Well, 1999 and with it the 20th century has all but gone! This is the last newsletter for the year. Makes you wonder what the new century will bring - I expect the ever increasing paperwork will continue and hopefully it will bring the ability of this Club to attract new, younger Members who are willing to do some hard and often dirty work.
OPEN DAYS: Well, the September one (Father's Day), can only be called an extremely BUSY DAY!, even with some of our usual helpers absent. The mention on TV 1 weather is thought to be ONE of the reasons for such a lot of passengers. Two carriages were needed most of the day and for a couple of trips, a third would have helped October open day was a much quieter day (normal).
We certainly need more members who can turn up to help on open days - even the ladies are getting short-handed at times.
DIESEL LOCOS:
401: The side rods, complete with new bushes, were fitted by the PD workers. Colin and Alan had spent a lot of time getting the right bushes in the right holes! The oil boxes on top of the side rods were altered by Colin to use grease rather than oil. They had a lot of trouble getting the brakes adjusted using the old brake blocks but in the end gave up and fitted a new set of blocks.
The loco was the pilot loco during the October open day. Be very aware of this loco when it is in use - it runs so quiet, it will sneak up on you now!
Alan has wired the RT up like 402 so that as long as the ignition is on - the radio is on - that is if someone hasn't turned the R T OFF!
STEAM LOCOS:
Peckett: The boiler was hydraulic tested to 210 lbs by lighting a slow fire and using its heat to expand the boiler full of water. This proved a success so the firebars were removed - after they had cooled somewhat and a couple of days later all new flameshields were put back in place. While this was going on - Sid was perched in the smokebox removing all the blanks used for the hydraulic.
The loco was steamed up during September open day and the safety valves set. The loco was tried out for 2 trips during that afternoon by double heading with the F. Because of the cost of getting boiler inspector out for a 'special visit', the dry countryside and the short time left to use it this year, we will leave its Certificate until next year when the other locos are surveyed.
F 185: This loco has continued to run very well.
Cb 117: Richard has been adjusting some wear around the high-speed gear key way.
CARRIAGES:
Car Van: Work on this appeared to 'slow down' considerably since the last Newsletter (all sorts of reasons, mainly due to Ian helping all the other 'sectors' solve their problems) The verandas are all complete and Avice was spotted putting final coats under these ceilings. The walkway between an adjacent carriage is also in place after its overhaul and paint.
The green metal work of the seats has been completed and the repaired seats refitted. Sean was spotted quietly sleeping under the car a few weeks ago - he used the excuse he was bolting the seats into place!!
All the varnished panels are now back in place and the ceiling panels have now been fitted. (We hear that if another ceiling had to be completed this week, there would have been a divorce!! Not one of the easiest jobs to erect). In the meantime, Ian has solved the problem of jacking the dividing wall back into alignment successfully.
Ian has vowed to have this ready for passengers for our November running day......
TRACKWORK:
Our Friday PD crew has been cancelled because of a 'lack of people on PD at present!!. however, we still get a few other work parties that seem to find the 'necessary tools' on their trailer, often including a thermet for work at the bottom-end of the line.
The point for the top end of the bottom terminus has now been fitted with all new sleepers - about 3 days work. The frog and check-rails for this were put in position by Colin and Alan using our digger. The point was jacked up in the air, the old main line underneath jacked up onto a short ramp, hooked to 402 and towed out of the way. The point was then dropped into its approximate place. The slightly out of square rail ends were trimmed to length and the point bolted onto the end of the main line. All ballasting and jacking still needs to be done. The lower end of the point also needs the rails adjusting before it can be joined up.
We were fortunate to be able to 'borrow' a digger and driver from a nearby mine for a few hours. The top end point was 'shuffled' into alignment. A good trackset and point for the bottom end were also put in place and bolted onto the end of the track. The backshunt tracksets past the bottom point were also laid in approximate place - ready for future work!
All in all, the trackwork for the bottom terminus is progressing pretty well - as time is available.
The last piece of main line at the Jctn platform was resleepered on a wet day recently - at least that's what the forecast said.
The only other place that needs work completed is the top end main line points at the Jctn where 8 long sleepers still need replacing.
BUILDINGS:
"Rough and Rougher Builders" - (Colin Webber & Son) - have completed the renovation of our toilet block. Teresa and Mary have been seen doing some of the painting, but there is still heaps to do! The toilet block looks rather different now! Our gardening 'girls' were busily adding more plants to the boxes, and there is even a herb garden alongside the toilet block. Thanks to Phil, Betty and Paula for this.
Workshop: One of the main PD jobs lately has been helping Andrew get on with this. The rear wall is now finished - even has the spouting fitted, but needs new downpiping to connect it to the water tanks. The concrete work for the extended pit and its floor have been completed. A couple of small sections of the floor around the rails have been poured and the rest of the floor boxed, black plastic laid and all mesh or re-inforcing cut to size and tied together. (This is due to be poured last week of October). The last of the windows have been retrieved from storage in the guards van and put in a stack in the workshop.
Sid spent a day on the lathe cutting grooves in some cast wheels that will be the trolley wheels for the sliding door.
Utility shed (ex-old shop): As part of the toilet renovation, the concrete pad for the re-siting of the shop was poured. Colin W decided, after much thought, he could shift the shop from its place in the car-park to the new concrete pad using a couple of tractors (Team "A"). UNFORTUNATELY, the framework of the shop was not really strong enough and went in all directions while being turned in the car-park.
"Castles in the air are alright, until we try to move them"!!! oops.
Wingnut and Andrew ( Team "B.T.C". - Bettison, Thompson & Crew) have now finished a steel frame-work under the shop using rails lengthways and cross bracing of the rails welded to the lengthways ones. So far the shop has been moved about 12" with its rail frame!! (The typist adds, "Why should this job be straight forward??" - none of the other projects have).
Rotowaro Station:
The damaged floorboards have been replaced and after our operating season the floors will be sanded., and some further finishing work anticipated being completed. Not bad, two years after re-siting.
CHARTER TRIPS:
Just when we thought they were over for the year - after a rush during September, we now have enquiries for some in November - one a big one for Frankton Primary School. Trips this late in our operating year mean the use of extra club members for our fire wagon and perhaps a diesel loco.
Any offers of help would be appreciated -
REMEMBER they are mid-week.
TROLLEYS:
The third trolley is still awaiting its overhaul. Andrew has put down a longer run-off so these trolleys are well clear of the main line.
GRANTS:
We spent a tremendous amount of time costing out sleepers, ballast, fittings etc. To up-grade our railway to very close to Glen Afton. A six figure grant application was submitted for a 5-year project. We have received $15 000.00 to date from Trust Waikato (ex-Waikato Community Trust previously Community Trustbank) with a letter of continued support for our major capital works programme. Sincerest appreciation for this Trust's consideration and support for the project. It was one of the 'dreams' of the Committee three years ago!! This is proving to be a Community project, as we will be utilising future PD crews, and a lot of interest from the public to travel this section of track.
We are now checking timber suppliers for the "cheapest deal" so that we can spent just over half of this present fund on sleepers. We need to purchase screw spikes, clips, ballast, auger bits as soon as, and we have found the costs have risen due to imported supplies and the state of our dollar! But we will only purchase on the BEST prices possible.
To be able to run passenger trains across the sandfill, it needs a couple of days work with the club's digger, some ballast and jacks. Anyone prepared to take this project on???
The money from the grant can buy some ballast for some good track immediately after the 'sandfill earthworks', but from there on, its new sleepers. This section is still the most scenic part of our line.
WORKING BEES:
The next ones will be held on 27th & 28th NOVEMBER
NONE in December - it would be Christmas Day - but you could join the cats for dinner!!!!
THERE IS ALWAYS PLENTY TO DO.
CATS: Jan continues to feed our railway cats - usually twice a day. They are pretty good hunters as the number of dead rats around the shanty lately shows. There is often a small piece of a mouse or bird left. Thanks to all who help with their food by bringing along something.
OPEN DAYS:
The last one for 1999 will be on 5th December and followed by our usual end-of-year get together. Members bring a salad AND B.Y.O. drink. Club will provide meats (and a chef-Andrew) and deserts.
SAFETY SCHEME:
YES! The amendments and additions continue. Some time ago we were asked by Land Transport to look into the 'runaway risks' on our railway. After many months work, the Runaway Risk Analysis sheets were approved. These sheets are ADDITIONAL to all other risk analysis sheets in our safety scheme.
After reading various investigations into runaway accidents, two things stood out as needing adding to our safety scheme.
One is that when a train arrives at a station or siding and the loco is to be unhooked - the guard OR shunter must apply vehicle hand brakes AND TELL THE LOCO DRIVER they are on BEFORE the loco is unhooked.
The other is about leaving a loco parked with only the air brakes applied.
ALL THESE AMENDMENTS ARE BEING ISSUED TO OUR OPERATING CREWS.
We are always told the safety schemes are a "live" document - my book certainly is never shut for long as there always seems to be something to check up on or alter.
It is up to all our operating crew to put our safety scheme into practice on our railway at all times.
STEAM QUALIFICATIONS:
The following is the latest in stationary steam qualifications from Labour Dept's Engineering Safety. The boiler Attendants Certificate has been re-introduced.
On the steam loco drivers qualification front, a procedure for approving railways to become training sites for steam loco drivers has just been approved. The training scheme of a railway will be reviewed by a registered assessor and approved or not. Only when a railway is approved as a training site, can they legally train loco drivers to sit for their certificates UN the NZ Qualifications set-up. The assessment of prospective loco drivers will be carried out a by a registered assessor.
The following letter received was requested it be included in our next Newsletter:
"I wish to express my thanks to all those running the July Open Day. Returning to NZ after four years and not having seen working steam at the Club since 1988 it was a real treat.
To see the re-located and restored "Rotowaro Station' now presents the Club with a real focal point. I was definitely impressed with the work - and the paint job.
The chance to ride the line behind the "F" again and to see where the new southern terminus is to be located really made me appreciate the continued efforts of the membership. It also made me feel proud to have been involved and long to return to the friendliness of the place.
Talking to the various members I couldn't help but not notice the positive attitude conveyed. Certainly a real welcome in comparison to some of the UK Societies.
The visit really made be feel that wanting to be involved. Progress was very noticeable since my last visit. Everything has c come at a pace.
I must make a special mention and thank Colin Jenner and Teresa Bettison. Colin for the tour and explaining work on the various projects underway. And to Teresa for the hours explaining the time, research and structure for each grant application made. It was very obvious no stone unturned!
Good luck for the future! (Signed) Tony Hinton"
It was mentioned, was he back on another building buying spree!! ?? It was Tony (and Chris Mann) who purchased and donated the Rotowaro Station building to the Club.
The Club has also received a bunch of letter from pupils of Kimihia School after a recent charter trip. Letters always give members feed-back (positive and negative), of which the Committee can act on.
MEMBERS PLAY DAY:
This was well received, and the weather was perfect - no fires. Due to unfortunate choice of wording in the last newsletter, Teresa apologises sincerely for the mis-interpretation of "family day". The intention of the committee was to allow FAMILY MEMBERS (this meant those on CLUB MEMBERSHIPS) to spend the day WITHOUT having to deal with members of the public (as with sponsors, extended families etc.) and to cover food costs- it could not be 'open' due to the day planned. Alas, not enough notice was sent out to allow some to participate. Any thoughts for NEXT YEAR should be aired now. It was excellent to be taken to the development sites at our leisure, and Richard gave the Cb a good workout. Trev Terry was spotted with a huge smile on his face (as he lifted his camera for another shoot).
I think Andrew will be kept on as the resident 'cook', as the spit was excellent. Could this be why Andrew wanted a spit roast - so he could chew the bones later????????
(Have you heard, Andrew and Paula have bought a house together - does this mean we won't see them in The Bunk Car quite so often?)
LEASES:
Our Leases with Solid Energy and Dept of Conservation expired in 1997 and we duly applied for renewals. Since that time we have consistently chased these up with no luck. At last we gave up and contacted our local MP. This approach seems to have worked as suddenly - in the mail- arrives all sorts of letters and excuses!!! Things are at last .... on the move.
Of course, we kept paying our leases in the meantime.
LOGIC - is a systematic method of coming to the wrong answer with CONFIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!
CLEAN RAGS:
Our railway is in need of clean rags urgently. Now that spring is here and its time to change your bed from winter sheets to summer sheets, why not give a good home to your worn-out winter ones (or any summer ones that you find full of holes).
We would like any rags to be cotton or wool - synthetic materials do not absorb oil.