ferrymead newsletter of the p. o. box 1126 tram tracts · 2013. 12. 12. · christmas again, and...
TRANSCRIPT
Tram TractsNewsletter of the
Tramway Historical Society IncP. O. Box 1126Christchurch.
Websitewww.ferrymeadtramway.org.nz
Editorial address: Joe Pickering, P. O. Box 17, Woodend, North Canterbury 7641. Phone 03 312 2578. [email protected].
Ferrymead
Next work partyThe next work party is scheduled for Saturday 21 December 2013 and 18 January 2014 . Formal workparties are held every third Saturday of the month and Alan Roi provides a cooked midday meal. There
are also activities every Saturday and on Monday evenings.
December 2013
Coming events
Thursday23 January 2014will be 40 years since tram
22 entered service atFerrymead. Come and joinus for rides around the track
and listen to membersreminiscing about those past
40 years.One of Phyllis’s famoussuppers will be provided.
Cost for the night $2
Start 7.30pm
and don’t forget...John Shanks’ SunsetHills Mystery Tour
DATE: Wednesday 15 January2014
TIME: 7 pm SHARP from thetram barn
COST: $5.00 per personBring suitable shoes.
Phyllis will provide her usualexcellent supper. This will be
followed by a night ride on 26,with sizzling trolley, flickeringlights on the trolley standard
and balmy night airs for all onthe top deck.
They’re back!City Tramway finally reopens
With a speech from the Mayor and a spell from the Wizardthe Christchurch Tramway, with trams from three South
Island cities, was back in business.
It was a grand occasion.After so manypostponements and
false hopes, on 27November trams finallyreturned to the streets ofChristchurch, shuttlingbetween New RegentStreet and the Museum.Until the Rolleston Avenue- Armagh Street section isrepaired and reopened(let’s not even hazard aguess when that will be!)the trams will be running“wrong way” as theyreturn eastwards from theMuseum. Not too much ofa problem for 11 and 15 asthey have doors both sides,but the Brill is working ina way it was neverintended to work since itsconversion to one-manoperation.
Staff have their workcut out remembering to change polesat either end, carrying their cashfrom one end of the tram to the other,and switching the PA system andtraffic indicators.
The trams look superb,probably better than they have everlooked thanks to the skill anddedication of Graeme Richardson andhis team.
Pictorial coverage of theoccasion and the events leading up toit, starts on page 5.Michael Esposito, Christchurch Tramway’s
Managing Director, and Lianne Dalziel,Christchurch Mayor, shared ribbon cutting
duties and declared the City Tramway,closed since the February 2011 earthquake,
back open for business.Photo: DLA Turner
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 20132
and the events leading up to it in thisissue.
Before closing, might I proffer someadvice to any of you who might betempted to indulge in the foolish and futileactivity of attempting to push heavyobjects such as tramcars. My suggestion,in deference to your Achilles tendons orany other vulnerable parts of youranatomy, is that you strenuously resistany such temptation. Your editor willhappily supply, in full and graphic detail,an account of the possible consequencesof failing to observe this admonition. Theonly bright spot might be the mirth youafford the staff in the OrthopaedicDepartment (known colloquially andominously as the “bone shop”) when youtell them how you did it.
No Tracts in January; back inFebruary. Have a great Christmas.
Joe
From the Editor’s (wheel) chair...
Happy Christmas to all
TOUCHING WIRES CAUSESINSTANT DEATHSir,What a wonderful sign, reproduced inthe November Tracts! I love the deliciousirony—perhaps unintended if the signwere genuine. But is it? It would beinteresting to know the source of this sign.I suspect a spoof. Where was the“Newcastle Tramway Authority”located? Not in the UK, Australia orSouth Africa, where towns namedNewcastle may be found, but wherepounds, shillings and pence were thecurrency in tramway days. The USA usesdollars but generally does not use theword “tramway”. Canada tended toname its operators with a “tramway”name in the title, even if the citizenryreferred to the vehicles as “street cars”or “trolleys” and has long used dollarsas its currency. Canada also had a largenumber of very small-town tramwayoperators, and has a number of smalltowns named Newcastle, so therein liesa possibility.
It would be very interesting toknow the source of this sign and whetherit is genuine. Can any reader help?John Shanks
At last thetrams havef i n a l l yre s t ar te din the city.I attendedthe Restartceremonyheld onWednesday2 7
November in CathedralJunction and it was great to seethem running again. They lookbrilliant and are a credit to allwho worked on them and inparticular to GraemeRichardson who was theoverseer for the work.
A track is being formeddown the side of Tram Barn 1to enable road access to thetraverser which will enableour buses to be run over thepit for servicing.
The buses that havebeen in covered storage off sitehave had to be brought backon site as the building we hadthe use of is to be demolished.
On Sunday 24November the Park Companyheld, if not well advertised, anEnthusiast day. We opened thebarns and had two members,John Shanks and Dave Carr, onsite to show visitors aroundand answer their questions.Everyone seemed genuinelyinterested in what washappening and some of thevery young showed realinterest and could be potentialfuture members.
Well it’s nearlyChristmas again, and I’m surethe years get shorter andshorter.
I would like to take thisopportunity to wish everyonea Merry Christmas and a Safeand Happy New Year.
Cheers,
Graeme
Message fromthe president
It’s here again: time to wish allour members a HappyChristmas and a Prosperous New
Year. Time also to thank those who havesupported Tracts with articles, photos,reports and background assistance overthe last year.
Tracts is a team effort and wethank—with great trepidation lest weomit somebody—the following: Graemeand Phyllis Belworthy, Bryan Blanchard,Dave Carr, Jonno Day, Brent Efford, DaveHansen, Allen Harbrow, Ken Henderson,Dave Hinman, Dianne Hobbs, DavidJones, Colin Loach, Cam Lill, Don McAra,Barry Marchant, Alan Roi, MurraySanders, Pim Sanderson, John Shanks,Roy Sinclair, Graham Stewart, StephenTaylor, David Turner. Thank you all;without you there would be no Tracts.
Then of course there are thosestalwarts of the back room who handlethe mailouts and have been faithfullydoing so for longer than anyone canremember: Barry Marchant with themailing list, and Colin and Win Loachand granddaughter Evelyn with thefolding and posting. Fortunately their jobis becoming easier as more and morepeople elect to receive Tracts electronically,thereby getting it slightly ahead of thepaper version and in full colour. My wife,Helen, and Don McAra have helped withproofreading
The good news of the year has gotto be that the City Tramway is finallyback in business, albeit on a reducedcircuit. The Society and the HTT and itsstaff can be immensely proud of thecontribution they have made in the shapeof superbly restored vehicles. We haveextensive photo coverage of the opening
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 2013 3
We’ve just returned from a three-weekholiday in Perth during October. Theweather was starting to get very hot.
When you are a rail fan, there are many thingsto do and see. The suburban rail network is firstclass—smooth, fast at 110 km/hr, clean and safe toride.
Whiteman Park is a must for tram enthusiasts.Tuesday afternoon when we visited was a quiet time.Ron our motorman had time to spend with us and aride in W2 No 329 (top photo) was much appreciated.Thanks Ron.
While on a family day at Yanchep NationalPark, we found a tram display with a difference! A Cclass car built in 1913 was one of a batch of eightwithdrawn from service during the 1930s. Thebodies were taken to Yanchep and used as holidayhomes. Only two have managed to survive the bushfires and termites. No 61 went to Whiteman Park;No 57 was passionately restored, as the sign tells us,as a holiday home complete with furniture. This wasa very different restoration project (photo right).
Another must-do is a visit to Rotnest Island,an hour by ferry from the port of Fremantle. Theisland is approximately 11 km by 4 km, a popularholiday / day escape for the people of Perth. DuringWorld War 2 several large guns were installed aspart of the defence of Fremantle. The largest of theseis a 9.2 inch monster, located at Hilltop Battery. Toget to see the monster visitors board a small dieselrailcar for the 6.3 km trip up the hill (photo right).On the way up I chatted to the motorman—Barney.After a conducted tour of the battery it was time forthe return journey. On boarding the railcar, Barneyinvited me to drive! After a quick lesson I was off—flat out at 20 km/hr. On the way I spotted a largeblack snake sunning itself on the ballast. At the lastmoment it made a run for it—can snakes run? SadlyI fear I may have made it into two small snakes! Notsomething a Christchurch trammy does on an islandin the Indian Ocean all that often. Thanks, Barney.Sorry about the snake.
Finally take time to visit the local at Cottesloewhere you can have an ale in Melbourne tram 118.Great use for an old tram (bottom photo).
Our thanks to Steve (our son) and wife Debwho provided the transport when required.
Ramblings in Western AustraliaCOLIN and WIN LOACH have been across the ditch unearthing some interesting finds. Colin has
supplied the following story and photographs.
Scrap metal wantedKEN HENDERSON advises that scrap metal iswanted. Revenue from the sale of such metal helpsfund the restoration work on the Mornington cablecar and trailer as well as track work. Dependingon the quantity and location, it might be possibleto arrange for it to be picked up.
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 20134
FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION ofthe current City Tramway work, HTThave commenced work on 24’schassis, and a lot of very photoworthy progress has occurred.
This work commenced withtaking the chassis outsideand disassembling it into itscomponent parts.
Then all the steel work was sentaway for sandblasting along withsome seat bases and other steel partsassociated with the roof pillars, andthese have recently been returned,and given a protective coat of primer.
The wooden pieces of thechassis have been assessed. The
Work gets under way on chassis of Hills Car No 24STEPHEN TAYLOR has not been wasting time!
“good” pieces (the majority) havebeen cleaned down and given a coatof Everdure. The pieces needingreplacement have been replicated innew wood—still a work in progressas I write this.
The next stage should becommencement of re-assembly of thesteel chassis which will include hot-riveting many of the steel pieces andthen re-assembly of the woodencomponents. In addition to the abovework, John King is still working awayon assembling the replica Peckham14D5 trucks.
It should be noted that the HTTlabour is mostly funded from a
Canterbury Community Trust Grant,and as always, the Society would liketo acknowledge the support of thatorganisation for the work weundertake. However, sandblastingand ongoing materials are currentlybeing paid for from funds raised bydonations from members for the 24project. It should be noted thatfurther donations towards thisproject (or any other Society project)are always appreciated.
I have included a number ofphotos. However members arealways encouraged to come and viewprogress for themselves as the photoon capture part of the work.
Photo: Cam Lill
Photo: Stephen Taylor
Photo: Stephen Taylor
Photo: Stephen Taylor
Top left: Chassis on the traverser being disassembled, with the assistance ofthe HIAB on the back of Cam Lill’s truck.
Middle left: The two chassis side frames after disassembly. Next step wasto send them for sandblasting along with a large number of other parts
removed from the tram.
Photo: Barry Marchant
Photo: Barry Marchant
Bottom left: Under 24’s body with the chassis removed, although thetemporary “loan trucks” have been parked back under there.
Top right: A number of the wooden chassis pieces prior to beingEverdure’ed.
Middle and above right: Priming all the steel work returned from the sand
blaster—in the traverser pit!
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 2013 5
Back to town!No 11 was the first tram to make the journey. Thank you DAVE HINMAN for this sequence of pictures
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 20136
Then out they came!There is no overhead from the tram shed to Cathedral Junction so all trams have to be towed in and out. ROY SINCLAIRcaught Birney 15 emerging from Tramway Lane behind the Company ute.
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 2013 7
Opening day...A large crowd gathered for the opening at which the Mayor spoke and the Wizard cast a spell. D LA TURNER was there and captured the Wizard in full cry and a few of the guests, some of whom
you might just recognise—plus view of the procession on its way back to town from the Museum.
Cam Lill, Stephen Taylor, Graeme Belworthy,Graeme Richardson, Larry Day
Ferrymead Tram Tracts, December 20138
Happy puntersROY SINCLAIR captured the smiles