WN25 - The first 2007 official Flugel!

11th January 2007

After a wet and cold Christmas New Year Period, we hope I am sure, for improved weather to come. Now let's go and check out the Glue Factory....................

There's a picture to gladden the heart. The present end of the Valley Line. The picture does not even show the previous end as last seen in these notes. Take your hats off to Peter Jenkinson and all those who did battle with him to achieve this. The embankment just beyond carries the double track of the Christchurch/Lyttelton line.

Now check this out. Sent in by Peter himself..............

Good day everyone.

After a year working on the Valley Line, today (7th) saw the first steam
train run to the end of the present extension, nice way to start the year!
To cap it off, moments after the W had stopped, a coal train past by on its
way to Lyttleton!
Fingers crossed that this time next year we can at least get a train down to
where the station is going to be, if it's a really good year, we may even have
part of the triangle complete!!
Cheers for now,
Peter.

What a great way to start Flugel and indeed the whole group off for this year! Thanks indeed Peter.

'L1939' continues to progress, thanks to Bob the Builder. Other than the metalwork, it's all his.

While outside, I heard the growl of a larger diesel engine than we have, so on checking, I found the Diesel Traction Groups 'De1429' being moved. This to finish some detail work after having completed its annual survey.

The present food arrangements, utilising the facilities in the Moorhouse Station.

As I wandered, I took this to show the ex Dunedin 22 tram, paused to allow passengers to disembark to check out the Hall of Wheels.

The Railcar windows are nearly all done. Seen here, James Gobbe (one of the juniors) with the tear in the seat of his pants and Ian MacD. cleaning the opening for painting.

For those who no Flugel would be complete without our Colin. Seen removing wood screws with broken heads.

The roof of the 'F' cab has been cleaned back to bare metal and Steve has been doing his heavy duty panel beating trick with the usual great results. The railcar crew beyond.

Brian Frost doesn't seem too sure about this camera thing, but shortly after, the roof was undercoated in red oxide.

We have brakes! The 'F' can now be stopped. Now all we have to do is to get it to go.

We will soon be.............

...........back to working on the valve gear. The time has come to set the length of the reach rod to hold the valve gear dead centre with the 'Johnson Bar' (reversing lever) in the centre slot as above.

Remember wagon 'N308'? It is now the official runner for crane 277. (Of 1879)

Here Rachel has the Juniors supposedly learning how to attach chains, but I don't see them giving undivided attention.

Finally, there's the evidence of how the weather is treating us!

More next week. Cheers, 'K'.