TVRM Steam Trip with Engine #630 Heading south out of Ludlow, KY APRIL 2014 EDITOR No. 786 Jim Edmonston (513) 851-2359 821 Clearfield Lane TOWER A HOURS Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Wednesday - Friday Noon-4PM STAFF Saturday Noon-4PM Circ: Jack Haap Sunday Noon-4PM Amtrak: Mike Weber THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CINCINNATI RAILROAD CLUB, INC.
A trip of a lifetime to Australia & New Zealand 2006 Story and Photos by Dale W. Brown, Part 2 Miryam and I arrived in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand the evening of Wednesday, 11 October 2006 and had taxi ride to our hotel in Auckland. We had little time to do anything that evening except get a light meal. Before I get into the details and story of the trip to New Zealand, there are some differences and similarities between New Zealand and Australia. Both are former British Colonies, but still retain ties to the former British Empire. However railroading in Australia developed according to the individual states that built railroads. Therefore each state set standards and gauges. In Australia there are three major gauges. The smallest mileage still in use is in South Australia and New South Wales of 5 ft 3 in which is slowly being phased out. The next greatest route miles is 42 inch gauge that is principally in Queensland and Western Australia. The last route mileage and greatest is standard gauge which stretches from the East Coast by Sydney to Perth on the West Coast and South Coast of Adelaide to Darwin in the North Coast of the country. This is now the national standard for track gauges. In New Zealand on both Islands it is 42 inch gauge is standard or nicknamed Cape Gauge for the introduction in South African Colonies. 42 inch is used in several former British Colonies, in Canada, Africa and Asia. Our tour started with a welcome dinner at our hotel on Thursday, 12 October. Many of the passengers arrived that day and we did some sightseeing around Auckland before the dinner. The next morning we were bused to our train at the Stand Station a suburban station. The main station in Auckland is no longer used for passenger train service. Only suburban service operates with third rail electrified d istrict. It now uses a downtown station that is underground and the trains operate into a tunnel into town Center. This is all 42 inch gauge commuter operations. Long distance regular passenger service to the south has been discontinued. on the North Island, leaving suburban service in Auckland and Wellington over shorter distances than the former long distance Northlander mainline train. New train sets are being introduced in both North and South Islands to upgrade passenger trains. Left- Our group was bused to a Mouri Village at Whakarewarewa and Hot Springs near Rotorua, NZ. The next day we would be treated to tours of the area including a Mouri hangi (feast) and a welcome by the Mouri Warriors. Photos Sat, 14 Oct 2006. Both pages Our first day on the train began Fri, 13 Oct 2006 we headed to the Glenbrook Vintage Railroad. The GVR is
based on part of the old NZR Waiuku branch line which opened in 1922 and closed in 1967. Reconstruction of the GVR began in 1970 and in 1977 the railway reopened between Glenbrook and Pukeoware. In 1986 an extension was completed to Fernleigh, 6 km from Glenbrook. In 2010 a further extension was completed to Victoria Ave, Waiuku the current terminus. Above-Hot Springs at Mouri Village Below Left and Right-New Zealand Homeland Security Agents. Mouri Tribes people at our evening hangi dinner. The men on the left are preforming the Mouri Challenge to intimidate opponents which is also performed by New Zealand Olympic Teams and New Zealand Football (Rugby) Teams. Sat, 14 Oct 2006. We were bused from Hamiton to Rotorua from the train.
Some branch lines on this map have been abandoned or out of operation.
Above-Station sign at Glenbrook Vintage Train station, all photos this page and following taken on Fri 13 Oct 2006. More information on the GVT at http://www.railfan.org.nz/. Above top, middle and bottom- Our second GVT steam locomotive Ja 4-8-2 # 1250 built Hillside Shops New Zealand 1949. This locomotive was double headed with the GVR 4-6-4T #480 built 1910. is at Glenbrook station with #1250. This is a class Ww. A gondola was included between locos for weight distribution on a bridge.
Above- Inside Second class coach Above Left- Runby with GVR #480 leading #1250 on return to Glenbrook. Right bottom-alco #4 a 2-4-4-2 42 inch gauge narrow gauge logging mallet built 1912 in the GVR shops awaiting restoration. Taken Fri, 13 Oct 2006. While our passengers were on the GVR our mainline train with Ja #1275 was being turned at coal facility loop. After our ride and lunch provided at the GVR. We arrived back at Glenbrook. After reboarding our train we headed back to the mainline and turned south to Hamilton, NZ and a major junction point on the North Island. The next two nights we stayed in Rotorua and had our sightseeing tours. On Sunday, 18 Oct 2006 we returned to Hamilton and resumed our southward journey. A number of runbys were performed on this section. One special place is the Raurimu Spiral andtunnel. This is one of the ruling grades on the way south to Wellington
Top- Our mainline steam locomotive #1275 is seen at the Hamilton station Sun, 15 Oct 2006. Next photos and following pages are on the same date. Note extra water cars for extending the runs.
Top left-runby at Raurimu Spiral and Tunnel. Note electrified district. This is the NZR main trunk mainline Top right-try to pronounce this road crossing. Bottom right- Another runby at road crossing noted above. A major electrification project that was originally proposed in 1950 s was revised and construction started in 1984 and finished in 1986, known as the North Island Main Trunk electrification (NIMT). This electrification of the mainline was built from Te Rapa (Hamilton) to Palmerston North as this section of the mainline has the steepest grades and highest density of trains on the North Island. The electrification is 25 Kv, 50 Hz AC. There is 412 route kilome ters of electrifaction and some 500 kilometers of overhead structures. This electrication may be extended in the future to Wellington, however the suburban service in Wellington is 1500 Volts DC. The first electric locomotives were a Class EF built by Brush Electrical Machines of England they are a triple bogie type of Bo-Bo-Bo of continuous power rating of 3000 KW at 42 Kmph. Electric power production is abundant with Hydro Electric Plants plentiful in the North Island. We ended the day in Ohakune for the night. The New Zealand adventure will ontinue from Ohakune to Christchurch in Part 3
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO RAILWAY HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND GEORGE WASHINGTON'S TRAIN SHOW Saturday, June 7th 10AM-4PM & Sunday, June 8th 12PM-4PM
Event Activities Miniature Train Rides (Courtesy of Blue Ridge Live Steamers) Shopping at the Depot Gift Shop Vendors: Models, Toys, Railroadiana Tour C&O 614 Greenbrier Express Handcar Rides Motor Car Rides Model Railroad Displays Appearances by Thomas The TankMascot Entertainment Food & Games Tour Museum & Rolling Stock Free Railroad Antique Appraisals Ident-A-Kid Child ID Face Painting Book Signings
Foreign power in the Gest St. Yard Northbound NS train with R.J. Corman unit in the consist.
Foreign power coming past Tower A North bound NS rack train with two BNSF units MEETING NOTICE The next regular meeting of the Cincinnati Railroad Club will be held on Thursday, June 5 th, 2014 at 7:30pm in the clubroom, Tower A Cincinnati Union Terminal. The program will be a slide show by club president, Fr. Dale Peterka.