Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

General News - May 2001

21/5/2001

We have acquired several four wheel wagons from Tranz Rail's Linwood Loco Depot. These wagons have been sitting in a scrap line for a few years. The scrap line is now to be cleared and the wagons are expected to be moved to Ferrymead soon.

The Electric Loco section has been busy repairing the drainpipe from the loco depot ashpit. A trench about 1.5 metres deep had to be dug under the Branch line to remove some of the old drainpipe for replacement.

A (secondhand) washing machine has been installed in the washroom for washing the hand towels.

Two wooden uprights are being replaced on either side of the door frame at the rear of the carriage shed, due to rot. An engineer has inspected the shed in regard of our plans to add doors to the front of the shed. It appears a steel portal will have to be built to take the weight of the doors, and bolted to the front of the building. Each track will have its own set of doors, and the tracks may have to be realigned. In addition it is also planned to fit a door at the rear by filling in much of the present doorway, and to extend the tracks to the rear of the shed to increase storage.

The Historic Rail Vehicle Trust, custodians of vice regal car A 1825, have prepared a restoration plan for the carriage. It is expected the bogies will be replaced within a couple of weeks. The plan may be viewed at the Trust's website.

Some of our female members have been busy painting more palings for the Ferrymead Station fence.

The crossing keepers hut, used for the first time at Easter, has been painted.

Bryan Duffell has donated a load of crusher dust, which has been put down between Roads 1 and 2 in front of the workshop. This provides a much needed improvement in working conditions underfoot when working on rolling stock, especially with the moveable steps and other heavy equipment.

The boiler inspector has checked the boilers of D 140 and F 13, and crack tested the tubeplates. Our team has been busy fitting the coal bunker at the rear of the D.

F 79 has had its axleboxes removed and refurbished in line with similar work done last month to F 78.

RM 56 is having the roof prepared for painting.

Our new "surfie" is Les Kemp who has been appointed Track Supervisor, replacing Peter Jenkinson who is now working on A 1825. He is a railway track foreman of some 17 years standing. All of our track has been inspected and the necessary work will be prioritised for action.

Painting fence palings for Ferrymead station. F 79 in the background and the weedsprayer in the foreground. May 2001.	Repairing the ash pit drain, which passes under the "Branch" line. May 2001.	Newly painted crossing keepers hut on its new site. May 2001.