Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

General News - October 2001

27/10/2001

Price CB 113 is now back at Ferrymead and is facing in the opposite direction to when it left. This may confuse some people :)

A track day was held on 29th and 30th September. Sleepers were replaced on the main line near Ferrymead station and joints were lifted and packed.

RM 51's engine repairs are underway in the charge of a new member who is a qualified diesel mechanic. The main repair task is to re-metal the bearing shells of the big end bearings. Meanwhile we are planning to paint RM 56 early next year.

X 442 is now expected to leave our site before Christmas subject to the availability for funds for the move north.

The bogie change on the Historic Rail Vehicle Trust's carriage took place on 26th October. The bogies on the carriage from when it arrived at Ferrymead, have been removed enabling them to be returned to Tranz Rail. They have been replaced with other bogies that were obtained from Rail Heritage Trust.

The Ferrymead Railway operated all three days of Labour Weekend for the Park's Grandparents Gala event. On the Sunday and Monday, in addition to the WD, RM 56 and DE 1429 were respectively operated. Trolleys also ran on these two days between trains on the main line, and these days provided a good boost to our finances.

The boiler of F 13 has gone to Lyttelton Engineering for repairs. The wheels and axles have been sent to Hillside Shops where a new axle will be manufactured and the wheels fitted to it.

Work is continuing on D 26 and the team are looking at ways of speeding up work on the boiler, possibly by contracting some of the work out.

The pattern hunt continues in the carriage shed and the team working there have achieved a very good result to date in sorting through the patterns and stacking them on pallets.

The Diesel Traction Group have carried out repairs to their Z wagon. The wagon which is used for storage has had repairs to the roof and sides, and some paint applied.

Fell van F 624 is presently in the workshop for some woodwork repairs and repainting. It is possible this van will be displayed in the Hall of Wheels when this work is completed. The team are also looking at some displays around the crossing keepers hut.

New signal arms have been placed on the home stick at Ferrymead Station. The signals crew are continuing to sort through the newly acquired stock of spare parts donated by Tranz Rail.