OPEN DAYS: The first for 1997 were held during Easter and the first Sunday of April. Easter was fairly quiet - particularly the Saturday afternoon.
Because of continued fine weather, it was not possible to use a steam loco outside Pukemiro yard. Instead one of the Meremere diesel locos was used with a carriage. F185 was used for cab rides between the Junction and Downer's Crossing.
Andrew ran a jigger on April 6th but did not have a lot of passengers.
Richard and Bob had the CB in steam and at one stage, were also taking passengers for rides. I hear Richard is thinking of joining the Girl Guides!
I am told there were 38 train movements during April Open day, surely a record on our railway.
Thanks to all who helped, particularly over Easter when we were very short staffed.
CHARTER TRIPS: These have started well, in fact we have had three days so far. The first was 300 Cubs and had to be run in mid-March to fit in with a camp being held in Hamilton. Too dry for our steam locos, so both Meremere diesels ran the trains driven by Colin and Alan.
We have also had a lot of Playcentres and two kindergartens visit. As these were morning trips, the Peckett was used.
We have managed to have the shop open as well on these days. To all who help with charter trips - many thanks.
A G M: This was held in mid March. The only change to the committee was that Alan- Manning replaced Trev Walker. Trev was co-opted on to the committee. There was some discussion on Rotowaro stations final siting. The committee have to come up with a list of pros and cons for siting it at the Junction and our new terminus. This list will go out with - hopefully - this newsletter and a special meeting is to be held in July to decide exactly where the station will go.
The AGM was well attended - the best for many years. The committee has decided to economise on meetings and future meetings will be held in our new meeting room. See over.
SAFETY SCHEME: Our safety scheme was approved by Land Transport late in March.
LTSA require that our auditors carry out an audit of us in line with our safety scheme. By the time you read this, both Peter and Rodney will have been and viewed our paperwork.
To maintain our licence to operate, we are required to carry out the conditions set out in our safety scheme. This will mean more paperwork for ALL and more noting of repairs or faults. Alan and Colin have already waded through the check sheets for servicing our Meremere diesels.
Should we fail to carry out the conditions of our safety scheme, our licence to operate can be canceled or suspended.
Over the next few months, I will be issuing all involved in running or maintaining our railway, the sections of the safety scheme they need. What is written must be followed. If changes are needed, we can get our safety scheme amended.
To help all members get to grips with this scheme, a training session will be held on Saturday 28th June at 1pm in the shop.
It must be remembered that this safety scheme is FOR OUR RAILWAY ONLY and could be very different to other railways.
All members who maintain or operate our railway are requested to attend this extremely important afternoon.
PECKETT: This loco was checked in steam by the boiler inspector in mid-March.
F185. This loco was also checked in steam in mid-March. Work has continued on the electric lighting system. The generator has been running the headlight and the electrical conduit is complete. We now need to run new wires and put the cab light fittings in place.
Ian, Sid and Richard helped with the latter part of the boiler surveys.
CB 117: The engine unit on this has been apart several times since last newsletter trying to track down a few elusive knocks. Most of these have been found and corrected. The two new pinions for the front bogie have had the centres bored out and keyways cut ready for pressing onto the drive shaft.
Richard has had to alter the oil supply pipework from the lubricator to the steam pipe just before the cylinders. As part of his checking for knocks he found the bottom of the steam valves in the engine unit well oiled but the tops very dry. The type of lubricator fitted does not atomise the oil but rather feeds it as drops of oil/water. These drops were collecting at the bottom of the pipework and valve chests and not getting mixed with the steam properly. Hopefully the new setup works better.
SHANTY-: Teresa has spent a lot of time cleaning and painting this. One room has been pretty well completed. Could this be the reason she always seems to be buying undercoat??
CARVAN: Bob is still working on the roof of this. The galvanised iron shaped sections that form the veranda roof have never been properly joined together - just some PK screws to hold them in place. Bob is pop-riveting the sections together - a time consuming job. He has just found the other end needs the same treatment as well.
Bruce has re-started on the wood work that still needs doing. A new member, Brian Tribble has undertaken to do the inside of the carriage.
FIREWOOD: Richard, Bob and Sid have been busy with their chainsaws and we now have our firewood wagon full again and some stocked in our storage tanks. We have a suspicion that someone is helping themselves to the wood in our storage tanks, so they will be shifted to a more inaccessible place.
PD GANG They have been busy on trackwork and splitting firewood. They have partly completed a drain along the back of the yard at the Junction. This drain takes a lot of run-off during heavy rain.
They have been working with Bob and myself replacing sleepers. One of the places under repair is the two curves just below our pine plantation. The lower end of these curves still needs further work. All rails on these curves are being re-gauged as new sleepers are put in. This often means un-fastening sections of track with good sleepers.
This job is taking much longer than expected but when finished will be good for many years.
They have also replaced some sleepers under a point at the top end of the yard at the Junction.
They have completed the replacement of a section of track in the loop in front of the station. This job included putting in all new ballast.
ROTOWARO TERMINUS: The earthworks for this are complete. The part that the rails will sit on has been re-graded to 1 in 150 but could well end up very close to level after the rails have been laid, ballasted and jacked.
The centre line for the main line has been pegged out and the loop line centres marked.
Next step is to get two points presently laid out near the sandfill, loaded onto a wagon and taken down. They then need some sleepers replaced and generally tidied up. Once this is done one can be slid into the bottom section of our present main line. Any offers to do this work?
SPONSORS DAY: To show our appreciation to various companies and people that greatly assist us, we have decided to hold a special day on Saturday 5th July from lpm. We hope to have train rides and an afternoon tea for our visitors.
To run this, we need help from our usual open day crews and, in this case, particularly the ladies. We don't plan on a 4-course spread but intend putting on a good afternoon tea. Ring Jan with any offers of help (07 828 4850).
We have had several people in this category visit us recently and all are impressed by what we are doing. Their visits always result in more sponsorship when we ask.
Please help make this afternoon a success
OPEN DAYS: The next ones (including Queen's Birthday Weekend and Sponsor's Day are
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY SAT (afternoon only) SATURDAY 31st MAY
SUNDAY 1st JUNE 10-30 to 3-30
SPONSOR'S DAY (afternoon only) SATURDAY 5th JULY
SUNDAY 6th JULY (normal times!)
PLEASE INDICATE THESE ON THE ATTACHED WORK NOTICES
AND RETURN THEM PLEASE.
MAINLINE STEAM OPEN DAY: Ten of our members went to visit their depot at Parnell on 16/3. They had their small Bagnall and slightly larger Garratt in steam, both giving rides. A few of our members or ex members who work at Mainline Steam were there and chatted with.
Most of us had a good look around. It is a much different set-up to ours. Rather than a passenger carrying railway, it is more of a workshop and depot. They have a lot of locos and equipment at the depot, some in working order and some stored or under restoration.
All in all, an enjoyable day out.
Andrew's petrol weed-eater has been in action, driven by himself or Richard tidying up some of the weeds around the Junction. If you get keen enough, Richard or Andrew, there's a mile of track each end of the Junction that could use a hair cut!
Colin and Alan spent part of a day spraying the line between the Junction and Rotowaro. Richard has also sprayed some of the sidings and around buildings at the Junction.
WORKSHOP: Progress has largely ground to a halt because of other work. The rails through it have been fixed to the concrete pads and the sleepers at each end. The track can now be used again.
DIESEL LOCOS: Alan and Colin have given both the Meremere diesels a good going over with a grease gun, oil cans and new filters. They spent most of a day on each one.
Ken and grandson are working on TR 217. This work has involved changing injectors for some checked by Colin, checking the braking system and repairing the clutch.
SPARK ARRESTOR FOR F 185: Mike continues to work on this. I notice chalked on it "Mike's mighty muffler!"
It is intended holding a model railway exhibition of bush tramway models and layouts on 6th and 7th September 1997. The exhibition will be held at the PUTARURU TIMBER MUSEUM and will also include photos and other info. The Timber Museum itself is well worth a visit and why not combine the two?
For further info. contact: Paul Bernsten, 21 Korotaha Tce., Rothesay Bay Auckland 1330
WORKING BEES: The next few will be held on-
MAY 24th & 25th
JUNE 28th (SAFETY SCHEME TRAINING DAY) l pm 'SHOP'
JUNE 29th
JULY 26th & 27th
BUSH TRAMWAY CLUB
ROTOWARO TERMINUS
PROS AND CONS OF REPOSITIONING
(To Hangapipi Rd end)
| FOR | AGAINST |
| - Easier place to shift station building to | - Possible easier access by vandals |
| - Better placement on platform site | - Soak holes/drainage costs |
| - Good placement for public access | - Power meter/connection would be needed |
| - Good for being in the public-eye | - Only use would be operating days?? |
| - Could be an income earner if tennanted by commercial operation | - Water storage - could be removed during summer months |
| - Excellent public parking access | - Septic tank would have to be chemical-type as fire-clay prevents drainage. |
| - High-value property not being fully utilized by Club membership | |
| - Would members go down the line to do restoration work ? | |
| - Dislocation of Open Day operations |
| FOR | AGAINST |
| - More use by Club Members | - Disruption of operations/by removal exist build |
| - More remote for vandal access | - Short-time only allowed for repositioning so as not to disrupt operating days/timing. |
| - Would replace existing temporary station | - Ground would have to be hollowed out for re-positioning, drainage/soakage/septic tank and extra costs involved with this |
| - Easier to do restoration work | - Difficulty to platform access |
| - Access to workshop for tools etc | - Downers Road end would need improvement |
| - Excellent area to hold Club socials e.g. film nights | - No public parking access |
| - Costs would be higher for placement here | |
| - Need to dismantle existing buildings/and possible consequences e.g. re-cladding shop. |