OPEN DAYS:
Our May open day was pretty good but June Open day was a really good one, with heaps of passengers.
Our Meremere diesels are still our main locos and will be for a while to come.
Thanks to all who turn up to help, but as always, we can still do with a few more members under training. Good to hear Mary was back on deck for the June operations.
Next Open days are:
July 6th; August 3rd and the busiest (normally) Father's Day on September 7th.
Please fill out attached work notices and return this please.
STEAM LOCOS: Again, the only white stuff around the Junction of late has been the fog!!
F 185: We are still held up for inspections, hopefully our metal thicknessing expert will have been by the time you receive this, but our boiler inspection is still held up, due to the massive amount of paperwork having to be undertaken.
Work has continued on the loco with one injector given a going-over by Eric and is now back in place - the other in bits for its check over. Both water valves between the saddle tank and injectors have been lapped in and refitted.
The tube holes in the fire-box are now round again and/or as close as possible to it.
Mike is still working on the spark arrestor.
Richard and Don spent some more time re-taping the washout plug holes in the smoke-box but one looks like it will need a little attention from a welder.
Peckett: Chris and Neil have spent another day - with assistance from Trevor and Troy Willmot - sanding down and undercoating the frame and cab rear. There is still heaps to do - any offers of assistance will be gratefully accepted. Young Ian was photographed helping with his own toolbox - so he had a busy, busy day too.
ROLLING STOCK:
Mines Car: Very little to report at present. Our skilled volunteers are planning another trip to The Junction very soon - and will be very welcomed. The last bogie overhaul has been completed and it was put back under the car by Richard. There are still a couple of small jobs to do on this bogie - like bolting on the last two chains that stop the bogie coming away from the car if it turns on its side!!!!!
XC Wagon: Good progress on this - largely by the 'Team of Three' - made up of Harvey, Ian B and new member Dave Scott. The second door has now been hung and slides well, (after the door track needed a little 'adjustment'). A track gym-crow was used to take some kinks out of it!! (Versatile use of equipment by the 'practicing' wood butchers). All sorts of little "fittings" for the door had to be made as the old ones were well past re-use.
DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES:
We have just received a generous grant from WEL ENERGY TRUST towards much needed maintenance on the Meremere diesels.
The most urgent job is to replace the sliding cab windows - as the new sealing rubbers can only be purchased in huge rolls in the UK at a price to match the size of the roll!!!
This grant just arrived in time, as Colin Ewing touched one of the windows in 401 and ...ooopps!! it fell out and broke. Hope we don't get too many wet open days in the near future. The 'Team of Three' are to investigate the preparation work needed before window sets ordered. Any other volunteers - mark off enclosed work notice! Thanks!
Work on the DS loco continues with the cooling fan shroud arriving back repaired and the front louvers for the radiator also coming back repaired. Undercoating of the outside of the cab continues. Thanks to Wally for this.
SHANTY: (Members clubrooms)
Work on the new porch is now largely completed and certainly cut out all the grant money we received from Perry Foundation in 2001. The facilities are certainly 'streamline' and very, very welcome.
Richard has done some work on the kitchen area also, extending the sink area slightly by removing the old shower cubicle. After a rehash and a floor repair job - the fridge now sits in this area.
WORKSHOP:
The large pedestal grinder is now in place -and also in use.
A lot of work has been done on the area just outside the workshop - a spare couple of fine hours on an otherwise rainy day - saw the last track-set on the back-shunt dismantled.
A couple of days later another Community Work party shifted the rails, old sleepers, all sorts of other treasures "junk" and generally tidied up the area. This is NOT a dumping area now - so be warned!!
We are still short of suitable shelves for the loft for storage. I managed to get a set from work with likelihood of another three - but when another work-party cleaned on set up and painted it, the boss decided he could use all three. Perhaps I wasn't quick enough this time!
"We might make mistakes, ...but we would make other things too"!!!!
COMMUNITY WORK CENTRE / WORK-PARTIES:
The number of work-parties visiting us has in some ways been down for a period lately - as one has been used up to 3-days per week fitting out the new depot in Huntly - that's where "my" 3-sets of shelves are now! However, we still have a good number come out - like five parties for the middle weeks of June.
Depending on which supervisor comes out, the jobs will vary. In finer weather I'm usually replacing sleepers on our operating section of the railway, another keeps the station area tidy and/or removes the old sleepers on our extension towards Glen Afton, puts the new ones under the rails to what is marked on the rail. The third came out recently and with Jan's guidance, completed ballasting of the curve just past the top of the junction Yard that was re-sleepered as needed - and had the cant adjusted last year.
My crew also needs to spend time gauging and fastening the rails to the new sleepers replaced on the Glen Afton extension.
We are presently working approx. 1/4 km past the "Train Limit Board" at this end of our line.
It is with much regret that I have to advise members of the passing of our following members:
BRUCE PERRY:
A long-time member of our club and one of our loco drivers in the late '80's' & early '90's'. Bruce was an ex-NZR driver and I can remember him on the Auckland subbies in the mid '60's'. He spent most of his time at Glenbrook Vintage Railway as far as his hobby was concerned and was one of the steam loco drivers.
I came to know him very well as we spent a few years on the same shift at Huntly Power Station.
DAVE ROBERTSON:
Dave was one of the early members of our club and when we took over our railway branch line, was our inspecting engineer - a requirement of the Public Works Act that we ran under.
Dave spent a lot of time with NZR as a bridgeman and steam crane driver. He once told me that while he was being moved as part of a goods train hauled by an X-loco over the Okahakura to Stratford line, the X stalled. As the steam crane still had some steam in the boiler, Dave flashed it up, kicked the crane into gear and helped get the stalled train going again. All in a day's work he reckoned!
He donated our steam crane #256 to us.
He had to resign as our inspecting engineer when his wife's health became too bad for him to leave her. Unfortunately, he became nearly blind in the last few years, so was unable to visit us.
This photo (borrowed from NZR & LS's Waikato branch newsletter) shows him working on the Ranganui rail bridge in Northland in 1938.
Dave also spent a large part of WW II in the Middle East with the 'Desert Railway'.
I can also remember helping Dave with repairs to a small wooden bridge we had at the bottom end of our line, over a stream. A corbel needed changing. This is a piece of 12" X 12" X 2'6" hardwood that the bridge rail beams sat on. The corbel sat on the piles. Rail beams always joined at the corbels.
As the corbel was above the stream itself - Dave said we had to build a swinging staging. This consisted of planks hanging on rope tied around the rail beams! It certainly lived up to its name!!!!! Just as we jacked the rail beam up enough to get the corbel out, a HUGH rat leapt out and ran across the bridge. Yes, the rotten corbel was its home. I don't know if you've ever lifted hardwood of this size, but is isn't light -
Needless to say the job as done to Dave's satisfaction, but took most of the day with about 6 of us working on it.
BETTY WISEMAN:
Betty passed away less than a week after our May open day (where she had been laughing and joking with everyone as usual). She was a great one for scouting ("ferreting" could be a better description) around garage sales, and the club's kitchen has many useful items because of her finds. Remember her 'tile' she gave to club and recorded in our March Newsletter.
Betty and Bob are long time members of the club. Betty was the 2nd and our "main ticket seller" since we started running trains over our railway - the first, being Rupert Aldridge - an early Treasurer.
Betty and Bob missed very few open days indeed, and she was always perched behind the ticket 'window'. Betty always said we were in for a good day after she received the first fifty-dollar note of the day. Betty remained 'positive' no matter what our day's income or how few fifty dollar notes were received!
She was always an excellent cook and was well known for adding 'something sumptuous' to our end-of-year get-togethers after our last open day for the year.
Betty also helped Bob with wiring alterations to our station building after its refurbishment, and was known to have crawled under the station 'pulling wiring' and in general assisting Bob as his 'Goffa' - She must have been very, very attentive, as Bob kept her on for Fifty years! Betty and Bob had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in March.
Club members formed a Guard of Honour at Betty's funeral held in Cambridge on May 14th.
SHANTY CAT:
She was the tabby cat who arrived at The Junction with two kittens about eight years ago and made her home with us. Richard took one of the then kittens and the other vanished. The black cat at The Junction is from her second litter. They both knew the sound of Jan's bike and came to meet her most times she went to feed them. Between the 2 cats, our rat and mice problem around the shanty largely vanished.
'Shanty' was well known to members at and could be usually be found in any sunny spot close the shanty building, often ending up in the late afternoon sun on Mary and Eric's hut steps. She was very, very fleet-of-foot racing along the tops of the rail tracks.
ARNOLD GOSLING:
Not a member of The Club, but a person who certainly knew the early members of The Club, while we were at MOTAT. His wife and him ran the shop at MOTAT and of course, we were usually trying to get a 'cheap' lunch.
Arnold eventually went to live at Parakai and was a leading light in the restoration of Helensville railway station.
TO ALL FAMILY and friends of these members, our deepest and heartfelt sympathy.
TRACKWORK:
The main job, as time allows - has been re-sleepering the main line to replace the odd rotten one and re-gauging as necessary.
WORKING BEES:
These are held on the Sunday of the FOURTH WEEKEND of each month. The number of members turning up varies and, as no-one really lets me know if they are/ or could be coming, I find it very tricky to organise jobs. Before a major (or even a relatively minor) job can be planned, we need to consider the cost of the job - and where the money will eventually come from. Usually, a job turns into something more major - as unexpected things show up, and often!
My input into these working bees is often upset by having to hold a committee meeting on that day and the length of time they seem to take.
However, a lot can be accomplished on these days and there is always heaps to do. We are therefore compiling a list of jobs that will be eventually worked towards - any suggestions of help would be appreciated. Sometimes, certified club members are necessary to move equipment around the Junction, or access to stored goods.
The committee appreciates there is a call for better strategy 'planning' for these extra projects. The next ones planned are July 27th - August 24th and September 28th.
Well done to those who turned up for June 29th. Many hands do make light work. Every hour spent at Puke Junction is noticed in the long run!!
"We don't have much money to do this, so we're going to have to THINK"...!!
DON'T FORGET - "club member's only day" Sunday, September 14th.
This to be a play-day for our members who are normally scheduled to be helping and not available to 'leave their posts'.
We are also very keen to know what special skills members have (or are prepared to show interest towards) so that we can 'plan jobs', and if we are able to include you in a particular job.
Special thanks to our newest members for showing such a keen interest in the club and its activities - and if by talking to our existing members there is something further you are keen to know about, please ask to be referred onto somebody who will take the time to explain the operations!! By the way, welcome aboard!!
Also Mathew Swabey is now entrenched as the "snarler cook" on open days. Harvey seems quite happy to have that position taken from him. Paula and Linda joined Maureen in the kitchen - so hungry workers are well taken care of on open days. Thanks also to Bill and Doreen for organising shop purchases. A new range of souvenirs may hit the counters soon. Have you seen/heard the new wooden whistles?
ANNUAL RAIL FEDERATION CONFERENCE (FRONZ):
This year it was held in Ashburton and was attended by Bruce and myself as Delegates and Jan as observer. We went to the Plains Railway at Ashburton on the Friday afternoon to "...have a quick look around!!" and saw MANY interesting things.
The conference itself was very well attended - the largest ever, and many important things were discussed. LTSA gave their usual talk and this year, it included a talk on how the new 'Railway Bill' might affect us. There is still much head scratching as LTSA have been told to recover costs but not in such a way as to affect the viability of our type of railway.
One discussion was by Shantytown near Greymouth, who are proposing to become a training centre for steam loco drivers and repairers / maintainers of steam locos, and their boilers. This will largely be a full-time course so anyone wanting to go through the course will need to go and live in Greymouth - or camp in the bush at Shantytown! A lot of the skills for repairing steam locos and their boilers are fast vanishing as older people who did this work pass away - and often tools are not available because they have gone for scrap! (Try getting a taper tap made for wash-out plugs and it will set you back $800 or so - and very few firms can make them).
We also visited Plains Railway and Pleasant Point Railway. We were given a talk on how progress is with "The Great NZ Heritage Rail Trail". This trail is to link items of railway interest throughout NZ in one brochure and will not only include heritage type railways, but restored railway stations, walkways on old railway formations etc. the idea has progressed to the stage that a draft brochure is due out soon.
I don't think anyone came away without learning something - even if they didn't really want to know it!!
STEAM SCENE - McLeans Island, Christchurch
Update for their 'Heritage Week. The Society will hold a "Traction Engine and Steam Rally" at its McLeans Island grounds on 18th and 19th October 2003.
Entry forms are about to be printed and will be sent out July. For further information please contact Bruce Biddick at biddickb@xtra.co.nz or snail-mail
Canterbury Preservation Society Inc
P O Box 6127 Upper Riccarton
CHRISTCHURCH.
DIG INTO HISTORY ....
Don't forget the exhibition on at The Waikato Coalfield's Museum (Harlock Place, Huntly). It is on until September. This is "Rotowaro, Lake of Coal" -obviously of interest with our coal to steam activities.
The committee has suggested compiling a folder on members, their interests and their skills for use on our railway projects.
This has come about due to the exciting numbers of new members. We do not have insight past their 'application occupations' of what their 'skills, hobby interest or abilities' may actually be. Therefore, by filling in the following questionnaire, this will help out our forthcoming "project planning". If you are prepared to HELP please indicate:
My skills are: woodworking / engineering / welding (gas/mig) / turning i.e. valves /
Administration/ other ...................................
OR
I am keen to help: woodworking / engineering / metal-work -general / administration
Other: ..................................................
OR
I would give things a go with some ability: woodworking / engineering /administration or other...............................................
Some forthcoming planned/planning stages of projects:
1. TRACKWORK - This will always be the club's priority.
* -includes sleeper replacement, track and cant alignment,
* -drains and culverts kept clear and repaired.
2. BUILDING - Engineering workshop/ repositioning of equipment. The quicker this undertaken, the quicker the general engineering work can be undertaken in the one place.
3. BUILDING (Woodwork workshop -still 'proposed' and planning underway again.)
4. BUILDING DISMANTLING - Eventual dismantle of old Pukemiro Jctn Hall once equipment and stocks are removed.
5. BUILDING - maintenance (include painting, cleaning)
6. RESTORATION PROJECTS: Wooden carriages
Flat wagons
Steam locomotives
Diesel locomotives
(this can include anything from de-rusting, repainting, to upgraded safety operatives needed to get rolling stock to passenger carrying standard)
7. ADMINISTRATION: Publications, publicity, reports, general help
8. PICNIC AREA (Some construction may be warranted) Outdoor furniture
9. GENERAL: This helps General Manager keep railway operations up to safety standard. Can be anything that arises "Last Minute" include plumbing, electrical, fire-wood/ coal bin
* Can include anything from signs, fences, or public facilities.
NAME:
CONTACT: PHONE......................................email.........................................................
CLUB CONTACT: secretary@bushtramwayclub.com
OPEN DAY WORK NOTICE: Please return the following to; Works Co-ordinator B.T.C.
I / WE will be available to assist on following open days: please circle date if available
JULY 6TH... AUGUST 3RD... SEPT 7TH ...OCTOBER 5TH ...Prefer what job! .................................................
Family will be attending 'Club Play Day' Sunday September 14th. YES / NO
I / We are interested in training for B.T.C. certification on .................................. section
I / WE are interested in helping with the following working bees:
SUNDAY:July 27th YES/NO Aug 24th YES/NO Sept 28th YES/NO Oct 26th YES/NO
NAMES / S :..................................................................................
..................................................................................