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Full Name: Your Auckland Railway News

Issue Number: 1

Issue Date: July 1953

Volume and Number: 1/1

Pages: 2

Page Range: 1-2

Cover Image: n.a.

CONTENTS

Suburban Delays

• Train 108 was delayed 13 minutes on 25/06/1953 while the Penrose Ww_class_loco double-banked its train into Penrose (1 in 46 - 54 grades) When loco_Jb1213 arrived at Church St, 3 Ub_class_wagons were still waiting (with a shunter) for the Ww shunt loco to return, which it shortly did.
• Loco_Wab770 recently got stuck on the Papakura Turntable, a condition usually reserved for J_class_locos or Ja_class_locos. The problem was eventually tracked down to Loco_Wab770 being out of balance sideways.
• On 1/07/1953 a broken rail in a turnout at Westfield Junction just after Train_227 had passed resulted in some trains reaching Papatoetoe 50 minutes late. Loco_De512 and Loco_Wab803 were on the head of two affected trains

Pine Forest Railways.

• The recently completed pulp mill at Kinleith will soon add traffic to the new 19 mile branch line currently worked by loco_X588, but soon to be joined by another
• Train Control was brought in to operation on the Rotorua Branch about 18 months ago and this has assisted the working of Banker engines on the 1 in 33 Mamaku Banks
• NZ Forest products use an 0-6-0 diesel shunter similar to NZR's De_class_loco's on their 2.5 mile private siding.
• Ballasting of the Murupara Branch commenced on 16/06/1953, initially one 20 wagon train per day but later two, with the ballast coming from the Pekatahi Ballast Pit near taneatua. Taneatua Depot has reopened with 1 engine for this work.

Loco Notes

• Loco_Jb1203 and loco_J1211 are both back in service ex Hutt Workshops following the Kaukapakapa Smash. the only change seems to be Loco_Jb1203 now sports a smoke-box door number plate.
• Loco_Jb1202, loco_Jb1206 and loco_J1214 are now the only locos without smoke-box door number plates.
• Loco_Ww646 and loco_C851 are undergoing 'C' class overhauls at the Auckland Fitting shop.J1237
• Loco_Jb1203 and loco_J1211, loco_J1237 and loco_J1238 are now noted to have all received Ja_class_loco sand-domes following visits to Hutt Workshops
• Loco_Ab842 is off to Hutt Workshops for an 'A' grade overhaul
• Loco_Ww495 and locoWw682 are laid-up awaiting shop dates, while loco_Ww573 seems to be just about always in the Shed
• Loco_Ab821 has returned to Auckland after loan to the Middle Districts
• The following loco's are at Hutt Workshops: Loco_Wg487, Loco_Ww556, Loco_Ww558, Loco_C862 and Loco_Bb625
• Loco_Ab703 and Loco_Ab820 are at A&G Price for overhaul
• The Ja_class_locos are celebrating 1st birthdays and are proving very popular, with the Auckland Depot being proud of them and keeping them gleaming.
• Loco_Wab803 returned from Hutt Workshops on 27/06/1953 taking over the Papakura 'regular' job from loco_Wab802 where you clock up nearly 1000 miles a week. Papakura is believed to be the only passenger train loco depot in NZ
• Loco_Ja1281 ran into a slip near Tahekaroa on train_102 during the mid-June rains 1953