|
|
Canterbury Railway Society Inc Photo Gallery: Track & Permanent Way Copyright / Disclaimer Notice - Please Read The Ferrymead Railway has up to 1.6 km of total trackage on the site. About half of this is the main line between Moorhouse at Ferrymead stations with the rest in the extensive Moorhouse yard and auxiliary lines. Ferrymead station has a crossing and run-around loop for trains, while Moorhouse in addition to a loop also has a number of sidings serving the various operational, storage and display sheds. The main line from Ferrymead after passing through Moorhouse station continues past the workshop in the direction of the proposed "Valley" station. A "Branch" line runs from the entrance of Moorhouse station yard to link up with the Tranz Rail main line to Lyttelton. No turning facilities presently exist for rolling stock, however a triangle formed by the Branch and Valley lines has been on the drawing board for many years. Track consists of a variety of construction methods and materials. Most rail on running routes is 70 lb steel. Track sets are usually of 42 foot length, although some welded rail sections were installed a few years ago to reduce maintenance of track joints. Most of the sleepers are standard hardwood type ex Tranz Rail, however relaying in a number of sections has seen concrete sleepers installed. Track maintenance is carried out using power tools and various items of rolling stock, including the two hand cranes, tool hut, compressor wagon, flat deck wagon and ballast wagon. The Branch line running from Moorhouse station entrance to link with Tranz Rail's South Island Main Trunk between Woolston and Heathcote, was laid in the late 1970s to enable some of the larger locomotives (such as X 442 and now-departed WAB 794 and KB 968) to be railed into the site. The first such transfer, which included the locomotives mentioned, took place in September 1978 after the NZR main line was temporarily connected to the Ferrymead Railway. This arrangement was also carried out on a number of other occasions as required, such as for the transfer of the three Vulcan railcars, the Diesel Traction Group's DG 772 and ED 103, the last being in November 1987 when DE 511 and DE 1429 were delivered to the Diesel Traction Group along with EW 1806 for the electric locomotive collection. In June 1988, Tranz Rail staff installed a permanent turnout connection, which was used extensively prior to and during the Ferrymead 125 celebrations, when shuttle trains ran from Christchurch to Ferrymead, and on a number of occasions since. Overhead catenary on the Branch energised at 1500 volts DC, was installed in the late 70s. An extension on the main line between the water vat and Truscotts Crossing was installed in 2001. The electric locomotives EC 9 and EO 3, transported by road to the site in the early 1970s and stored by the Ferrymead Tramway, were transferred onto the Railway in 1977. Some test runs under the electrified overhead were carried out subsequently using power supplied by the Tramway power supply. A substation was later constructed on the outskirts of Moorhouse Village to supply the Tramway, Railway and trolley busses. It was officially opened in November 1988 and EC 9 ran special trains on the Branch. Plans are presently in hand to extend the electrification right through to Ferrymead Station, subject to resource consent being obtained. • Home > Photo Gallery > Track
• Home > Photo Gallery > Track |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
© Canterbury Railway Society Inc. Copyright / Disclaimer Notice |
