Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

General News - December 2000

24/12/00

The electrified overhead line extension has proceeded a stage further with the erection of the overhead contact wire past the station platform. A less obtrusive system of suspending the wire has been used to minimise the photogenic impact.

Bits and pieces are being gathered for the new turnout to go from the yard into road 6 of the carriage shed.

The big wind storm of October 2000 caused a lot of damage around the park and ripped off part of the carriage shed roof. Also, water leaked into the electrical switchboard at the back of the shed so a new switchboard was purchased and has been installed.

The Tramway Society's buses have been seen on Christchurch roads a lot lately. One early series CTB Bristol RE and a CTB Bristol Hess from their bus fleet were chartered to Leopard Coachlines when new buses needed for route extensions couldn't be delivered in time. Leopard have had numerous buses chartered from around the South Island on the roads over the past few weeks, including three additional Bristol RE Hess, one of which is painted in their own colours.

On Saturday December 16 the Park operated in conjunction with the Canterbury 150th anniversary celebrations at Lyttelton. The public were encouraged to purchase a standard Park ticket and take the free THS bus to Lyttelton for the activities there. Buses operating were AEC MkIV no. 290, two early ex CTB Bristol REs, ex CTB Bristol Hess plus another of this type painted in Leopard Coachlines colours. The AEC Short Reliance was on display at Ferrymead. The turnout at Ferrymead was well in excess of a normal Saturday. The Railway operated a steam train while the Tramway had Kitson No.7 in steam.

For the bus fans an excellent book from the THS in the "On The Move" series is now available, detailing all the buses owned by the old Christchurch Transport Board and its predecessors. It is much thicker than other volumes of the series and with a price tag to match - over $30.

Signal poles are being prepared for repainting. This is a fairly big job, and difficult because of their height and in some cases remoteness from power etc. Last tackled in 1988, this is a job well overdue and it will be good to see the finished result. Newly painted signal semaphore arms are yet to be installed.

A carriage is being prepared to be relocated to the Papanui Station Restaurant on loan.