YARN9

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Full Name: Your Auckland Railway News

Issue Number: 9

Issue Date: February 1954

Volume and Number: 1/2RR

Pages: 16

Page Range: 1-16

Cover Image:

YARN9.png

CONTENTS

Three K_class_locos are burning coal again, on condition they are reverted to oil burning by June 1954

The remains of loco_K949 did finally go to Hutt Workshops via Paekakariki (after some clearance checks?) contrary to what was in the newspapers

Signalling News

• Kopaki is now equipped with colour light signalling and motor points
• Poro-otarau is now the only station in the Te Kuiti - Poro-otarau section needing a signalling upgrade for CTC operation.
• A shortage of houses for Train controllers is preventing CTC use on the next section north.
• No track has been laid on the new Loop on the Spiral (Makatote?) yet. It is understood that the small 'machine' from the Te Kuiti - Puketutu section will be used there.
• The only flaw in the new Taumarunui signalling seemed to be that Southbound trains had to get their Tablet from the North Signal box

New Works

• Thee curve easements between Mangapehi and Poro-otarau are nearly ready for rails.
• A new culvert is nearly ready for embankment construction over it for the realignment north of Taihape.
• On the Auckland - Hamilton Duplication, the new track is almost complete from Pukekohe to Buckland. Track laying through Pukekohe yard with the associated crossoves will start shortly leaving only Buckland - Tuakau to do.
• A 23 Lever interlocking frame will replace the old non-interlocked arrangement at Pukekohe where most other signalling work is nearing completion.
• The target for completing the Pukekohe - Buckland section is around November 1954

Car and Wagon News

• The 40t crane has been used to assist with bogie changes for the Christmas carriage pool
• The fluorescent lit car_A1976 was seen in the Wellington - Gisborne express over the holidays
• Car_Aa1621, an ex Royal Train sleeper was seen in normal service on 15/01/1954, a beautifully equipped car
• New Z_class_wagons numbered from 480 - 510 have been brought in to service
• Some of the new Lc_class_wagons have also been brought in to service.
• Components for new rolling stock are constantly arriving at Otahuhu Workshops only to be delayed by the staffing shortages

Wellington Electrified area

• From 6/02/1954 - 16/02/1954 Wellington - Paekakariki suburban trains will run with ordinary cars, not EMU's, and be steam or Diesel hauled. This is to allow cable renewals to be carried out. Suburban services will be hauled by De_class_loco's while the following passenger services will be steam hauled; Train_229, Train_611, Train_600, Train_624, Train_630, Train_610. a single De_class_loco will haul Train_612 and Train_613, while two De_class_loco's will haul Train_686 and Train_C49
• On 10/02/1954 Loco_Ka957 hauled Train_624, banked by loco_Ka935, Train_229 was hauled by loco_Ka958, Train_611 hauled by loco_Ka953, Loco_958 came back with Train_630 and LocoKa953 returned light engine.

Waiuku Branch. The first Way and Works train on the branch for years was seen there on 20/01/1954 (In preparation for the Excursion no doubt!)

Overgauge Loads. A significant number of Overgauge loads have been moving on all the main lines. Wagon_Ud1500,Wagon_Ud1501 and Wagon_Ud1504 were spotted on a morning freight out of Auckland marshalled together with some massive loads.

Royal Tour Trains.

AUCKLAND

• 18/12/1953 was the first extra train run in connection to the Royal visit giving Hamilton people a chance to see the lights and decoration in Auckland. Extra cars were attached to the Rotorua - Auckland Express at Frankton Junction departing at 1pm and returned as a special train departing Auckland at 9pm. Some 200 people took advantage of the service with a special ticket price of 12/- ($2.20). The return train, Train_H15 made history in being the first long distance Diesel hauled train in New Zealand being pulled by loco_De504. The 7 total load of 180t was ideal for this loco
• The two specials to Dargaville carried nearly 1,000 people each in 12 cars. Both trains crossed the Waiotira - Dargaville train at Kirikopuni, and they were the biggest passenger trains ever to leave Dargaville.
• On 24/12/1953 two special return trains were run to Onehunga, all worked by Ab_class_engines. Train_E1 departed Auckland 8:45am, returning as Train_E2 departing Onehunga at 9:30am. The second train ran as Train_E3 departing Auckland 12:43pm and returned as Train_E4 departing Onehunga at 1:35pm.
• On 30/12/1953 two special return trains were run to Otahuhu. Loco_Wab pulled the first departing at 8:30am with 15 total, stopping at 3 stations in between, loco_Wab771 departing at 8:38am with 14 total stopping at 3 different stations in between.

KING COUNTRY

• On 31/12/1953 special trains were run from National Park departing 7:20am, and Taumarunui departing 9:45am, for the Queen's visit to Te Kuiti. Both trains were well patronised. The first to depart was Train_N51 (through to Okahukura Junction), leaving at 2:45pm behind loco_Ka944 - 11 cars and a van, with the Taumarunui train departing at 3:30pm behind loco_Ka950 12 cars, no van!
• On 8/01/1954 a special 'all-stations' train ran from Taumarunui to Stratford to see the Queen and Royal Train.

GISBORNE

• A 10 total train (reduced to 5 cars at Puha on the return trip) ran from Moutohora to Gisborne return on 6/01/1954 as did a similar train from Wairoa. Both trains debarked passengers at Stanley Rd level crossing, a special stopping place.

WELLINGTON

• The Royal Train service was run from Wellington to Napier on 6/01/1954; the Pilot train consisting of Loco _De509 and loco_De510, car_A1871 and car_A1878 and van_F590. The Royal train was made up of Loco_De514, Loco_De515, Van F595, car_A2008, car_Aa1621, car_Aa1710, car_A1883, car_Aa1619, car_Aa2011 and car_Aa1824.
• On 7/01/1954 special trains ran from Shannon to Palmerston North, and from Mangamaire to Woodville. All cars on the Royal train and the Pilot were turned at Palmerston North.
• On 8/01/1954 a special train, a crowded 14 total ran from Taihape to Marton behind loco_Ka944. The return trip was via a specially delayed Train_480 departing at 2:57 with 14 cars behind loco_K919
• On 9/01/1954 a special train ran from Tokomaru to Paraparaumu.