This Waitangi Weekend we will be running our normal first Sunday of the month Big Steam Sunday on the 5th and after the successful Wellington Anniversary day run, we have decided to run Fowler #5 on Monday the 6th. Two days of steam with 2 different locomotive. Bring a picnic and spend a day with the family riding behind our locomotives.
L509. Our current regular engine, was taken out of service for a few weeks while the grate was replaced. The long 4' firebars had reached the end of their life a long time ago and it was decided to convert to 2' bars as used in our other locos. This required new carriers and a new dead bar pattern which along with the 40 regular bars were cast at Milson Foundry in Palmerston North. This has slowed the rate of ash dropping into the ash pan quite considerably.
Join us on New Years Day Sunday the 1st of January for the first of our monthly Big Steam Sunday promotions for 2012. So keep the 1st free to come out and ride behind our 1930 built locomotive between 11am and 4pm.
January will see all of our operational vehicles in action. C847 first up on New Years Day, then L509 on the 8th, Fowler #5 on the 15th, L509 again on the 22nd, R.M.30 will trial a Wellington Anniversary day special on the 23rd and De508 will run our first Diesel Day of the year on the 29th. So no matter what your preference is for motive power there will be something for you from 11am - 4pm. Keep an eye out for information our our Children's Day Special on the 4th of March.
C847. The focus of a lot of attention over the past few months, 847 is almost ready to return to hopefully reliable service. Work focus inside the firebox has seen the grate completely renewed with new firebars and carrier bars. The Westinghouse air compressor was overhauled by Triple R engineering in Palmerston
L509. Continues to give good service during Sunday running with no problems being experienced.
C512. Work on turning up new pins and reaming and bushing holes on the valve gear parts has been the main focus of work over the last few months. The way bar had its bearing surfaces built up and machined and has now been fitted on the frame.
