Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

Three EA Locomotives Operated; Overhead Extension Proceeding

25/3/00

On 25 March, three EA locomotives were operated at Ferrymead together. Locomotives No. 2, 4 and 5 (EO 45, 68 and 74 under TMS numbering), were initially powered up to provide air for hand tampers being used to pack the track at No. 7 points in the Moorhouse yard. At the conclusion of this task, the three locomotives made numerous trips up and down the branch line, the Railway's only electrified section. It is thought that this is the first time that three of the class have operated together at Ferrymead.

All five of the EA class locomotives, which operated for 30 years on the Arthurs Pass to Otira electrified line, have been at Ferrymead since November 1999. Two of the class, No. 2 and 5, arrived in June 1998, soon after the Otira electrified section was discontinued, and were operated at Ferrymead in June 1999. The remaining locomotives arrived in November after they were moved from Tranz Rail's Linwood Locomotive Depot amid concerns about the vandalism they were receiving. The Electric Locomotive group of the Ferrymead Railway is understood to be interested in EA 1 and 4, the two that are in the best mechanical condition. At present, EA 1 is being painted and will be put on display, while EA 3 has parts missing and is non operational.

As reported previously, work has been underway to extend the overhead which currently ends at the Moorhouse Signalbox. Stage One of the work will take the catenary wire up as far as Truscotts Crossing. All the poles were put in place some time ago. From Thursday 22 March, a block of line will be put on the Ferrymead Railway each Thursday and some Saturdays to allow for construction works on the overhead to be carried out.