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Full Name: Your Auckland Railway News

Issue Number: 7

Issue Date: February 1954

Volume and Number: 2/1

Pages: 4

Page Range: 1-4

Cover Image: n.a.

CONTENTS

The Royal Train appeared out of Otahuhu Workshops on 3/12/1953, drawn by loco_De504 and headed to Auckland. it is made up of the following: Car_Aa1824 (Observation/lounge), car_Aa2011 (dining), car_Aa1619 (lounge), car_A1883 (day/sleeper), car_A1710 (sleeper), car_Aa1621, car_A2008 (35 seat 1st class), van_F595, and car_A2009 (35 seat 1st class). The following additional 2nd train rollingstock was also present; van_F_590, car_A1878 and car_Aa1871. The whole cosist departed as Train_J33 pulled by a an impressively cleaned loco_J1211 driven by P. Ruddy and fired by F. O'Sullivan as far as Frankton. From Frankton, loco_J1235 took the train south.

The train was used from Hastings to Palmerston North, on 7/01/1954 Palmerston North to New Plymouth on 8/01/1954 Loco_ab758 took the reduced train to Summit on 12/01/1954

In the South Island loco_Ja1262 and loco_Ja1263 (both new) will be doing the longer journeys with a train that is nearly complete at Addington.

Special Trains

• Picnic trains to Swanson ran nearly every Saturday but on 29/11/1953 three return trains were provided.
• On 5/12/1953 16 total Pukukohe race train behind loco_K910
• On 7/12/1953a 6 total Ardmore College train direct from Papakura to Auckland pulled by loco_J1211 and return by loco_Ab820 that evening
• On 12/12/1953 of some 15 cars took a Helensville High School party to Redwood Park Swanson with the engine serviced and turned at Henderson

Bay of Plenty News

• Ballasting of the Mount Maunganui Branch started on 23/11/1953 using the 4-wheeled plough van_Ep2500 and van_Ep2501 (tare weight about 7.5 t)
• Junction points between Mount Maunganui and Matappihi stations.
• On 10/12/1953, steelwork was noticed in Auckland for Mt Maunganui, consigned to Te Maunga, suggesting that Te Maunga has appeared as a station again.
• The Yd_class_wagons have made their way to 'the Bay' and are being used to stockpile ballast at Kawerau for use on the Murupara Branch.
• loco_A603 and loco_A585 have been seen in Tauranga recently.

Corrections - (2 errors in YARN6 corrected in wiki)

General News

• De_class_loco's can now run at 45 mph on certain trains. Chane authorised to accommodate the run to Mercer.
• At a pile driving ceremony at Mt Maunganui, The Minister for Transport announced that a railway connecting Te Aroha with the East Coast was being considered and could include a 2.5 mile long tunnel.
• Overhauled passenger cars are appearing with shiny aluminium roofs
• There was an extra Train_J10 run on 15/01/1953 carrying 286 Boy Scouts plus some ordinary passengers

Tangiwai Disaster. This has been adequately covered by radio and Newspapers to warrant no further comment here.

Loco Depot News

• Loco_Ab746 was seen in Auckland on 25/11/1953 after overhaul at A&G Price and with side-discharge ash-hoppers, the last to have them fitted.
• Loco_De505 arrived in Auckland on 24/11/1953. So far no Auckland De_class_loco has exceeded 50,000 miles
• Loco_Wg483 is on loan to Otahuhu Workshops as the Works-shunter till the Wf_class_loco is repaired.
• Loco_Wg484, the only other Wg_class_loco, is at Taumarunui doing Depot work, which means none are used in Traffic duties.
• The following have been seen in Auckland recently, Loco_Jb1229, loco_J1229, Loco_J1231 and Loco_Ab835, all Taumarunui based engines.
• Loco_J1236 finally emerged form the Depot 14/12/1953 after a 6 month stay and took the Express Goods (Train_631) south on 15/12/1953
• Loco_J1207 did not go to Hutt Workshops as expected but is currently getting some light repairs at the Auckland Fitting Shop
• The Auckland engines now away for major overhauls are: loco_Ab824, loco_Ab821, loco_Ab830, loco_Jb1206, loco_Bb624, loco_C854, loco_C861, loco_Ww682, loco_Ww573 and Loco_Ww677

Frankton Depot

• The following engines were seen at Frankton Depot on 17/11/1953; loco_Ab739, loco_Ab717, loco_Ab660, loco_A585, loco_A587, loco_K905, loco_K911, loco_K9121235, loco_Jb1218
• The following were seen at Frankton 'under repair'; loco_K902, loco_K915, loco_J1214, loco_J1215, loco_J1217, loco_J1225, loco_Wab687, loco_Ab715, loco_Ab759, loco_X588, loco_A583, loco_Bb144, loco_Bb147, loco_Bb167, loco_Bb222, loco_Bb633, loco_F254

Branch Line Closures

• The Outram Branch Closed on 4/12/1953, except for the portion serving the Mosgiel Woolen Mills.
• The Waihou Downs Branch was closed on 10/12/1953
• The Greytown Branch was closed on 24/12/1953