OPEN DAYS: September continued our very good run of open days, but October was much `quieter'. This extra money comes in very handy as our bills never seem to get any less. THANKS to all who help on these days - in what ever job you do. We have noticed some new members helping - good to have the extra help.
CHARTER TRIPS: These are coming to an end, with the "last one planned" being on Labour Weekend Monday - for a group of Aussie railfans. They were lucky to have this, as not many members spare to run this. Thanks to all the extras that helped out on the day, GREAT.
We even had a short notice enquiry for another, but were unable to get a fireman, so had to say no!
MEMBERS: Our ranks continue to grow, and our membership presently stands about 90! - the highest ever. WELCOME to all new members; hope you can help in some form with the running of our railway. Great to see Harvey during the week and no doubt we will "find" future tasks that aren't so menial.
TRAINING: I've always said, that training forms a very important part of any organisation - no matter what type of organisation. The training session held on Sunday 23rd September, was a very good indication of interest in the running of our railway.
The shunting school was run by Chris (our Assistant General Manager), mainly for newer members, but any others that were spare to getting the railway ready for Sponsors Day attended as a refresher course.
We ended up with some new shunters out of the day. Bob Wiseman has completed his Station Master Training --perhaps Mary won't have so far to go and yak to the rest of the members occasionally now.!!
Don Moffat has competed his Fireman Training on F185. We have several members lined up for training for next year. Thank-you all for showing interest.
As I said last newsletter - its very hard to train someone that says they will be there, doesn't let me know they won't - but turns up many months later to carry on where they left off!!!!
MINES CAR: Work on this has slowed down, although some work has been done.
Ian has been down again and got most of the iron work on the veranda at the "good" end. This end of the car is nearing completion. Bit hard to work on this car from overseas!
The PD crew have continued work on the side of the car. The more of the old T & G they remove, the more studs and bottom plate they find to replace. They recently removed the old corrugated iron from the roof and, apart from about a very large bale of very dry pampas grass seed heads and other straw, revealed that the roof underneath is covered with what appears to be malthoid. Over the top of this was nailed battens and the corrugated iron nailed to the battens.
We have just had 12 new windows made for this car. This is enough for one side. There are some good ones available from the "being overhauled" side, so we should end up with some `spares'.
Next major job on this is to swap one of the bogies so that one can be overhauled. To get the spare out of our "stored treasures" in rotten-row took 1 « hours.
STEAM LOCOS:
Peckett:
This loco let us down DURING the `Sponsor's Day' when a bolt in the top of the firebox b-l-e-w out into the fire: all boiler pressure and a lot of the water in the boiler very quickly ended up in the firebox.
This is the first time this loco has let us down since we obtained it in 1972!
Sincere thanks to Trev and Mike for your help that day. Because of the boiler being due for a 10 year SCHEDULED overhaul from Christmas 2002/03 and other work needed on this loco - it will be left until TIME becomes available ( plus HEAPS OF MONEY OF COURSE!!!) Thanks to Chris also, for delving into the engineering paperwork.
(Since writing this article, Chris has put his typing and computer skills to use, and put out a call for info and / or help with our problem.
The problem is well recognised overseas, particularly UK where 80 odd Pecketts are preserved - a lot of them with copper fireboxes like ours. From their emails, it appears the stay belts are visible and can be seen during annual inspections - whereas ours are hidden inside a pipe section and therefore invisible. Even the ultrasonic check will not show up a badly wasted stay bolt, but will only show a broken on!!)
Our thoughts of how to get at the stays and repair them are very much in line with overseas practice. So be warned - some of our members will need to go on a diet. (We hear Paula was measured up the other day, and the men-in-her-life were going to give her engineering instructions with angle grinder!!)
We are investigating the correct type of steel to use - to ENSURE our thoughts are properly correct.
We were lucky to obtain a copy of the 1924 ORIGINAL boiler drawing from A & G Prices many years ago. Our present boiler was a copy of this design, built by `Peckett's' and put on the loco by `Price's'. this drawing shows VERY CLEARLY the problem area.
One of Chris's replies tells us that Peckett No 1631 - (next one to ours) - is still in existence. It is a UK standard-gauge -0-4-0 loco with also a side tank loco like ours. Side tank Peckett's were pretty unusual.
Trying to find out some aspects of the boiler as built in 1944 proved to be too late as we have been told all design and approval details older than mid-1960's have been disposed of quite a few years ago!!
HEISLER:
Thanks largely to Chris, we should very shortly have a pricing guideline to get this boiler repaired. Some other railways do the work needed on this boiler themselves, but it is beyond us! The amount of paperwork to get as far as we have so far is incredible. - So we endorse thanks sent to Chris relating to this.
CLIMAX:
Richard recently decided this loco needed a tidy-up as it looked bad and was opposite the station. He took all the gear off the bunker area and put the old bunker in place. He then mixed up some paint and sprayed it. Looks MIUCH BETTER NOW - unless you go around the back of the loco! His excuse - "he ran out of paint"! We have since bought more paint.
SPONSORS DAY:
This again proved to be a very successful day with about 90 sponsors and their families turning up. As my boss said to me - "It gives him a chance to see how the various jobs done, add up to making a good working railway!"
Unfortunately, I did not really get involved in the day as I had the Peckett to sort out (believe me, its hot up in the firebox within half-hour of the fire going out).
All of our Sponsors seemed to enjoy themselves. Thanks to ALL WHO HELPED - especially those that helped with the catering side.
There was a wonderful follow-up "thanks" added in the local publication "The Chatter" - with a colour photo of the members after the bulk of the sponsors had left the Junction. (If we have room, we will try and include this at end of Newsletter).
DIESEL LOCOS:
401 & 402: Richard spent quite a few hours replacing all the motor cooling water hoses along the side of the engines. Some were long overdue for replacement.
401: Colin Ewing spent some hours taking a few links out of each belt that runs the water pump and air compressor.
TR 217: Wingnut is presently replacing the tinted windows with clear (since completed).
He has also overhauled the knife-switch at the battery so that the battery leads don't need to be disconnected.
Planet (OR D3): Richard gave the brakes a bit of a fright by overhauling the brake cylinders. This required new cup washers in the cylinders. He has also adjusted the brakes so we don't have to carry an anchor now!! One of the next jobs is to fit some new brake blocks that we got cast quite a few years ago.
PINE TREES:
The last of the recovered logs were loaded onto the last of the flat tops by our PD crews.
As I write this, all 3 wagons are parked on the main line by the shanty. A portable mill is set up in our car- park and most of the logs loaded last have been cut up for sleepers and useable timber. All slabs are being loaded back onto the wagons and will be cut up - ANY OFFERS!?? - for use as light-up wood. There are a lot of smaller logs that the portable mill can't handle.
The CB with the 3 wagons made a lovely sight at the end of the October open day. (And yes, our snap happy secretary got a few photos, that will no doubt turn up in Trust reports!).
Bob and Betty Wiseman even delayed their trip back to Cambridge to view the historical event.
What a publicity opportunity missed!!
TRACKWORK:
Our second "planned" work day was a also a disappointment - although the Swabey boys (Mark and Matthew) turned up to help, plus Wingnut, Andrew and two Colins.
Andrew and Wingnut had spent the day before working just above the sand-fill to remove a hump under the line and put in a new culvert. While digging for the culvert, they found a smaller one, already there, but covered at both ends by recent track-work and ballast.
Four wagons of ballast have been ploughed out in this area, some spread by PD crews and some jack-hammered under the sleepers.
BUT .. there is STILL more work to do on this area - HEAPS in fact.
The PD crews have spent a couple of days re-sleepering past the sand-fill and work is now almost out of the curved cutting up past Bob's shed. One day two crews did 56 sleepers - a record on our line. Another day, while going for `single crew record' - we got called back soon after lunch -so need to get back and finish off as some sleepers are out - or just sitting in place.
(Bother!!!)
So far all our locos have had a trial run across the sand-fill and after the `Sponsors Day', we took the carriages across - M.T. OF COURSE!!!
Once work is completed across this area, we can run, at present, very close to « km past the end of our present passenger line. But to do this we need the support and hands- on work of our members.
Other PD crews have spent many days clearing gorse and scrub from this area. The area looks quite bald, but a lot of young native trees are starting to grow. One day recently, I got called up by PD Supervisor to "visit us and bring some buckets". When I arrived, they had found some young cabbage trees at another clearing job they were doing -so we ended up with about 15 young cabbage trees for the sand-fill area. My ute went home looking like a travelling nursery.
Environment Waikato planner recently visited us to look at this area with a view to suggesting the appropriate trees for planting next winter.
If you haven't been up that way for a look recently Must do - you'll be AMAZED at the changes.
Other trackwork done recently has included re- sleepering and placing new rails on some of the back-shunt at The Junction under the steam crane at the stop block (Another LONG outstanding job).
A lot of clay that had covered most of this siding for years was also got rid of.
Wingnut has been doing some sleeper lifting and packing on several parts of the main line at The Junction. - and in their "spare time", the PD crews have done other tidying-up and resleepering jobs at The Junction and on the main line towards Rotowaro.
APPROXIMATELY 380 SLEEPERS have been replaced so far this year.
All this re-sleepering work has really eaten in to our stockpiles and we have orders out for approximately 200 more square sleepers. The time from ordering to being able to use them can be anything up to eighteen (18) MONTHS! - so a lot of thought (and money) must be put into "future" works.
A recent track-inspection by Wingnut and myself showed up some treated pine sleepers close to needing replacing! These are under track-sets from the `Mines Railway' to the `Carbonette works' - put down in the 1960's. I remember seeing a photo of the little `C' ballasting this area.
They are in a well shaded cutting - this will be a summer job.
Could the following be us if we didn't think well ahead!
***WORKSHOP:
The hand-rails around the mezzanine floor have now been completed and an extra now of nogs under the floor are being put in. we have obtained a grant of $5 000.00 towards the new electrical supply for the workshop. This will go part- way for the new supply from the pole connection by the water tanks and 3-phase supply. THANKS to `Trust Waikato' for this generous funding towards another of the various projects on the go presently.
GANTRY CRANE:
Everything is now in place, even a `little house' to house the chain block out of the weather. We still need to get a welder to The Junction to permanently weld everything into place. We are trying to tie this job in with SEVERAL OTHERS that need a portable welder.
PUKEMIRO PICKINGS:
SHANTY: A couple of months ago we received a grant to some work on the porch (like a complete rebuild!) This funding was received from `The Perry Foundation', and Richard recently spent a couple of days around and under the shanty, took some levels and put in reference pegs. He looked at the rails that the building sits on, and quickly came to the conclusion that they needed REPLACING! Gggrrrrr. We have found 70lb rail replacements and cut them to length. They have been carted to the back of the shanty ready to be dragged into place when enough bods are present. The building will need jacking up so that the old rails can be got out and the new ones in!!! only then can the porch be tackled.
TOILETS: The trellis work around this block is now in place. Painting of this was started by Teresa (and young Mark enticed to do some as well) and then final coat completed by PD crews.
A lot of other little jobs around The Junction have been started by various members many months ago and ground to-a- halt!! Many other jobs have been promised to be done by members but they haven't got a 02it! This seeming `lack of interest' can be very frustrating and disappointing, as often we have to go out of our way or find money for these '`urgent'' jobs (we'll put it down to no suitable facilities YET).
SCRAP STEEL:
After many years of accumulating it, and then being told we couldn't sell it at the `small prices we obtained', we get a good price, so called in the truck! We have actually got rid of 20 TONNES.! Mostly from the scrap heap near the trap points but also between there and the oil store. The area looks empty now. We intend putting a new scrap heap near the jigger-shed but most smaller scrap will be kept in old mine skips. There is still a lot of larger items to go yet. Just being there so that any goodies didn't GO AS WELL took up a large part of two days.
COMPUTERS:
Colin Swabey continues to e-x-p-a-n-d and improve our website and we have now had thousands of hits, including someone from Norway inquiring about our CB loco - they can't believe it actually could WORK! He has installed our new second computer at Teresa's, added some new programs and email. We are finding this `quite modern'!! machinery necessary as some of the reports we get just aren't being sent out by post anymore!! THANKS to `Genesis' for the computer and `Powerlink' for sponsorship. Also `THE MANY OTHERS' dragged into helping programme this..and for the continued back-up support. The Club gains immensely due to these accommodating people. CJ now has the "older model" - but hasn't set it up yet, largely because I haven't found the time to clean up the desk in my office (and it won't fit between the PILES of paperwork at present).
LOCO DRIVERS:
Tranzrail have had some bad accidents in the last few years that the accident investiagors largely put down to `nod- offs' by the loco drivers. These `nod-offs' may be only for seconds, but a heavy train can go a long way in that time: the investigators also show that loco drivers are often working long hours well past their rostered hours and a lot of their days off. There are now new loco drivers being trained.
This following story taken from a cutting details what one loco driver thought of long-hours! Luckily we don't have rostered hours on our Railway. Overtimes on our railway will be paid at 1 « times our normal rate of pay# (THREE cups of tea - BUT bring your own thermos! oohh, ..and milk and sugar.)
"A Buenos Aires railway driver reportedly
reluctant to work overtime
stopped his train 30km south of the capital,
unhitched the engine from
the rail cars, abandoned them on the tracks, and
headed home,
leaving about 100 startled passengers stranded.
The bewildered
passengers were left to sit and fume until two
hours later the same
engine reappeared, with a different driver, to tow
them to their destina-
tion, where they arrived three hours later than
was scheduled. The train
company profusely apologised for what they termed
a scheduling
mishap, but local media reported the driver had
just worked his
scheduled hours and did not want to work
overtime!!"
The `draft' of this Newsletter was started 3 days ago - just before Labour weekend - and already our logs are cut up and the area largely tidied up.
We have a reasonable stack of sleepers and other timber of various sizes that we hope to use on the picnic area. These stacks will be left in the car park edge to dry for approximately six months when they can then be treated. We also have a l-a-r-g-e pile of sawdust (UNTREATED), if members are interested in collecting some - BRING your trailers (and a cover).
We recently had a visit from one of the Australian bosses' of Henry Walkers - mining and stripping contractors at Rotowaro. He has just completed a 7" gauge model of a Price 16 wheeler. He is VERY INTERSTED in bush locos, and had a good look at ours. He was very impressed with being able to get the drawings from Prices.
(WISH he lived in NZ, as he would be a VERY handy asset to our Club!)
Waikato Coalfields Museum: The Club is an associate member now, and hope to support each others activities. Their forthcoming exhibitions on local collectors and their collections are:
24th Nov - 19th Jan: Japanese phone cards; NZ Centennial Souvenirs; Porcelain Mocha Cups; Turtles; Dolls; Vintage Car Accessories; Fridge Magnets; Walt Disney Stamps; Model Vintage Cars: 26th Jan - 23rd March: Miniature Tea pots; Bananas; Beswick Pottery; Ink wells' Padlocks; Batman toys; Lilliput Cottages; Pomanders; Thimbles; Salt & Pepper shakers; Baskets and woodwork from Vanuatu; Teaspoons; Badges; telephone 07 8288 128 for further info (Open from 10.00 to 4.00 daily).
WORKING BEES:
The next organised one will be on: Sunday 28th November 10.00ish: Hopefully we will have many jobs knocked into shape by then. PLEASE participate, and refer to enclosed work notice.
Christmas function: Separate notice will be issued regarding this.
FROM THE COMMITTEE: Don't forget to fulfil ALL PAPERWORK relating to railway operations. `cause without the appropriate paperwork - there could be no operations!! Thnik on - does this relate to YOU!?
"WHEN COAL WAS KING": A VERY LIMITED NUMBER are on hand. Price $49.95. Please check with Teresa if interested. We are NOT holding onto surplus stock, so if you want one, do so NOW!
CONGRATULATIONS TO PETER HARRIS: Peter was our Whangape Representative on the Waikato District Council for the previous 9 years. He's just been elected Mayor. Peter has been very, very understanding with the many `problems' that have arisen over the years dealing with land issues, Council requirements and the like. Thanks Peter and Annette for your services to date, and we trust we will still have your company on occasions.