Observer17

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Full Name: The New Zealand Railway Observer

Issue Number: 17

Issue Date: October 1946

Volume and Number: 3/5

Pages: 18

Page Range: 73-90

Cover Image: n.a.


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CONTENTS

Society Notes

  • First issue with some typeset pages with half-tone block images c/o NZR, aim is to eventually have all pages produced this way.
  • Photo prints for sale ex P. Godber glass plates, Loco_Wb296 and Loco_S214 (1901), L_class_loco (1901), Car_A1113, Car_D391 and Car_C363 (1906), Hutt Park Train and Loco_S214

To Arthurs Pass on the Footplate - by Noel Mather

  • Mr J. Binstead Locomotive Engineer, Christchurch
  • Train_149 and Train 176
  • Loco_Kb970
  • Loco_Ab720
  • Loco_Kb966

Locomotives of the Picton Section - by S. A. Rockliff

  • Loco_C1 Neilson 1767 of 1873 Became Loco_C147 went to Wellington in 1892 and then to Kaihu Section in 1895 then to Wanganui in 1903. Sold to Auckland Farmers Freezing Co Horotiu Works, in Feb. 1915
  • Loco_C2 Neilson 1766 of 1873 both arrived 10 July 1874 Became Loco_C148. Transferred to Kawa Kawa Section in 1903. Transferred to Kakahi in 1911, transferred to Stores Branch August 1914 and renumbered 577. Sold to Butler Bros Ruatapu February 1922.
  • Loco_D1 (Ex D17? Hurunui - Bluff) Became Loco_D149. Sold to Gammon & Co Ohakune, May 1920
  • Loco_G55 Transferred in July 1890. Sold to Kaitangata Coal Co, then to Shag Point Coal Co
  • Loco_G58 Transferred in July 1892. Sold to Gammon & Co Ohakune, March 1919
  • Loco_G56 Transferred in May 1902. Sold to Manawatu County Council (Sanson Tramway)in July 1918
  • Loco_G57 Transferred in July 1902. Sold to Castlecliff Railway in July 19178
  • Loco_Fa375 Transferred in December 1908. built at Addington 1903, written off March 1936
  • Loco_Fa372 Transferred in May 1910. built at Addington 1902, written off March 1936, survived to do some shunting work and then in 1939 reconditioned for work train use on deviations between Picton and Blenheim. Still doing some work in 1944.
  • Loco_Wf389 Transferred in from N.I. August 1915 A & G Price 1 of 1904. returned to N.I. May 1933
  • Loco_Wf434 Transferred in from N.I. May 1917 A & G Price 2 of 1904. returned to N.I. July 1933. Sold to Tasmanian Railways 1944
  • Loco_Wf398 Transferred in from N.I. December 1918 A & G Price 10 of 1905
  • Loco_F245 Transferred from Wellington but not operated in Picton, scrapped April 1935, Boiler sold to Market Gardener
  • Loco_Wf390 Transferred in from N.I. c.June 1933 A & G Price 89 of 1908
  • Loco_Wf393 Transferred in from N.I. March 1933 A & G Price 5 of 1904
  • Loco_Wf432 Transferred in from N.I. March 1933 A & G Price 87 of 1908
  • Loco_Wf468 Transferred in from N.I. August 1936 A & G Price 12/1906. Originally built for PWD NIMT work
  • Loco_Wf401 Transferred in from S.I. c.July 1942 along with a number of passenger cars
  • Loco_A598 Transferred in from N.I. November 1943 A & G Price 53/1913. converted to 2 cylinder simple before transfer
  • Loco_A602 Transferred in from N.I. November 1943 A & G Price 57/1914. converted to 2 cylinder simple before transfer

Society Fixtures

News, Notes and Comments

  • South Island Regional Plans
    • New Station and Yard for Christchurch
    • New bridge over the Waimakariri River
    • A new connecting railway from Sockburn to Styx
    • Duplication of MSL from Rolleston to Norwood
    • Enlargement of Addington Workshops
    • New Bridge over the Waitaki River
  • Wellington Projects
    • Rimutaka Tunnel and Hutt Valley duplication etc
    • Plimmerton to Hutt Railway
  • Nelson - Blenheim Railway to be investigated instead of continuing Nelson to Inangahua
  • Proposed Putaruru - Reparoa Railway.
  • Kirikopuni Balloon Loop
  • Cambridge Branch passenger services with drawn from 9 September 1946
  • Rail-Air Parcels service commenced
  • Concrete sleepers laid as a trial nort of Levin
  • Single Line Automatic Signalling commenced Reefton to Westport 11 August 1946. Ngahere Junction to Reefton operational 8 April 1945
  • Christchurch to Addington to get 4th line. Existing are Down, Up and 3rd Rd. new one to be Down Goods.
  • Maori Hill Tramway crossing loop used to be south of cable car crossing
  • In Christchurch, the St Martins Tram made its last trip at 10pm on Sunday19 May 1946. Other lines to go as soon as enough busses are available
  • Shag Point Branches some more details
  • Arrangements of cars and vans on Passenger trains

Additions to Rolling stock in 12 months to 31 March 1946

  • North Island
    • 6 - A_class_cars - 56ft - 1st class numbers 1970 - 1975
    • 3 - F_class_vans - 30ft Bogie numbers 671 - 673
    • 79 - Jc_class_wagons - 4 wheel Sheep - Numbers 4653 - 4731
    • 40 - Mc_class_wagons - Low-side open wagon 4 wheel - numbers 2139 - 2178
    • 1 - Ud_class-wagon - bogie well of 40t capacity - number 1501
  • South Island
    • 39 - Jc_class_wagons - 4 wheel Sheep - Numbers 4613 - 4651
    • 49 - Hc_class_wagons - 4 wheel Cattle - Numbers 1044 - 1092
    • 40 - Mc_class_wagons - Low-side open wagon 4 wheel - numbers 2099 - 2138
    • 40 - Xc_class_wagons - Covered goods wagon 4 wheel - numbers 2346 - 2395, 2397, 2399 - 2401, 2403 - 2407
  • During same period 295 freight vehicles written off
  • Since 1st April, Otahuhu has produced 56 more Jc_class wagons, and 18 Z_class_wagons
  • Since 1st April, Addington have produced 30 Q_class_wagons (coal Hopper) 89 La_class_wagons (4 wheel high side) and 24 W_class_wagons (4 wheel meat )

Overseas Orders

  • 3,000 La_class_wagons from Britain
  • 40 motor coaches, 71 trailers, and 7 general purpose Ew_class_locomotives for Hutt Valley and Johnsoville

Locomotive Notes

  • Loco_Wab790 left Hutt shops with her number painted on the left of the rear buffer beam and in the centre of the front buffer beam. Apparently all engines will be passed out that way
  • Loco_X596 out-shopped in July but remains a compound unlike LocoX594 last year
  • the first of two Ka_class_locos to be converted to Oil burning should be ready soon
  • The Ja program has been set back in that the roller bearings have flaws and need to be replaced
  • Loco_Ka951 plunged into the Manawatu River after hitting a slip with both engine crew loosing their lives. Approx 60ch east of Te Apiti
  • Loco_Wab 768 and loco_Wab_766 collided head on at Papatoetoe both pulling suburban trains
  • Loco_Wab767 posed an unusual sight leaving Wellington bunker first in July, the other way round is the standard way
  • On 12 July loco_Ww673 took the 5.50am Wairarapa train when this is usually an A_class_loco or an Ab_class_loco
  • Loco_A409 is recorded as having been built at Addington in 1908, yet, its maker's plate on the Tender states 1907 and on the Boiler states 1909. Also the right hand side of the Headlight still show an Ab classification, a remnant of 1915 - 1930.
  • Loco_Ab696 stalled on the climb out of Picton on 4 September 1946, after several attempt, finally set back to Picton and was banked by loco
  • Picton loco_Wf390 has been working around Christchurch recently doing the work of A_class_loco's or Ab_class_loco's

Tasmanian Government Railways

  • The six ex NZR Wf_class_loco's that went to Tasmania have been both reclassified (to "DS") and renumbered
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