Well, year 2000 dawned and has proceeded without the predicted 'problems' and is already speeding by at an alarming rate! The countryside in our area is really drying out now with the hills going their real summer brown, but our gardens are still looking quite colourful and our water tanks are full.
There seems to have been an unusual number of members wanting and willing to work at The Junction: Not only at our 'organised' January working bee, but happily I report we have had goodly numbers during the week!!!! Hopefully this continues. To name a few we've had Bob & Betty Wiseman, Mike Andrews, Colin Ewing, Kerry Bennett, Jan & Ian Jenner (with Julie), Alan Manning, John Hunter, Andrew Thompson, Ian & Teresa Bettison, Sean Roche and Avice McCormick doing a hundred and one jobs while Richard Stratford (while still moving lawns) and I have carried on getting the locos ready for their survey work. A special thanks to you all - now, where are the rest?
STEAM LOCOMOTIVES: CB 117 & F 185 were inspected and passed for their open boiler inspection in mid-January.
Richard has done most of the work on the CB - assisted at times by Kerry. It has already been steamed up and a couple of minor problems found that Richard is sorting out.
Work on F 185 has largely been a 'one-man' job. Wingnut and Teresa were noted with the tube brush on an electric drill - cleaning the tubes while Richard put in some time helping pull the cab boiler fittings apart.
Extra work required on both locomotives this year is mainly 'tidying-up' the threads on the tapered washout plugs and then running a tap through the threads in the boiler shell. This was completed 10th February, along with another couple of jobs completed "while the tanks were filling". The threads on the brass washout plugs wear over the years as they are screwed in and out.
The interior of the boilers proved to be in much better condition than last year due to our increased treatment and testing for excess oxygen in the boiler water. This regime must be kept up.
All in all - the Boiler Inspector was pleased with the condition of both locos.
TOILET BLOCK: Teresa - with previous help from Mary and the PD boys- has completed the painting of this building. There has been a change in colour to the interior concrete blocks - largely because it was some "freebie paint" we had been given. Jan was the last to paint the interior - in 1984 or so.
Colour schemes were discussed and Teresa threatened to have an iridescent blue to go with the famous "sparkly seat" that our young visitors seem fascinated with. Teresa says we are not having a cloakroom attendant and requests that hands are washed BEFORE going into this important building.........!!!! .... the sooty greasy handmarks show markedly ON THE WHITE PAINTWORK.
OLD SHOP:(Canteen) The cladding work is nearly finished after several 'hold-ups' and discussions with the contractors. Wingnut, Teresa and Andrew spent quite a few days packing up the exterior where the old fibrolite was broken and generally getting the building ready for the cladding. The cladding selected is a plastic "weatherboard" of the same type as the wood of the station and toilet block.
The nearly completed job looks very good (recladding should be completed by the time this Newsletter is distributed). Any volunteers for painting the roof!!!!
Another step is to lay a new power cable from the switchboard in the loco-shelter. The present cable is at times overloaded (isn't it girls?) when they turn on all sorts of appliances!! Also the plumbing and water-supply connections.Bob has been booked in for a couple days at end of month with our PD crews - let's hope the weather stays reasonable.
After that, we hope to get the whole area tidied up, the platform seal finished, several trellis fences (to prevent vehicles parking over the septic tank), top soil put down and what is not - tar-sealed, grassed. The public seem to treat this area as 'their own' on open days.
CARRIAGES: A sight that will not be seen for a while again - as the Mines car is out of service for an overhaul. This following photo is of the three cars arriving back at The Junction at the end of November Open Day.
MINES CAR: Ian Jenner has spent 4 days so far getting the old timber dismantled at one end. Unfortunately, our PD crews aren't available at present so it is not possible to get some of the steelwork painted yet so Colin (in his 'spare time') is the honorary painter.
Ian was quite surprised how easy some of the bolts came apart as it is at least 50 years since they would have been last undone. Any offers of help towards this project would be greatly appreciated.
After many tries, we have obtained a brief history of our carriages, so the next few newsletters will contain the history of one of them. This will be put on the end of this Newsletter in case separate records would like to be filed.
TRACKWORK: Wingnut and Teresa recently spent a day, starting from the bottom end of the line - replacing fishplate bolt sets. Wingnut has also carried out our inspections of the line and has marked a few jobs to be done - at least nothing urgent to report.
Even though we are without our PD crews, at present some progress has been made on the bottom terminus. The last PD job before Xmas was to build about 4 tracksets at the start of the top-end of the loop.
Our local friendly mining neighbour have put down ballast as the base coarse for the rest of this loop. They are also helping Andrew, Ian and Colin Ewing 17th and 18th February to finally re-lay the tracksets laying alongside Hangipipi Road (most sets have been vandalised and raided, but we had no secure place to store them). Spare ones can be dismantled as time permits!!
A longer term weedspray was tried out in Pukemiro yard but the results aren't particularly encouraging yet.
Colin Ewing, Ian and Andrew spent all day Thursday (17th Feb., during the HOT HOT PERIOD) removing tracksets from Hangapipi Road "holding area'" and laying and stacking these down at the Terminus - also Andrew was delighted to at long last have use of the ballast wagons, and he and Ian spent half a day Friday completing the removal of the sets. Sean and Andrew went back on Sunday 20th to 'play' again. (Remember, we don't refer to it as work, otherwise nothing would ever get done). Thanks to MacDougall Mining for sponsoring their digger and driver for these days.
MEMBERSHIP: Many thanks to all who have renewed their subs - and especially those who have made a donation to The Club. Remember - all donations over $5.00 can be used for your tax returns. IF THE FRONT OF THIS NEWSLETTER HAS A RED SPOT ON IT -it means you haven't paid up yet, so this will be the last Newsletter you receive. Any subs NOT PAID by the end of March means your name is automatically removed from our mailing list.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: All eligible Members would have received their Agenda and nomination forms for this. PLEASE send in proxies if unable to attend. YOUR chance to have YOUR say. Some may even receive this Newsletter prior to this - therefore another reminder - SUNDAY 5TH MARCH beginning at 2pm - afternoon tea prior to the start.
"Being a chairperson is like running a cemetery.
You have a lot of people under you but nobody is listening".
TRAINING DAY: PLEASE MARK THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR.
A 'Safety Scheme' refresher and shunting refresher will be held at the Junction on SUNDAY 26th March - starting at 10.00 am: It is important that this starts on time - as the monthly Committee Meeting will be held later in the day.
All members who help on an open day -or hold any sort of Club Certificate are required to attend. Please remember to bring your safety scheme and shunting handbooks with out - EVEN IF IT MEANS YOUR BED (OR OTHER FURNITURE) WILL BE LOPSIDED FOR THE DAY!!
OPEN DAYS: Yes, its time to start thinking about them.
The first ones for year 2000 will be on:-
SUNDAY April 2nd
(Easter) SUNDAY April 23rd
SUNDAY May 7th
We certainly need a few more members willing to help out on these days!!! Please see me if you are interested in any aspect of operations.
WORKING BEES: The January one was well attended (as reported above) and a lot of work was done. Lets hope this continues.
March 25 - 26th
April 22nd (Easter Saturday)
May 27th-28th
Could this little saying be the reason Andrew stays in bed as long as possible???
A MORNING PRAYER:
Dear God, so far today, I've done all right
I haven't sworn, gossiped or lost my temper.
Nor have I been grumpy, nasty or selfish,
and I'm proud of that!!!!
But, in a few minutes Father
I'm going to get out of bed and from then on,
I'm probably going to need some help!!!!!
CLUB EXCURSION: It was decided a while ago to visit Barry Brickell's 'Driving Creek Railway' to fit in with 'reasonable weather' and a time that we are not involved with our club activities - therefore it has been decided to visit on a Sunday during May or June-in our own cars. Do what we suggest for visitors coming to our open days - and that is BRING A PICNIC LUNCH!! If interested, let us know so we can keep in touch, otherwise keep an eye on noticeboard in 'shanty'.
DIESELS:
DS Loco- As reported in our Newsletters last year - Mike found the radiator on this loco wouldn't hold water. It has now been removed for repair/replacement. He has also been working on the flooring and found another problem!!
Yellow digger: Alan spent a day on this flattening out an area where Bo and Don once lived. He still has to put a culvert across the entrance to this. We intend storing ballast for the Glen Afton end of the line here.
Andrew spent some time clearing the area past the hall - so that we can look into the possible Woodwork Workshop here. This area was first cleared and flattened many - m-a-n-y years ago for this exact purpose - but - lack of money. Other more urgent projects meant this was sidelined and the gorse, toi-toi etc. grew back.
The project has re-surfaced as one of the most important major items still needed for our railway. The prices of the type of shed we would like are rather (f-r-i-g-h-t-e-n-i-n-g) CHALLENGING!!
WORKSHOP - engineering: Andrew has put up the last of the floor joists for the mezzanine floor that can be put up until some steel work is put up in the end bay of the workshop.
Wingnut has made the sliding door hangers but they have yet to be drilled for the trolley wheels. The funding sort from Lottery Grants Board has now finally been expended.
Progress on this building has slowed over the summer while further stocks are ordered, but at least any progress is still something. We have had to use some of the club's reserve funds to complete the mezzanine floor and restructure one window frame and replace broken panes.
HEALTH PROBLEMS: We have had a lot of our members with these lately. We hope you are all recovering and look forward to seeing you all back at The Junction soon (all in a fit, healthy state).Jan is recovering from her 'extended' Fiji trip - she ended up in Waikato hospital. Mary has been 'ordered' to take things easy, Graeme Crowther is now up and walking around his neighbourhood - and Bob Wiseman got hit with a 24hour bug - so we wish you all good health and quickly. We can't do anything about the age factor.
DISTINCTION: We hear Betty is about to celebrate one of her big "0's" also Colin Webber - (more than 20 and MUCH less than 100 !! ) Happy birthday/ salutations to all our members with special celebrations. How come they get quicker as we get older?
Paula has returned from the Sir Edmund Hillary 'Outdoor Pursuits Centre' Leadership course and we hear she 'survived' and has many feats to report on. Do we see her abseiling onto the workshop roof now to show off her skills - or even the aerial trapeze!!!!
CHARTER TRIPS: We already have two firm bookings for June and an inquiry for the end of May. Our Website has also produced a charter firm inquiry from Perth.
CATS: These are still at The Junction - after all they spend more time there than any Member. Jan continues to feed them, but for a change of diet all that was left of a rabbit recently was 1 leg, a tail and one ear. Thanks to all who bring food for our furry friends.
SOAP: We seem to go through a lot of sand-soap - some is used by our 'dirtier' Members to help get their hands clean, but a lot seems to get eaten by our resident possums. We have even put it in a baked-bean tin nailed to the wall (but the soap is still regularly found out of the tin and chewed). They must have very sharp (clean) teeth by now.
WAIKATO MUSEUM EXHIBITION: One of note by David Cook (historian, photographer) displaying "Shifting Ground: Stories from Rotowaro" . This is on from 18 March to 21 May.
"MINES CAR" HISTORY:
1882: 2 X D class cars (Nos. 328 & 330) - their old Wellington No's 8 & 10
"A 328"
1891: 11/7/91- Put into service as a 391/2 ft postal composite 2nd class car car being built at NZR's Petone workshops, Wellington from 2 X D class cars Nos. 328 & 330 - (#s 8 & 10 of 1882).
1900: It was rebuilt to a full postal car and fitted with Westinghouse brakes on 29 / 9 / 1900.
1903: An end toilet was fitted.
1909: It was rebuilt to a one compartment - 2nd class car with longitudinal seating for 44 passengers for use on the 'Rimutaka Incline'. It is still in this form today.
1944: It was last allocated to Wanganui District - and in September, overhauled at Eastown workshops.
1945: Finally written off on 12/10/45 and sold to the mines at Rotowaro for 220-0-0 along with a sister car A 329.
These two cars were used by The Mines at Rotowaro - along with a 3rd old car and formed the often photographed 'Miner's Train' - headed usually by F 185 or their little C.
1972: Miners continued to use this train until buses took over and delivered miners right to their work.
1973: The Bush Tramway Club obtained A 328 early in this year, stored in at the Mines and then in Huntly for a while before towing it to Pukemiro.
So it has been pretty much in constant use for 118 years!! Another item that has seen 3 centuries
2000: Complete overhaul begun by The Bush Tramway Club
(........back in service ????very soon at the rate the Jenner lads are working on it)