FIRSTLY - please note the NEW WEBSITE address for The Club, http://www.bushtramwayclub.com. Special thanks to Colin Swabey for the fully detailed site- well worth a look.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Many thanks to all who have paid so far. If this square contains a red dot it means you haven't paid - as far as our records show, and this will be the last newsletter you receive.
If you haven't paid - we hope you will. Without your subs, the club cannot progress. Remember - donations over $5 are tax deductible.
THE JUNCTION has gone ahead in fits and starts (to begin the new year with), with only one, two or three members turning up at any one time - and then suddenly the previous weekend's working bee saw over 20 present. Even the new trainee "catering members" new to the job, were kept extremely busy making teas, coffees and food on the run. Weekends such as this will see the club projects rapidly take shape. Thank you all for making the extra effort.
OPEN DAYS: Yes, time to begin planning again already. Colin Jenner would greatly appreciate you all returning workday slips please so he can start rostering the trainees.
Open days are:
6th April, 4th May and Queen's Birthday Sunday June 1st pencil those if available on your calendars now!
Planning a roster is hard work and Colin can't "guess" who will be available (there can never be too many of you showing an interest - and remember, these operating days are The Club's main income earners). You may also consider if you could be available for midweek charters - a very valuable income for The Club.
ELECTRICITY USE: The main problem is certainly our power suppliers irregular meter readings and incorrect readings when this was done. I am certain actual usage could be reduced a little. I often see lights on with no one around.
STEAM LOCOS: - or rather the 'lack of useable ones!!!!'
F185: A tremendous amount of work has been done on the boiler side so far. All tubes are out - thanks to Richard, Bob, Don, Simon and Colin Jenner. Some were extremely difficult to get out and spending a large part of a day in the smoke-box or firebox is pretty cramped and very uncomfortable - plus not too clean either! Various overalls haven't quite rubbed all the soot and grime off.
Don and Simon removed the regulator valve and the first section of steam pipe below the regulator to reveal - YES! more work - the section of pipe must be replaced (that stands for dear, dear, dear $ $ $).
Richard proved he is not too large in the body build department by getting inside the boiler to clean out the gas cutting slag and remove a couple of dropped bolts. He also mentioned the need for more work inside the boiler.
The boiler is very close to being able to be inspected by our boiler inspector - when we find out whether someone will be coming from Tauranga or Auckland. One week it's from Auckland, then next week Tauranga is still covering our area.
CB Loco: We are discussing its boiler repairs with Ken Pointon - he is presently repairing F loco "Meg Merriles" at M.O.T.A.T. There is still the last piece of the boiler shell to cut out.
Peckett: We have an offer - perhaps two -of people that are willing to try getting inside the boiler. One is a new club member and some years ago had caving as a hobby the other is a member of a railway in Christchurch who is prepared to build a mockup of the boiler to ensure he can get in.
Chris and a crew of 5 spent a day at the Junction cleaning and undercoating part of the loco frame. They got a lot done until light drizzle stopped play.
Thanks to Chris for organising sponsor of this loco's paint. Unfortunately, there is no 'kitty' to draw on to get on with the next stage of this project - and we know this is frustrating the enthusiastic team.
Mine's Car: [an Jenner hasn't been down for a while but Ian White and Jim (with Bob as their 'goffa', have been down and completed all studs and nogs in the side under repair. A couple of our CW (community workers) crew put all strengthening brackets on and the replacement sections of the top to bottom plate tie rods.
Work on the overhaul of the bogie has stopped because of the pressure of other work, but it is up to the stage of fitting the nests of new leaf springs.
The car under-frame painting is largely complete.
XC Wagon: Harvey and Wingnut - along with Alan have made Very good progress on this. The replacement of all T & G is now completed. Work is now concentrating on the roof. The old canvas roof has been removed and only revealed a couple of rotten boards at each side - also now replaced.
We have purchased the plastic sheeting for the roof cover but the wood base MUST be smooth - and the planing job is now also finished. (The searing heat of our summer days tested the boys working on top of wagon in the full heat of the sun).
We have been told that this is the last XC wagon. Alan Brown has been cleaning and painting 56 ventilation louvres.
THEFT: We have recently discovered that the tubes from two of our out-of-service diesel locos have been chiseled out. This has been reported to Huntly Police.
Other railways are also reporting theft of various items.
Tranzrail has notified all railways of the theft of several hundred microfilms of loco drawings built between 1870 to 1923. These were removed from Wellington railway station during Christmas holiday period:
"Over the 2002/03 Christmas period, the theft of several hundred microfilm occurred from the railway station building. The microfilm taken were specifically selected classes of historical steam locomotives built between 1870 to 1923. They are all copies of the manufacturers drawings. They are 35mm film mounted on 187X82mm beige coloured aperture cards. Missing microfilm are of the following: Aa Baldwin 4-6-2 Ab North British 4-6-2 D Neilson 2-4-0- Dubs and co 0-6-0 F Neilson 0-6-0 F Stephenson 0-6-0 H Avonside 2-6-0 H Neilson 0-4-2 J Avonside 2-6-0 J Stephenson 2-6-0 Ja Stephenson 2-6-0
R Avonside 0-6-4
S Avonside 0-6-4
Ub Baldwin 4-6-0
Uc Baldwin 4-6-0
V Nasmyth 2-6-2
Wb Baldwin 2-6-2
These microfilm would be of interest to a select group of modelers, enthusiasts and historians and would require special equipment to view and print copies. This act by one person has spoiled the chance for others to obtain copies of the above classes of steam locomotives. If you come across these microfilm, or hear of their location, could you please contact me. C Vercoelen Design Draughtsman Tranz Rail Ltd Wellington Ph (04) 498 3000 Ext 44222 Fax (04) 498 3075 " Email cvercoelen@tranzrail.co.nz
If anyone is offered railway items from people they are not sure are genuine sellers contact us. We usually know people that could confirm if the sale is genuine.
The MAN is like the train At 20 years he is like the local It stops at every station At 30 years he is like the special It stops only at the large towns At 40 years he is like the express It stops at the big cities only At 50 years he is like the old locomotive It stops often to water At 60 years he doesn't leave any more, it remains in the yard
This was one of the treasures Betty Wiseman found at one of her garage sales last year - the tile now hangs in The Station
DIESEL LOCOS:
Colin and Alan Manning spent a day on these locos doing the fan and compressor belt changes, an engine oil change on 402 and generally making sure they are up to scratch.
Tr 217 Now known as 'The Pink Pantha' and yes, everyone agrees its colour scheme is different!!!!!!
Since the last newsletter, a lot of work has gone into this loco and it is now back in our useable fleet and goes well.
The air brakes are working on the loco only - (at this stage).
Trev topped up all our locos with diesel - YES! we paid for it.
WORKSHOP: Progress continues with the fitting out of this - mainly by Richard. Another workbench is in place and already covered with many bits and pieces.
A large pedestal grinder has been overhauled but is so far standing in the middle of the floor.
Thanks to all who have supplied containers for our 'bits and pieces' - but we still need more. No one has produced any shelves yet though!
FIREWOOD: Yes, the cut up heap HASN'T grown at all - surely someone must be able to help in the area.
SHANTY: WITH Bruce's help, Richard has dismantled the old porch and completed leveling the building. Wally and him were working on new foundations for a new porch. This will be slightly bigger than the old one. The very next day the floor and framing were up. Thanks to The Perry Foundation for this funding - at last the members rushing into make a cuppa -won't fall through the gaps.
LAWNMOVER: We have been unable to get a replacement piece at a good price and no one has come up with a replacement mower. Alan Brown has been doing the lawns lately using his own mower. Thanks Alan for this.
COMMUNITY WORK-PARTIES: Those that visit The Junction may have noticed that the back of the station paintwork is in bad condition. This wall has now been scrapped, sealed and filled and under-coated and is almost ready for the topcoat. Comes in handy to have 4 painters in one work-party. All handrails at the front of the platform have been scrapped, under-coated and now ready for topcoat.
They have also cleaned the bank between the station platform and the paint store. Others have been tidying up the picnic area on the hilltop and repairing and painting the fence up there. - while others have completed under-coating the LARGE stack of plywood for the carriage and van repairs.
DS Loco: Wally has been quietly working on repairs to the radiator and its tanks. It is nearly at the stage that it can be put back in the loco.
BATTERY ELECTRIC: New member Chris Lucas and helpers have spent a couple of days dismantling a lot of the body work so they can assess the condition of the steelwork underneath. The overhaul of this will be a long job.
HAND-CRANE: An urgent need to complete long put-off jobs on this has meant Mike Andrews and Colin Jenner have spent a lot of time on the crane (and taking both away from other even more urgent jobs!!) the rail clamps are now fitted - some of the parts have been at The Junction for 20+ years. The slewing gear on the winding shaft has been properly attached. A lot of smaller jobs have also been done on this. More about the hand-crane in next newsletter.
WORKING BEES: yes!! YES: these are still held on the 4TH weekend Sundays of each month. An EXTREMELY good turn-out on 23 rd February saw a LOT of work done on all sorts of machinery.
The next are March 23 rd , April 27th and May 25th!!
On the "not too well list - but getting better are Mary Burns and Nell Ewing. Also Jan Jenner has just recently had surgery for shoulder. We wish you all a speedy recovery.
AGM: DON'T FORGET - this will be held on SUNDAY 16 MARCH at 1 pm. It is important that as many members as possible come to this meeting.
We have a few nominations for committee so far Don't forget also -training school day: 10 am Sunday 16 March- practical training and up-skilling of all our certified members. PLEASE ATTEND.
THE ROAD past The Junction to Glen Afton and beyond was closed for a week recently while twin culverts under the road were replaced. The corrugated culverts were well rusted and partly filled with gravel. The new culverts are concrete sections: the road work crew made good use of the concrete culvert sections while they were stockpiled by setting up their plastic chairs and chilly bins in the cool! This job was right below The Junction so progress could be checked up on from our car park.
There is another culvert to do a couple of hundred metres away. When we first started our railway at The Junction, there were one way wooden bridges in their place.
The only alternative route is via Ngaruawahia and Glen Massey - a I-o-n-g journey and rather slow with a 44 gal drum of rail clips on the ute.
SADLY: It has just come to our notice that a Club member - Keith H Anderson was recently fatally injured in a 'road' collision in Taranaki. Our sincerest condolences to Keith's Family and friends. His knowledge and history connections with the area were priceless.
TRACKWORK: What with our CW crews' Christmas break and other work, not a lot has been done in this area. We now have 10 sleepers left to replace across the sandfill area and should be done very soon.
A few other sleepers have been marked for replacement just below the Junction pine tree plantation.
Last July we were told that screw spikes and clips could be hard to get soon, so accordingly we ordered 4000 screw spikes and 6000 clips. Time dragged on and then suddenly SIMMs Pacific Metals arrived in Huntly and started pulling up most of the main yard - long unused. Some inquiries later, we suddenly got told to start collecting drums of them as they are sorted. At the time of writing this, we are well on the way to getting our whole order and my ute knows it has brought home some heavy load. Yes, we are also paying for these!!
Last year we thought we had done well by putting in 500 sleepers when we got this page of work and progress on Australia's now railway between Alice Springs and Darwin - and 1420 km long job - the report is also nearly 6 months old.