Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

General News - September 2001

28/9/01

Price CB 113 operated successfully over several weekends at McLeans Island.

While the CB was away, our premier locomotive WD 357 and carriages A 516 and F 372 went up to Waipara for the 2001 Vintage Festival and were key components of a successful event. (See our report linked below)

LB 4803 restoration and painting has been completed and the wagon has been passed out of workshops.

Fell van F 624 has been put into the workshop for some minor restoration work and repainting. Once this work has been completed it may be put on display. The Executive are also looking at a display of the Fell centre rail section that we have and some other exhibits.

The signals team is busy tidying up their stock of new parts into the signals compound. More training days are coming up soon.

The batteries in TR 156 have been replaced and the battery boxes are being repaired.

We are fortunate to have signed on a qualified diesel mechanic as a new member. As the funds have just been approved to have RM 51's engine repairs carried out he will undoubtedly be very busy for a while.

Track department is still busy with repairs to the Hall of Wheels track. A track day will be held on 29th & 30th September.

F 13's wheels have been taken into the workshop for inspection and stripping down. It has been found that one axle is slightly bent and a new axle will have to be made as spare axles on F 12 are unsuitable for re-use. The boiler is at Lyttelton Engineering for repairs using grant funds we received last year.

D 137 restoration is proceeding well with the exterior cladding being put on.

D 140 has been moved forward inside the workshop. The steam dome of the boiler is being attended to. Once the stays and some other work have been completed then the boiler can be retubed.

As noted previously X 442 and the spare AB boiler are expected to leave our site by road. The departure date depends on funds being raised by the NZRLS.

Locomotive WAB 794 which used to be at Ferrymead and is being restored at Feilding, has moved a step closer to completion having now been moved under its own power. The boiler was first lit up to 85 psi for testing on the 25th August, and the following weekend the pressure was raised to 120 psi in further tests. Various minor issues and certification are being attended to. Unfortunately the locomotive will not be available for the NZRLS convention at Labour Weekend as the certification will take several months to complete.

Waipara Vintage Festival 2001 Report

WAB 794 In Steam