STEAMLINE ISSUE 154 December 2016

Transcription

1 STEAMLINE ISSUE 154 December 2016

2 Steam greeting One of the traction engines from the Maewa collection, near Feilding, was on hand for the arrival of J A 1271 and the River City Express at Wanganui s Taupo Quay yard. The traction engines were in the city in association with the slipping of the paddle-steamer Waimarie, which was drawn up on the riverbank for its five-yearly hull survey. Picture: Tommy Secker Wedding party Bride and groom Mandy and Kane, with Wellington Mayor Justin Lester and the wedding party pose at Wellington station alongside the team Incorporated train before departing for Otaki. Cover: Wedding train A B 608 approaches the former Muri station, Pukerua Bay, en route to Wellington for a special wedding charter to Otaki on December 10. The inset picture shows the train entering Paeakariki, complete with white ribbons on its way north to Otaki. Pictures: John Bovis 2

3 STEAMLINE The official newsletter of Steam Incorporated PO Box 4, Paekakariki, New Zealand Website: Registered charity: Issue 154 December 2016 Kaikoura reflection Little more than 12 months ago A B 608 was pictured on the Okorahia viaduct, south of Kaikoura. In the first minutes of November 14, 2016, the region and its roads and railway were shattered by the 7.8 scale earthquake. By early December the government had announced the rail and road routes would be rebuilt. We can only hope this spectacular route is restored before too long and in the process it restores the lives of those affected. And at some future date, ferries permitting, Steam Inc gets to operate on the line once again. 3

4 Got the ticket NZQA assessor Fred Hamer flanked by Bruce Lawrie on the left who had just passed the assessment for Unit Standard (fireman s ticket) and Alastair Maciver (Steam Inc steam motive power manager) on the right. Feeding the multitudes By Charlotte Norman With 2016 coming to a close, it has been a very successful year in the buffet. We now have a crew of 13 qualified members who can be called upon to crew our kitchen on our trips. I would like to make a special thank you to Paul and Gillian Singleton and Daphne Barrett who have been crew on almost every trip that the buffet has been on this year as well as giving up their spare time to clean the buffet and help with the preparation before the trips. A special thank you also needs to go out to the Assistant Catering Manager, Peter Norman, for all his help this year and for taking the reins as duty buffet manager when I have been unable to. It is at this time that I must inform you all that I have had tendered my resignation as catering manager and my resignation has been accepted by the management committee effective March 31, I have been in the role of catering manager (previously buffet manager) for nearly five years now and we have achieved a number of milestones in that time, including: A few weeks later Fred assessed and passed Mike Brown for his fireman s ticket. The new gas system installation and crew training; The introduction the Buffet Crew Members Handbook; The introduction of mobile EFTPOS onboard; A pool of 13 qualified buffet crew members; and Successful North and South Island multi-day tours. Above all, we have been able to provide consistent and enjoyable food options for all our passengers and been able to keep 4 Catering duties Charlotte Norman in preparation mode in the buffet car. the high regard that Steam Incorporated s Buffet Car has held for the last 25+ years. Thank you all for the opportunities I have been given as catering manager, and I look forward to being involved with Steam Incorporated in the years to come in various other roles. The new catering manager will be announced in the next edition of Steamline, as well as on our Facebook page.

5 Riding the rails with Steam Incorporated Wanganui was the destination for the River City Express on October 16, when J A 1271 took a train of wooden cars north from Paekakariki. At Wanganui, while passengers took the opportunity to tour the city or ride aboard a riverboat, locals boarded the train for the short run from Taupo Quay yard, back along the Wanganui branch to East Town and return. Fern gully J A 1271 draws the River City Express past Forest Lakes, north of Otaki, on its way to Wanganui. Picture: John Bovis Valley crossing The River City Express crossed a southbound freight from Fonterra s Whareroa plant at Ruatangata, formerly Whangaehu, midway through the 1930s-built Turakina-Okoia deviation. Picture: Jack Still Leafy avenue En route to Wanganui s Taupo Quay yard, J A 1271 brings the River City Express along the attractive Wanganui branch. Picture: Tommy Secker Steam in the evening Homeward-bound, the train rounds the curve at the bottom of the Turakina bank en route to Bonny Glen. Picture: Tommy Secker 5

6 An extended stop at Shannon was a feature of the Heartland Flyer on November 13 when A B 608 hauled the train of steel-bodied cars to Woodville and return via the Manawatu Gorge. Taste of Shannon The last surviving Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company station on the system hosted visitors to Shannon aboard the Heartland Flyer. About turn A B 608 leads the train away from Woodville after running around on the nearby balloon loop. Showtime A B 608 puts on a display for photographers during a photo runby on the Koputaroa bank. Pictures: John Bovis 6

7 The Christmas Grand Circle rail cruise of December 4 completed the circuit of the Tararua Range behind D A 1431 heading north to Palmerston North, through the Manawatu Gorge and down through the Wairarapa to Wellington and back to Palmerston North, before heading for home. Palmy arrival A gleaming D A 1431 and its train of steel-clad cars arrives at Palmerston North on the first tage of the Grand Circle rail cruise. Picture: Peter Steer Gorge route The Grand Circle passes through the Manawatu Gorge before heading south through the Wairarapa. Picture: Bruce Hermann Rimutaka runby Passengers reboard the train, below, after a photo runby, right, at the sigte of the former Rimutaka tunnel loop at the Wairarapa end of the tunnel. Pictures: John Bovis 7

8 The diesels Diesel motive power manager Peter Steer reports: T R 160 Thhe cosmetic tidy up is still ongoing. The new front foot step has been fabricated and fitted, also included in the work was fitting our standard shunt loco hook bins to the front and rear steps. A special mention to Blake who is moving to Christchurch before the end of the year. Thank you for your help on the project, we will miss having you around. D A 1431 The loco has successfully passed its sixth annual inspection since being returned to active service. Our CPEng (Chartered Professional Engineer) has also made his sixth yearly audit and inspection visit and signed the locomotive off for a further six years. Tony has been continuing with his odds and ends jobs, recently he finished upgrading and tidying the sliding cab window area, which included fabricating the correct Phase 2 D A top and side weather / draught strips. Tony tells me the Phase 3 ones don t work very well on an Aussie loco - who knew?) He also modified and simplified the window locking assembly. A cracked number board glass has been replaced and the camera (which is train-lined back to the buffet) has now been permanently mounted into the number light box but, yet to be hard wired in. D A 1471 The frustrating task of rehanging the long hood and gull wing doors is now complete, the end result looks pretty good. The handrails which run along the length of the hood have also been painstakingly straightened. Four brand new louvre doors have been stamped out by an engineering firm in Upper Hutt who hold the correct shaped stamp and make doors for the big railway. The basic doors were delivered then completed at Paekakariki by adding the framework, air filter housings, hinges, cutting out the latch holes and furbishing and fitting latches. Work has re-started on the cab jigsaw puzzle care of the last well-intentioned person who pulled the A side apart a few years back. The internal frame work has been fabricated and welded in place as per the drawings and the external side sheet folded and now welded in. The intention is to fit the riginal double sliding windows which have been successfully test fitted. Work is now underway with installing the internal cab lining. A pair of sand boxes from our store have been added to B side of the loco to complete the set but, we are still short of another two for the other side, Anyone seen any lying about? Associated air lines have been added as well as the sand traps and sand delivery pipe assembly. 8 The new front foot step for T R 160 after fitting and inclusion of hook bin. One of Tony Watkins new fabricated draught strips for the sliding cab windows of D A Freshly delivered, the four new louvre doors for D A 1471 await the next stage in their fit-out. Coming together - The external side sheet for the A side of the cab has been welded in place.

9 K A 945 overhaul A total of 45 of this type of staybolt were CNC-machined by Myriad Engineering out of 1020 bar. A cool $32 each. More stays, this time longer ones for the firebox crown, were machined by Alan Bailey in his home workshop. Wayne Mason needle-guns the boiler shell. Terry Hunn cuts staybar into the required lengths. The staybar head is forged in our swaging jig. The thread under the collar of one of the long staybolts is machined. A staybolt is screwed home. the squared head will be ground off. More picures: see our Facebook page. 9

10 Rolling stock Wide-bodied 50-ft Main Trunk steel carriage A A 1783 is undergoing a comprehensive rebuild. The car has recently had its new metal cladding fitted by Peter Norman. One of the more expensive consumable items involved in operating main line rolling stock is carriage springs. On the left, Peter Norman, Terry Hunn and Alastair Maciver wrestle with a bolster while reassembling a carriage bogie after installation of new springs, right. Ohai Railway #2, Steam Inc s regular diesel-hydraulic shunter, draws D A 1471 out of the engine shed during the latter s current overhaul. Note the new cab side-sheet on the D A. 10

11 Grand Circle feedback An excellent day! Service was great. Members of Steam Inc were friendly and attentive John Fabulous trip. We had the most fabulous day a group of ladies from Raetihi and Bulls kept us well entertained also a motorcycle photographer who followed us around (we called him Wally, where s Wally) our hostess was Elizabeth Taylor, very friendly. Stopped at Mauriceville fair, good food, great singers. Would highly recommend this trip. Gloria Great day out, Well organised Gavin Excellent trip will definitely go again Kevin Great day out Julie Great service. We had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Train staff were lovely and helped us where needed. Thank you Denise Fantastic. The guys and ladies were a great help as I am slightly disabled and need a walker. The vineyard trip was great. The whole day was just great. I am hoping to save to go to the Napier trip on 18th February. A great BIG thankyou. Denise Great day out and thoroughly enjoyed the train trip. Yvonne Excellent day out. Totally enjoyable day. Loved the old carriages, the slow pace of the trip,everything about the day. Bob Great day out! Thoroughly enjoyable day, relaxing, and calm. Loved it. Thanks Wendy My Grandmother and I enjoyed the day out, it was a wonderful trip. The scenery from the back viewing platform was great. Look forward to travelling with you guys again next month. David Ian and I went on this trip and it was fabulous. The volunteers were awesome as they looked after us all so well. Thank you all so much. Helen My friend and I loved our day out The volunteers were fantastic especially Elizabeth Taylor in our carriage Lynette Thanks to everyone who made this a great day, a very special crew. Jools Great day out yesterday on the rail cruise around the lower North Island Beverley An extremely enjoyable trip on the charismatic 1431 and lovingly restored carriages - Grand Circle trip December 4. Loved it!! Debra Charlotte, Paul and Ray, above, check out the cab of D A Members had a relaxing afternoon on Saturday, December 17, for a barbecue and steamup featuring A B 608 and D A 1431 in action. 11

12 Future Excursions EKETAHUNA EXPRESS Saturday 7 th January 2017 Our traditional Xmas/New Year trip into the Wairarapa and is always extremely popular, and it makes an excellent Xmas present! Runs from Paekakariki to Masterton via the Manawatu Gorge. You can select from the Pukaha Mt Bruce Wildlife Centre (and Middleton Model Railway) near Eketahuna, an Opaki vineyard, or Masterton as your destination. Departs Paekakariki 8.35am, arrives back at 9.45pm. DECO DELIGHTS EXPRESS Saturday 18 th February 2017 A great way to experience Art Deco. Ride the rails in heritage carriages and hauled by an imacuately restored diesel locomotive on a special day adventure from the Kapiti Coast to Napier. Marvel at the construction of the spectacular Manawatu Gorge and travel over many high viaducts on the journey to Napier. Option of joining at main intermediate stations enroute including Palmerston North. Nearly 4 hours in Napier to sample the Art Deco activities. Ex Kapiti train fares Adult $159, Child $109. Departs Paekakariki 6am, arrives back 10.30pm. NIMT SCENIC DAYLIGHT Sunday 26 th March 2017 Great sights to see and a grand way to see them on the Scenic Daylight was the slogan in the 1960 s. Our version of this train will run from Kapiti to Pukekohe/Glenbrook hauled by Da1431. This is a ONE WAY excursion. Connects with Auckland Transport service at Pukekohe for onward travel to central Auckland. Will pickup from main stations enroute. Adult $160, Child $90. Provisional schedule, departs Paekakariki Depot 7am, arrives Glenbrook 8.50pm. MANGAWEKA EXPRESS Saturday 1 st April 2017 Steam hauled excursion from Paekakariki to Taihape and return with a 1 hour stopover in Taihape. Crosses many high viaducts over deep canyons as we follow the mighty Rangitikei River to Taihape. Expected to be hauled by Ab608. Departs at 7.40am, arriving back at 8.45pm. Adult $149, Child $99 ex Kapiti. WHANGAREI SHUTTLES Saturday 1 st April 2017 A series of short excursions running from Whangarei to Portland and return. Diesel hauled. Very limited seats available. One hour round trip with first departure at 9.30am. Bookings open soon. ALSO COMING IN 2017 Heartland Flyer to Woodville Mothers Day Excursion Sun 14 th May 2017 Plus many more Excursion bookings bookings@steaminc.org.nz Book online or download booking forms from our website: Or Phone: We also have an distribution list for updates on future excursions. If you would like to be added please signup via an app on our facebook page or send an to enquiries@steaminc.org.nz Steamline is published by Steam Incorporated and edited by Andy Maciver. Letters, articles or photographs relating to Steam Incorporated, its fleet and its site are welcome for consideration for publication. Please send them to The Editor, PO Box 4, Paekakariki, or them to Andy-Maciver@paradise.net.nz Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society or editor.