YARN3
Full Name: Your Auckland Railway News
Issue Number: 3
Issue Date: September 1953
Volume and Number: 1/3
Pages: 2
Page Range: 1-2
Cover Image: n.a.
CONTENTS
High Speeds
- Loco_K913 averaged 57.8 mph start to stop Te Kauwhata - Huntly
- Loco_Ka942 exceeded 67 mph for 4 miles
Station changes
- Duntroon on the Kurow Branch is no longer Officered
- Two new suburban stops are being constructed on the North Auckland Line, one between Morningside and Mt Albert (Baldwin Ave), and one between New Lynn and Croydon Road (Fruitvale Road)
Loco restrictions
- Loco_K906 returned to Frankton on 20/08/1953, the day restriction were lifted at the Mercer Swamps
- Loco_K910 came to Auckland with a relief Express and returned to Frankton attached to Train_121 hauled by Loco_Ja1282 the same day
- Class_De_loco's, Class_Ed_loco's and class_Ew_loco's are all restricted to 40 mph due to their causing damage to the tack
- Diesel loco's on order for delivery in 1954 will all have a bogie truck at each end and lighter axle loadings
Double-unit Railcars are expected to be running 3 serviced each way daily north of Auckland by February 1954
Duplication work is progressing with a lot of track laid between Paerata and Tuakau and the 23 lever signal interlocking frame is being assembled at Pukekohe. Buckland station is expected to be derated.
BAY Of Plenty News
- The old 'Mount' branch line (55lb rail 20 years old) has been ripped up and new formation formed ready for track laying. New 70lb rails are stockpiled at Te Maunga, so track laying to the new port is expected to start shortly.
- Both the Mt Maunganui Branch and the Murupara Branch are being laid with 70lb American rail
- Progress on the Murupara Branch is about a mile a fortnight, with track now into the fire restricted area where coal burning locos are not permitted to work.
- Loco_Ab712, based at Taumaranui was spotted at Te Puke
- Loco_Ab703 recently blew out a cylinder end.
A downturn in goods traffic has seen a number of services cut.
Loco_Ja1279 pulling a 10 total train_229 took 6 minutes off the schedule from Huntly - Frankton
Loco_Wab803, following a turntable mishap at Papakura, managed to regain the 11 minutes lost by the time Penrose was reached.
Auckland Depot Notes
- Loco_Ww556 arrived back from Hutt Workshops on 10/08/1953
- Loco_C862 arriced back on 19/08/1953 but suffered a tube failure within a week.
- Loco_Ww558 is at Taihape while Loco_Wg484 is at Taumarunui for a 'C' overhaul
- Loco_Ab703has been transferred to Frankton Junction
- Loco_Ab659 and Loco_Ab762 have both has C overhauls, ex Auckland Fitting Shop around 7/08/1953
- Loco_C851 and Loco_Ww676 are now having 'C' overhauls.
- Loco_Ww573 was heading to Hutt Workshops on Train_81 behind a J_class_Loco
- Loco_Y542 is currently relieving at Moerewa.
Whangarei Depot Notes
- Loco_J1211 and Loco_Ab815 are the regular 'big' engines at Whangarei. Loco_Bb197 and Loco_Ww678 are also current ly based at Whangarei
The following northern loco's are currently at Hutt workshops. Loco_Bb625, Loco_Ab824 which did not go to A&G Price, Loco_Ww682, Loco_C854
- Loco_Ab820 returned from A&G Price on 23/07/1953 following an 'A' grade overhaul, and has been on Prrovincial Express work when loadings are light.
A week of breakdowns
- Loco_J1207 had a collapsed bearing under the cab
- Loco_Ab773 developed a cracked frame
- Loco_J1225 a suspected cracked crank pin
- Loco_De503 failed at Glen Eden with a faulty fuel pipe, Fixed the next morning and *Loco_De501 picked up the cars when passing.
A partly dismantled D_class_loco ex Smart Rd Phosphate works was seen on 2 Ub_class_wagons heading to the Portland Cement Works