railway Enthusiasts Society. Jan and myself attended as BTC delegates.
This year, one of the main themes was about making our safety scheme work and some problems already found with the operation of a scheme.
General feeling was that all railways should be using their scheme as if it was approved. In general terms, our scheme is largely what we do already but more attention needs to be paid to recording mileages run, hours in service and faults and repairs.
There was discussion on the certification system for steam loco drivers as the old system with Ministry of Transport has been phased out and a new modular system is not in place. We are extremely fortunate that our dispensation from the rules under MOT still applies, so we can still train drivers and get them passed for driving on our railway.
There was a very interesting talk on which is the prevalent act - Resource Management Act or Railway Corridor Safety & Management Act. Legal advice is that the Railway Corridor Safety & Management Act takes precedence unless an additional nuisance is created. This act gives a railway the power to cross neighbouring land to maintain a railway or require work to be done on neighbouring land where something could affect the operation or maintenance of the railway.
There was some discussion on the 'ageing' membership of railways and the problems of attracting new members or younger members. Could it have something to do with the lack of 'spacie' type machines or electronic toys on a railway? This problem is felt by clubs of all types, partly as a result of more people working longer than the old 40 hours a week and other demands on leisure time.
A visit was made to GVR and I had a ride in their 6-wheel C carriage just out of a major restoration job. Very nice - probably too good to be in everyday use.
Another visit was made to MOTAT to see the Baldwin steam tram and L loco in steam, I saw the Baldwin being overhauled many years ago while we were still at MOTAT but never saw it running. The boiler came due for major repairs soon afterwards. I had never seen the L in steam either.
Andrew has purchased a weedeater and regularly trims the grass that can't be attacked by the lawn mower.
PATTERNS: A second ute load of useful patterns has been collected from A & G Price. This time, more time was able to be spent just looking into the racks in the hope that something useful might be spotted. While looking in the racks of gear patterns I noticed a pinion pattern that looked as if it might fit a loco - lo and behold it had CB loco stamped on it. I could not find the matching crown wheel pattern unfortunately. There was one for a CA loco, but it appears to be different from a CB. There were some tyre patterns that will fit some of our locos.
Several other railways have been given or borrowed patterns that are for their vehicles or common parts they are having to get cast.
TRACKWORK: In addition to the trackwork carried out by the PD gang, club members are also carrying out some.
Bob is re-gauging a series of curves just below our pine tree plantation. These curves often give trouble but the number of new sleepers put in should allow us to carry on elsewhere. A speed restriction will remain on this section for some time to see how the track settles down.
Andrew has been spending some time overhauling a point to go in the storage sidings at the top end of Pukemiro yard. This will eventually give us another siding and so enable us to store some of the spare wagons off the main line.
A scrub cutter on a tractor recently spent two days giving the sides of the line a hair cut. He cut from our new Rotowaro terminus almost to the Jenner house at Glen Afton. He had to admit - bouncing over some sections of the line with little ballast was rather uncomfortable. This type of work is rather costly but much quicker than the PD gang.
WORKSHOP: The poles were concreted in after the holes had been emptied of water. Even then, some had filled up again by the time the concrete truck arrived. Richard and the PD gang have taken some iron off the front end of the existing shed so the poles could be lined up and any excess length cut off. The PD gang erected some scaffolding to allow work on the roof structure. So far the poles have been cut to length and the purlins have been bolted in place. All timber for the workshop is on site and the roofing has been ordered.
CAR VAN: Bruce has done some more on this and all timber he needs to complete the outside is on hand.
WORKING BEES As you will see during a visit to the Junction there is plenty going on but more hands are always welcome.
Working bees are still held on the 4th full weekend of the month.
The next ones are: September 28th & 29th
October Labour weekend
November 23rd & 24th
WATER WAGON: Wingnut has started work on this again and is presently fitting the tanks. We lashed out and purchased a new Kawasaki 11HP motor for the unit, and Dave Robertson has donated a new pump. Mike and Wingnut have been busy measuring up and cutting pieces of steel to make a base for the pump and motor. We were lucky with the motor as we spotted it at the Agriculture Field-days and managed to get one of the few left at the old price. New prices were 30% dearer.
NEW MEMBERS: We have had several new members join the club since last newsletter - welcome to the club. We hope you will find plenty to do and interest you at the Junction.
ATTENTION: A safety and shunting school will be held on Saturday 28th September starting at 1 p.m. in the shop at the Junction. It is important that all operating staff attend. Please bring your shunting handbooks, a pen or pencil and your copy of the operating rules section of our safety scheme.
The following are for sale in our shop ........
SWEATSHIRTS - $35 each all sizes (with our logo)
(colours Jade, cerise, white, greymarl w/blue neck trim)
These have been arranged by Mary and look very smart.
CALENDARS - Yes it's that time again. We have a wider variety this year:
Locomotive Engineers $13.50
NZR & LS - historic pictures calendar $19.95
Railway Enthusiasts (on order - due soon)
These make good Xmas presents and will be in time for overseas posting.
21 TODAY...... Congratulations to Paula, our "Sausage sizzle expert" on turning 21 during the month.