Canterbury Railway Society Inc

News

Waipara Vintage Festival 2001 Report

28/9/2001

The Canterbury Railway Society's locomotive WD 357 and carriages AF 863 and A 516 were key components of a successful 2001 Festival operation.

The Festival this year was concentrated on the two main days of 15 and 16 September, without the special train runs that preceded the 1999 Festival. WD 357 operated both days with W 192 at the head of a train running to Waikari and return. The order of the locomotives was alternated on the two days and both operated satisfactorily on the long steep 1 in 50 grades of the Weka Pass Railway. WD 357 has also featured in past festivals in 1997 and 1999, and also helped to open the Weka Pass Railway officially the week before the 1999 Festival.

Our carriages A 516 and AF 863 were used on the short train running to No.1 gate. This train was operated with D 16 on the uphill end and DE 1429 on the downhill end on the Saturday. A crankpin bearing failure on D 16 saw the last of Saturday's four trips hauled by DG 791 and DG 770. Unfortunately the D was unable to operate for the rest of the Festival. On the Sunday this train was hauled by DSA 276 on the uphill end and again DE 1429 on the downhill end. On both days the DE did most of the work on the outward leg as neither 6 wheel loco was capable of hauling the train by itself, and by all accounts the DE did a very good job.

Other rolling stock was supplied by the Weka Pass Railway including their recently acquired ex Tranz Rail carriage, and the Otago Excursion Train Trust. The WPR's own steam locomotive A 428 also ran a return train to Waikari both days, and DG 791 and DG 770 ran one return trip to Waikari each day.

Our and the Diesel Traction Group's locomotives and rolling stock returned to Christchurch the week after the Festival and will resume normal duties on the Ferrymead Railway. Our summer running season begins in earnest at Labour Weekend.

Successful DE 1429 Operation At Waipara Vintage Festival

Railways of New Zealand - Waipara Vintage Festival 2001 Photo Gallery