SteamRail Wanganui Incorporated

 

Preserve and maintain railway items of historical value related to the Wanganui area.

 

www.steamrailwanganui.co.nz

Aug  24th: Tonight we viewed the runaway train movie "Unstoppable". Nick Kaveney who is a fan of this flick, brought along the DVD having viewed it a fair few times prior to tonight's showing. Nick commented that he was impressed with the movie's camera work, especially the panning in and around the speeding locomotive cab that played host to the main characters 'Frank' (Denzel Washington) and 'Will' (Chris Pine).

 Here's a quick movie review: The story line centres on a loco crew who are pursuing a half mile long driverless train that is mostly made up of loaded chemical cars that is destined to plummet off a curved bridge on to an oil storage area if it cannot be slowed.

 Veteran engineer 'Frank' is about to be made redundant from the railroad because he is from the 'old school'. If that was not enough, we learn that he has fallen out of favour with his teenage daughter. She works at 'Hooters' and her work day is an emotional one, as she watches live TV coverage of her dad and his pursuing locomotive coupling onto the back of the runaway train. Cue the clip of her jumping up and down with excitement.

 'Will' also has issues. He has split from his partner after wrongly accusing her of having an affair with a police officer. Well he makes up with her at the end of the day, because of his heroic save-the-train act which is likewise conveniently played out on TV.

 So what did we learn?: If you're having problems with 'the misses', then go up to the Blueskin Rd overbridge or somewhere like that and save a runaway freight train and you might get a big kiss at the end of the day.

 There were no jaffas to roll along the floor, but thankyou to Greg Tinnion for arranging the potato chips and the dip.

 Sept  28th: This was another DVD night. This time we viewed the scenic railways of Switzerland, brought along to the meeting by Nick Kaveney. Filmed from a passenger's perspective, the DVD showed the beautiful Swiss countryside with colourful trains weaving in and around the landscape. Both narrow and standard gauge trains were featured with a music track playing over most of the scenes. Viewers tonight were most impressed with the engineering achievements of the Swiss, especially when the scenes of the three rail mountain railway were shown with trains climbing steeply graded rails along rocky shelves and through unlined tunnels.

 Oct  26th: The club thanks Colin Hughes for showing us an old Dad's Army film followed by and American Rail DVD. We had a great laugh followed by viewing some big trains.

 Signal box to be moved: SteamRail has been given permisson from KiwiRail to move our small signal box from down at the turntable site to the north end of our shed. Once we have done this we will get power into it and it will become our new smoko room. With moving the fridge and table into the signal box this will give some much needed space in the workshop/storage area. All going well this will be moved by our sponsor Jurgens Demolition in November when they have the gear available. We will be having working bees on the building over the next few months, all members help would be appreciated.

 A.G.M: SteamRail Wanganui is moving its Annual General Meeting from February to April next year to bring our club finances in line with the financial year so this year you will get a few extra months for your subs.

 Fronz Conference 2014: The Federation of Rail Societies have asked SteamRail Wanganui if we would like to host the 2014 Fronz Conference here in Wanganui. The committee is keen on the idea but we won't give them our final answers until we know more on whats involved. At this stage we know that all costs are done through Fronz. The only thing it will cost the group is time from a few members to help organise field trips, accommodation a venue for their A.G.M and prizegiving etc over the Queen's Birthday weekend 2014. We would like members' ideas on field trips we could do for the Fronz members while they are in town, this would include a visit down to our shed.                                                     

 Construction/ Maintenance: It's been another busy few months down at the shed. Work has continued on the Guards Van restoration with Greg Tinnion, Hamish Coull and Russell Jackson starting to strip the dog box end to replace the rotten framework. Colin Hughes has stripped the old paint off and reprimed one of the angular windows from the Guards compartment of the van. Henry Ching and Ewan Pound have had a go at degreasing the inside of the engine hood of the Ex Imlay Price loco. This has also involved a water blast. They have also been doing work on the baby Price loco (ex Waiouru Army Museum). Henry has carried on trying to straighten out the roof while Ewan has made a new sand box cover since we were missing one. Ewan has also put a new pully on our bandsaw due to the other one being worn and slipping all the time.

 Welcome to new member Hamish Coull and thank you for your donations of broken bottles, railway cups and saucers found sifting through the old Aramoho Railway Station site. Also thank you to the following- Henry Ching, Frank, Ray Deerness, Arthur Stokes and Dave Greenfield for their donations of Civil Defence "Railway Transport Organisation For Emergency" document dated 1962, Guards Van handbrake, electrical tags, RailFan mags and a timber cabinet.

 Great Manawatu Steam Fair

24th and 25th March 2012

 The Steam Traction Society Inc intends to hold another fair at their club grounds at 76 Maewa Road, Feilding. There will be engines in steam, engine rides and driving, stationary engines and much more.

Further information will be displayed on their web site at www.steamtraction.org.nz                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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