Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

General News - July 2002

31/7/2002

Work is progressing well on the doorways to the carriage shed. At present the concrete footings have been poured and a start has been made on erecting the steel portals. We are hoping that the work will be completed in about 4 weeks time.

Track work under the supervision of Les Kemp during the weekend of July 13th - 14th went well. Numerous sleepers have been replaced and as our Track Supervisors time permits, this will continue.

During Saturday, 13th July, the St Johns Ambulance Brigade used part of the Ferrymead railway area for an exercise. An old wrecked car was brought onto site at the Clems Crossing and was placed onto the track. A railcar was then moved up and stopped against the car to resemble a crossing accident. Numerous brigade personnel were made up with `Injuries' that evidently fooled some of our Park workers who thought that there had been a serious accident at the crossing. Perhaps this may reinforce our concerns in regards to those who take no notice of the crossing signs in the area. It may make them think twice before driving across the railway crossings without stopping or looking.

The Diesel Traction Group have carried out the Annual Service on De 1429. This engine is now ready for another year's work on our railway.

Recently another scrap clean up has taken place and has brought in some well-needed funds to allow us to purchase numerous small items. Yes, these scrap areas around our sites often look untidy at times, but when enough material is available, it is sold, so why throw it out when it can raise the extra dollars?

The long-suffering compressor that is used for track work has now had a well needed servicing and alterations to the electrical wiring. Another major item to be replaced was the muffler, a necessary item to save work deafness. Thanks to Kerry and Peter of the `Thursday Gang' for your efforts.

The "Thursday Gang" are mainly members who are now retired or job hunting and are continuing to use their skills within a social group, repairing, restoring, rebuilding and doing many other bits and pieces around our railway site. A really happy group of 15 or so, this lot.

Heritage Train.

Locomotive D 140.

This 2-4-0t 17.3 tonne loco was built by Scott Bros in Christchurch in 1887 for NZR. In latter years it saw service at Kempthorne Prossers and Co's fertiliser works until 1961 when it was given to the Society of Model Engineers and stood in their grounds. In 1967 it was given to Ferry mead and moved onto site the same year.

Over the last few years, restoration has been proceeding with work having been carried out on the boiler. The boiler is still at Lyttelton Engineering with a small amount of repairs to be finished. The last of the stay bars have been prefabricated and are in place and new boiler plugs are now ready to be fitted. The cab of D 140 is now sitting in place on the frame and the side tanks are also in position. It is now looking more like a locomotive.

Carriage D 26.

Built in the 1870's in a number of different styles, this carriage had a first and second class compartment and could carry about 16 passengers.

Bodywork and framework repairs have been carried out, new drop window sashes made and glazed, window ventilation shades made and are now all in place. The springs of D 26 still need some work to be carried out on them. The doors of the carriage are being cleaned up and repaired and are starting to look like new again. At the same time, numerous other small items are also being repaired or replaced. The body work has received its coat of paint after the panel and frame repairs and is looking like new again.

Running days.

During the winter months Running Days are now on the FIRST Saturday and Sunday and the THIRD Sunday of the month. The locomotive in use alternates between De1429 and the Price Cb113 steam loco with the Railcar Rm56 making an occasional appearance.