WN46 - The lesser than usual Flugel - by Kerry Young

31st May 2007

This week I was rather busy with a video camera, doing a short documentary for some overseas friends, so I didn't get the full compliment of still pictures. My apologies!

Here we see the alignment and ballasting of road two have been done. Just as well I got this shot early, as soon after the lines began to fill.

I was unaware that we had this three wheel velocipede. Graham decided to bring it out and I decided to get his picture.

Last weeks question. It is to become two stays for signal posts. Cut at an appropriate angle in the centre, they will then be concreted into the ground in such a way as to be a stay to provide additional support for the posts. The timber is 300mm square.

Since doing the report/profile on the pie cart, we learned that it was designed to haul about 14,000lbs up the 1 in 33 grade in the Otira tunnel, so it seems only reasonable to use it for the odd shunt. I tried my hand and brought it and the wagons across here onto road one without any fuss or bother.

With all the activity in the Electric Traction Department, it has been deemed preferable to leave the Toshiba 'Ea's on the branchline. Last Saturday, the Eo & Ec were out doing practice shakedown runs with carriage stock. They tell me that things worked out very well.

The 'Unit' had to go over the pit again and here we see Sir Colin has fired up Tr 156 for the operation. This engine was the yard hack for the Hutt workshops before we got it. The Gardner engine was run into the ground before we got it. The rings are in a really bad way. We spent some time working on the engine and electrical system and have it reliable, but it smokes badly while it is cold. This is due to low compression. The cost of a full recondition these days is a kings ransom, it does more than we ever ask of it, so why spend our cash just to reduce the cold start smoke?

We have backed up beyond the crossing to let traffic through while we wait for the signal man (signal person?) to let us through. (No smoke !)

Back in the workshop the brass handrails have been affixed to the carriage ends of 'A1177'. They do a grand job!

I managed to get a first coat of green paint on some of the compressor parts.

"Have you seen this DVD?" Colin shows Keith an early copy of the events during the centennial of the Dunedin station.

Sorry, but that's all for this week. Cheers, 'K'.