NEWSLETTER: - MARCH 2001 SUBSCRIPTIONS: These continue to come in. Many thanks to all who have paid up - especially those who included a donation.
To those who haven't paid yet - your name is automatically removed from the mailing list at the end of March, - so this will be the last Newsletter you receive. If the square at the top of the page has a red spot, it means our records show you haven't paid up yet.
STATION PLATFORM: The area of platform not previously sealed has been the scene of intense work lately. Contractors were employed to dig down 200mm - as requested by our sealing contractor to enable him to get his levels for water run-off easier. So far 5 truck loads of metal have been wheel-barrowed in as part of the levelling required. The sealing contractor will be shortly putting in the boxing needed, compacting the metal already in place and filling up the rest of the area as needed. We felt it much easier for the contractor to do this with his laser-light, and some work completed by Club.
All these earthworks brought about the usual unforeseen problems - like the area around the `old shop' alias "The Rec. Room" - meant vehicles may be able to drive around this, down the track to our workshop area (or what-ever other area they so chose). The answer SEEMED EASY - shift the present gate to the end of the station building - but what about the phone cable `known' to be buried in the area. If the gate was positioned where it best suited, it would have needed a sky-hook, therefore further modifications to positioning - but wait, there's more!! underground cables right where the securing post should go!!
Also, a new surface water drain that had seemed deep enough!!! was suddenly near the surface and an obstruction to deepening the drain was part of a concrete wall near the septic tank. The wall was thought to be part of the foundations for the old doctor's surgery behind the original Pukemiro Station. The concrete looked like it was made with scoria (instead of the now usual builder's mix). The decision was made - "Smack it with a sledge hammer" it fell apart so the drain job continued.
Supervision of the contractors & PD crews has kept Jan, Wingnut, Andrew, (Colin (Webber) Sean -further to this later) and Teresa out of trouble with very frequent calls to me to come and sort this or that out.
We are also putting in some trellis work to partly screen the toilets, therefore posts had to be positioned before sealing of platform was completed. At long last `PUKEMIRO JUNCTION' platform sign is to be re-erected. These posts had their first coats of paint on Saturday 24th Feb.
This area of work was part of last year's grant from WEL Energy Trust, and although our `pricing' was on target then - the price of timber and tar products went up (along with diesel and oil prices)!!!
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Just a reminder (all financial members should have received their Agenda by now, if not please ring Teresa and ask for a copy - leave message on Club Ph. 07 82 84 851
REMEMBER - Club provided luncheon first, beginning at 11-30 a.m. The Meeting to start at 1.00pm. This to be held at Pukemiro Junction on 18th March 2001. Mark it on your calendars NOW!
We think it is time for some new committee members, so put your thinking caps on. Under our rules, no-one can be on the Committee until they have been a member for 12 months.
MINE'S CAR: Ian has been down and done some more on this. The new headstock and framing only need a little bit more work before the buffer and side-chains etc. can go back on. He recently delivered all the new tongue and groove timber for completely replanking the outside of the car. All old T & G has been taken off one end and under the first window on each side and the framework looks good. This T & G is presently being undercoated by the PD crews. (Twelve litres of undercoat used!).
LOCO SHED: This has been extended 2 more bays towards the shanty. Most of the h-e-a-v-y work was done by the PD crews - like digging the post holes 1.3mts deep X .25 square (mostly with a long crow bar and long handled spade). The earth is reasonably hard clay and rotten rock.
The technical side was done by Colin Webber and son Mark with a couple of builders in the PD crew. As I write this, the extension only needs the barge boards, spouting and doors. YES!!!! DOORS after 20 odd-years. This project was only started beginning of February and clad in on 10th Feb. - can projects get any faster we should wonder????? Many thanks to Colin for his hand in all this. Club funds covered this, after allocating monies for expected expenditure there was enough in the kitty to approve the expenses.
WORKSHOP: All steel beams to support the mezzanine floor are in place with the holes still to drill in the strengthening brackets - (angle steel has since been tac- welded into place, with special thanks to Richard for taking the time to do this). The long horizontal beam was lifted into place by a couple of the PD Crew and chiselled into position. They have also cut some of the floor nogs ready for the next step. Cross beams have been bolted into place also - all in the same time frame as the above project!! We think we have planned the best position for stairway access! No progress on the sliding doors lately though.
Part of the workshop floor concrete `powdered' and solution to this was considered. It was cheaper to dig it out and begin again. Andrew and Wingnut dug and prepared the bed, and re-set the reinforcing mesh ready for the next step. The new Ready Mixed concrete was put in by another PD crew overseen by Sean (and he has a story to tell about his `big day out').
Thanks to all Club Members for your efforts into helping with these building projects.
YB BALLAST WAGON: Chipping and painting of this continues when we have a `bit of spare time' - lately by PD girls.
Andrew has bent a new piece of air brakework pipe but this has not been fitted yet.
The broken axlebox has been `glued' with some special metal glue. As soon as a replacement spring holder bracket is welded to the wagon frame, the present kitset of bits will be put back together.
TRACKWORK: An unusually large number of PD workers lately has seen some excellent progress - mostly in the area of the sandfill or above.
Wingnut and Andrew, assisted by some of the crew, have so far spent a day sorting out the track across the sandfill. There is still some more to do, plus heaps more packing and ballasting. Several lead kinks were crowed out at the same time. Work for the PD crews in this area has seen the whole section of odd lengths of rail removed and replaced with good rail and new sleepers. There is only a very short section to cut rails for, and bolt them into place, the sleepers for this section are already in place.
I hear that Andrew's or Colin's phones did not ring with offers of help with this work!!!
This area only needs about one - perhaps two days work and we could run our passenger trains nearly 1/2 km further - so how about contacting Andrew or Colin and offering to help. This track work is made possible due to the generous funding from Trust Waikato towards the materials needed for this. Remember - this is our five year project!! ..And we are over a third of the way of the extention there.
PUKEMIRO YARD: One Saturday recently, saw 3 PD crews at the Junction YES!! 30 people plus, One crew were working on the station platform (drains etc) and the other 2 crews replacing sleepers under the loop-to-main line crossover point - which also gives access to our `rotten row!' this work handy to the platform was a must - so I could help sort out problems with the platform job as they cropped up.
An extremely good start was made to this resleepering job with the sleepers being 2.3 and 3.0 mts long. The lower end of rotten row that connects onto this point was resleepered at the same time.
This point has not been resleepered in out time at The Junction and from the look of some of the pieces of sleepers removed, for many years before that!!
Sleepering or track work is not the ideal job with the temperatures lately!!
The following statistics for 2000 show the tremendous amount of effort and cash put into upgrading and maintenance of our present passenger carrying line - and extending the line at both ends.
129 X square sleepers 2mts long
292 X half-round sleepers
5 X square point sleepers
172 X fishplate bolts
13 X long point frog bolts.
Another 400 half-round sleepers for the Glen Afton end have just been ordered and we are talking with our supplier of square sleepers about an order.
Colin and Alan recently sprayed the line to Rotowaro - and a `good hit' it appears, before the good-growing `conditions' set in again.
HAND-CRANE: Mike and Andrew have nearly finished sorting out the slewing gear segments. They are all sitting in place on the crane. A hassle has occurred with the angled bolt heads - but something else for them to get their thinking caps on over.
STEAM LOCOS: These were all inspected at the end of January and all effort is now concentrated on putting them back together. We are still awaiting a visit from a certified welder to do some minor repairs. He finally turned up on Wednesday 21st to ready the various work needed.
CLUB MEMBERS: We have heard that Una Davies was very ill a while ago, our best wishes are extended for a full recovery Una, and a belated `happy birthday' greeting also. Our thoughts go with Ken, at this traumatic time.
Alas, we have received resignations from some of our `faithful' members due to ill health or change of circumstances. We sincerely thankyou all for your belief and work ethics carried out on behalf of The Club during your membership. Your financial and physical support helped sustain The Club during some very trying times - you will always remain a `friend' indeed so please make sure you stay in contact.
Welcome aboard our newest members of late, sorry that you have arrived during our maintenance period and that time is critical when working with large groups on major projects. No doubt, we will have something lined up for you all soon. Glad to hear newer members showing an interest in the training side. PLEASE see Colin Jenner for this programme.
From the wedding in our January's Newsletter - a photo has appeared on the `Weddings' page of `The New Zealand Woman's Weekly' issued dated 26 February 2001 - and Bush Tramway is mentioned. We note that Gemma, the guard dog has a prime position. The photo was taken inside carriage AF 1047. P.S. and we still have rose petals around the station platform - makes a change from sawdust etc.
D S LOCO: Mike has decided that the replacement radiator may require nearly as much work as the original one, just to dismantle the header tanks and clean out years of accumulated mud. He has made a stand for the original radiator so he can hold things together while he replaces the plates that hold all the tubes - that forms the top or bottom of the header tanks.
401 MEREMERE: Colin and Alan recently gave this loco a going over, including an engine oil change.
CHARTERS: Enquiries continue to stream in for upcoming dates.
OPERATING DATE: First one planned for Sunday April 1st and Easter Sunday (15th April). Please fill in work notice and return.
All the above has happened during the "quieter" period of our year - and by the usual ardent-few members. If you are interested in a particular project, PLEASE ring or write and let us know. If none of the above `suits' - come to THE AGM and get to know the members.