1999 is well and truly here - and quarter gone already!! Now that the weather appears to be changing, we hope more members will find the time to come to the Junction and help. We have been rather short of willing helpers so far this year and the workload of the willing - and sometimes the not so willing - members has had to include the work that could be done by others.
Thanks to every member (having paid their subscriptions) and to those who helped our finances with a donation.
A.G.M. -This was well attended on Saturday 13th March - with lots of healthy in-put regarding 'Matters Arising'. The main discussion was the Matter of Debentures taken out by the Club some 20 years ago. Although this subject was revisited some years later The Committee has now been instructed to clarify the amount by writing to the holders to clear the matter of outstanding Loans made to The Club in its time of desperate need. Sincere gratitude to those Members who have donated these Debentures back to the Club. And thanks to Nell Ewing for undertaking the 'daunting task' - of checking the holders that have already donated their debentures back to the Club and those still outstanding. These records show the activities that the Club has had to deal with over the past 20 plus years since moving to Pukemiro.
Also the matter of private ownership has been revisited, with a very clear description of the 'guarantee of a caretaker' overseeing these valuable pieces of history. It was expressed that some interest of owners regarding stored equipment should be an expectation. A further Motion has been put on the table for the Agenda for AGM 2000.
The Committee remains the same as at the end of 1998, with the addition of Mike Andrews. Remember; any suggestions, criticism or constructive advise is always welcomed (in writing) by the Committee. Afternoon tea was served half-way through the Meeting -(to give our Chairman (Colin Ewing) a 'breather' from the heavy reports). Subs remain the same as 1999.
(Teresa has written this report)
ex-ROTOWARO STATION: More progress since the last newsletter. Avice and Teresa have been putting the final coat to some of the doors, skirting etc. The PD Gang spent a large part of a day touching up the paintwork under the veranda, (girders and beams). The handrails have been completed and painted by the family connection of Bettison's and Thompson's.
The biggest improvement is the platform. After several offers of a 'cheaper job' and "I can help with..." - we kept getting delays to when the actual sealing could be done. The PD Gang dug down the platform for up to 2" - (oooopps sorry 50mm for the more modern types) - spread one truck load of metal like builders mix and, with a vibrating compactor - watered and pounded the platform into shape. When the surface was ready -(looking good) - our sealers were unable to come for 'at least a month'. !! This would have meant the good surface would have to be redone, so we decided to pay to get the job done and out of the way.
A check by the contractor showed the surface to be "too coarse"......, so back to the quarry for another truck load of 'fines'. Once again the PD Gang found wheelbarrows shovels and rakes on their trailer and two compactors 'appeared' on the job! The 'fines' were spread, watered and compacted. One compactor broke down and the starting rope on the other broke and, as you might expect, the whole starting assemblies weren't inter-changeable! With a shorter rope, the good compactor was back in business and as members were gathering for the AGM - the platform surface was again ready for sealing.
After several weeks, the contractor rang that they had a free afternoon to do the job. The actual sealing, spreading and rolling in of the chip took approx. 1 1/2 hours. We now have a sealed platform!!!
Thanks to Colin Ewing for his many visits to be overseer, Teresa for arranging and transporting the compactors - and of course the PD Gang. (Some of The Gang were very happy to trudge up and down ... up and down... up and down ... all day with the compactor.)
The platform does look good and keeps most of the dust and grit out of the station. NEXT JOB...... THE STATION FLOORS!!! ( and we've invested in a couple of door mats-Teresa is still grieved when Mary told her that they were $1.00 cheaper elsewhere)!
LESLIE GEORGE BODLE (BO):
It is with regret I have to record Bo's death on 25/3/99 aged 82 years.
Bo was born into a farming family who eventually started an agricultural contracting business in the Clevedon, Whitford area of Auckland. Of course for that period of time the equipment used was traction engines.
Bo joined the Airforce in the latter stages of the war and was sent to the Pacific Islands, ending up in their 'Radar Section'; mostly maintaining their diesel generators.
Bo worked for an earthmoving contractor, Roose Shipping on the Waikato River, as an Engineer on coastal ships and lastly for the Auckland Harbour Board. It was while working for the Harbour Board that he became associated with our Club. He would appear at MOTAT at any time, while we were overhauling 'F 185' in the mid 1970's. "Just popped out to see what was happening as things are a bit quiet at the moment" would be his answer to "..how come you got off work?"!!
He was a signatory to our Constitution when the Club became incorporated. He shifted to Pukemiro when he retired and lived for a time in the bunkcar - donated by him to The Club. He was our first (and only) full-time 'caretaker' and worked at the Junction in those very early days. His dog 'Rolly', kept him company when no-one else was around. He set up a workshop in the hall at the Junction, using an Anderson stationary engine to drive the machinery - via belt drive.
At this time he built our 'Shanty' which became his home as well as our 'smoko room' and 'meeting room'. His daughter (Maxine) arrived with her two children, so this meant 'extensions' to the shanty and a new house above the Junction yard.
He teamed up with Don Le Comte and eventually they shifted Don's house just past the top-end of the Junction, while Bo had a new house built plus of course a bigger and better workshop. Bo and Don later shifted to Mangonui in Northland, but failing health brought Bo back to Maxine and her family. He spent the last few years in the Kimihia Home, but his health continued to fail until he passed away on 25th March 1999.
His engineering jobs for the Club were legendary. He turned the tyres on our CB using the bogie turned upside down, and electric motor turning the axles and a tool mounted on the bogie frame using the cross slide from a lathe.
The last jobs he did for the Club were two axle boxes and part of the live steam pipe for 'F 185'.
Bo could make anything out of bits and pieces and most members will remember the caravan he partly completed using a traction engine boiler and engine unit mounted on a truck chassis. He was never one to read magazines - unless technical - and only read engineering or non-fiction books. I can remember him loaning me several books on possible extra terrestrial happenings on earth! He was a 'mine of information' on all things mechanical and was one of a nearly vanished breed of older type steam engineers.
Bo was known to like a 'drop or two' and was rather partial to rum (and later brandy) and beer .... of course! In fact, when I last visited him several months ago he had a bottle of 'Appleton Estate Rum' on his bookshelf amongst his engineering books.
To Maxine, Terry and Families - the Club extends our sympathy. Perhaps this could describe a lot of Bo's engineering practices:
'It is said that experience is the best teacher!
But what a tough teacher experience is - it gives the test first, and the lesson follows later. OR
the 'impossible' is what nobody can do - until somebody goes and does it.'
TRAINING AND FIRE FIGHTING SESSIONS: These were held on Sunday 14th March. The purpose of the sessions were to bring all operating members up-to-date with changes to our Safety Scheme.
Afterwards, Andrew and Wayne held a session to show all members what fire-fighting gear we have, how to use it and a trial run of our 'evacuation procedure'.
This day was very well attended, and it is very encouraging to see members turn up, - even if one did turn up in the afternoon for our AGM - a day late!!!!
DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES:
# 401: The loose crankpin is still away for repairs. Colin and Alan gave all roller bearings on the axles a good going over. There were several surprises (what's new) as all bolts are fitted bolts - if they aren't in the right hole they won't fit! The first axlebox took four hours to check, but as their 'secrets' were revealed, the rest did not take so long. The old grease was cleaned out and the bearings re-greased.
Once this job was done - the PD Gang spent a day carefully lowering the loco down onto its wheels. They have since spent several days sanding down the rust spots of the panelwork - still more to do! This loco has had very little done on it since we got it from Meremere.
One of the next jobs is to put all the brake gear back on it. ...... and more!!
Whilst refitting the side-rods, we noticed that there was an amount of wear in the bearings -(in fact, rather frightening!) A word in an appropriate ear, revealed that he had enough gun-metal for 4 bearings - which we now have! We are looking at getting something to enable the other 4 to be done.
As the crankpins are somewhat worn, we intend converting from oil to grease in the bearings.
Ds LOCO: Mike has been working on this to get the rest of the brake gear connected. He has fitted the radiator to check that it holds water - it doesn't particularly well!!! ... so this looks like another job to be done on it.
PLANET LOCO: Alan has fitted a new throttle cable to this loco as the old one kept failing - either at a soldered joint or at a grub screw.
STEAM LOCO: F 185 AND Cb 117 were checked in steam in mid-March by the Boiler Inspector and passed OK.
Work on the Peckett continues. Sid has made nearly all of the flame shields. The landing area on the inside of the boiler shell where one of the mudhole doors fit has been built up with a special plastic steel. The area was getting pretty rough and stopping a good seal with the mudhole door and gasket in place.
CAR-VAN: Wingnut continues to spend many, many days on this. All rotten timber on the inside and outside of one side has been replaced. The outside has had two coats of undercoat and is ready for the topcoat. Wingnut is varnishing the repaired woodwork on the inside, while Avice is painting the seat frames.
The PD Gang have undercoated, and put one topcoat on the roof - and are continuing to chip, clean and paint the underframe and bogies.
We have received many favourable comments about the work so far.! (When was the dead-line again?)
TRACKWORK: This work has started again as other jobs allow. They have been replacing sleepers in the cutting beside the pine trees near the Junction: - 2 days work so far.
We have recently ordered 300 1/2-round sleepers and 300 X 6 X 6 sleepers. Most of these sleepers will be used in our 'bottom terminus' area. Their purchase makes another l-a-r-g-e hole in our bank account, but as is normal practise now, it is well programmed in advance.
Often, the PD workers work is not seen or appreciated, but last year we have conservatively estimated we got 6 500 man hours work from our PD Gangs - and this doesn't include painting gangs or the work their Supervisors do!!!
HUTS AT THE JUNCTION: Another hut has had 'the treatment'. This one needed a fair amount of timber replaced and obviously hadn't been painted for a lot of years - it literally drank the first coat of paint! This still requires another coat.
POWER CABLE: The new cable to the loco shelter was put in and buried by our PD Gang - supervised by Bob Wiseman. Bob still had to 'hook-up' his end before we can get the power board to 'hook-up' the other.
He has replaced a junction box (on the toilet block) with a smaller, tidier one.
APOLOGY FROM TERESA: Last Newsletter when reporting about the amount still to be covered by the funding given to the Club in 1996 - I inadvertently missed the correct title of that funding - it was granted by WEL Energy Trust, and once again, we express our sincere thanks for Grants - such as was made for the power cable project!
CONGRATULATIONS: To Colin Jenner who has qualified as an approved 'Assessor' for Steam Engine Driver Training. (With the demise of the Boilers, Lifts & Cranes Act - member groups needed to train steam locomotive drivers by taking steps to set up a training scheme). We have one in our backyard!! Lets take advantage of this!
WORKING BEES: We often have "mini working bees" at 'odd-times' and often 6-9 members are present!!! This is also sometimes during the week, but we still need more members to turn up and help. The promises I hear often make me wonder if we are part of the N Z Army - as we seem to have a lot of 'gunna'! #### We have a lot of members that have said they are #gunna# make doors, #gunna complete our workshop#, -#gunna help with painting# - #gunna help with trackwork#, #gunna help with diesel or steam locos#, #gunna help with the overhaul of our carriages (or wagons)# - particularly the woodwork side!!! If all our #gunnas# came and did id even a quarter of what they suggest, we would have a lot more gear in better order - and the workload of the rest would be eased as well.
OPEN DAYS: Our first one was held on 4/4/99 and was reasonably well patronised - even considering the extremely hot weather. #402 was train engine, while 'F185' gave rides up and down the Junction. Andrew had the jigger out and gave some rides as well.'' We have noted that all Sundays of long weekends -(except Labour Weekend)- fall on our normal first Sunday.
The next ones are - SUNDAY 2nd May
- SUNDAY 6th June
- SUNDAY 4th July
We were short at Easter and had to have the help of Nell, Ken and Una - Thank you, and to all he others who helped.
Our NEXT working bees are -STILL THE FOURTH WEEKEND OF THE MONTH.
22 & 23rd May
26 & 27 June
24 & 25 July
JUST PHONE IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT WORK IS BEING UNDERTAKEN! SEE YOU THERE !
CHARTER TRIPS: As it is still too dry to be able to guarantee the use of steam loco At present, three charter trips have been cancelled.
R.E.S. have organised their one for SATURDAY 22nd MAY mid-afternoon. Any offers of help with this would be appreciated. PLEASE FILL IN THE ATTACHED WORK NOTICE.
SHANTY-CATS: Yes! they are still around, and usually fed by Jan twice a day. Thanks to all who bring jellymeat or cat bikkies for them. We have noticed a drop in the number of rabbits around the place. 'Barney' - our Junction visitor, (the dog who loves the trains) is very good at clearing out 'possums.
FIREWOOD: No-one has cut up any firewood (OOPS, Eric and Richard were seen scurrying around the carriage restoration area, skilsaw at the ready, cutting and stacking fire-starter material)- and our supply of lighting-up wood is running out! There is a large heap just waiting to be hacked up. Any offers- OR do the rest of us have to drop what we are doing to get some cut up?????
The club chainsaw has been repaired by Richard and Mike. Richard spent a large part of last open day cutting up old sleepers for Cb firewood.
TRACK-WAGON: After many promises to make new doors for this wagon, they were finally made by Colin (Webber) and his son Mark. A lot of the timber was already at the Junction: The cost of these doors were part of the grant received from The Waikato Community Trust GRANT last year.
GRANTS: Our 'think ahead tank' are continually on the lookout for grants that we can apply for. Once an idea of what we need is verified, a lot of work goes into costing the ideas, lots of phone calls and doing the follow-up paperwork - then 'waiting' to see if we have been successful. Teresa and Ian recently went to a series of talks on how to apply, what to apply for, what to include and what criteria a particular Grant Board requires for each application. This was supported with funding from The Waikato Community Trust Inc, WEL Energy Trust and Dept. of Internal Affairs and Hamilton City Council - Community Development Unit.
This Club really only gets ahead by being successful with grants. So sincere thanks to those funding groups and the business houses who 'see us right'!
Our subs and income pays for our fixed and running costs but doesn't allow for the major overhaul of our equipment (like the hand-crane, the car-van, the new power cable etc. etc. etc...........) - look around us, we have so much heritage just waiting for restoration!!!!
THANKS TO COLIN - Webber this time: for the water melons - I'm munching on a big slice as I write this.
Also thanks to Colin and Phyl for our new train departure sign. This is a large wooden loco outline, cut out with a clock set in it. NOTE FROM BETTY - never push the hands back-wards!!!! her Dad was a jeweller (say no more).
**** STOP PRESS****
FROM THE COMMITTEE: Discussion from our Meeting regarding the recent photo competition (will be judged by the time you read this Newsletter). The reason for opening the competition to the public, was the thought that they (the public) would have the opportunity to set up shots relating to our railway operations. Alas, the selection hasn't produced the desired number of usable shots, therefore we are having 'shoot opportunities' of double headers etc. during the July (or if the weather is not kind), August OPEN DAYS. PLEASE NOTE: only photos taken by our own Club Members will be considered this time. There will be no prizes - just the 'privilege' of having the best photos produced into one of our Club postcards. These will be viewed at the end of August. Time is running out, as our current stocks of postcards has all but depleted.
SOCIAL EVENING: The Committee has also decided that as a lot of our members have indicated they will be helping with the RES Charter on Saturday, 22nd May, that we will follow this with a roast meal and film/video night for those who wish to stay on. These have proved most successful in the past - so keep the evening free.
DID YOU HEAR - Gary Solly brought our ex-YB Wagon on-site a couple of weeks ago. He also saw us right with our oil supplies this year. The Club paid its money and waited for the said delivery. We guess he made lots on the interest while the money was in his account!! Thanks Gary, much appreciated.