Club news ● Our Club Dinner ● In the local newspaper ● Progress on John Heald's B-class ● Savannahlander Rail Tour

Club news

After checking our E Mails Thursday morning Dennis wondered why I was so excited when I wanted him to read one in particular. Yes, it was from Jane at the Waipa District Council reading:

“Congratulations! Council’s Finance and Corporate Committee has considered the proposal to grant a lease to Cambridge-Rotorua Live Steamers Inc at is recent meeting and has resolved that the lease be granted, subject to the Minister of Conservation’s consent. I will there fore prepare a lease document for signing by relevant officers of your group (e.g. the President and Treasure) have it signed by Council’s Property Manager or CEO and forward it to the Department of Conservation for endorsement.”

I have since collected the lease agreement and now wait for Mike (our treasurer) to return from his holiday in the sun so he can sign it. I have also spoken to Jane, who has informed me that she does not anticipate that we will have to wait too long for DOC – another 2-3 weeks perhaps.

I found it hard not to tell anyone, until I read it out at our committee night on Thursday night.

Everyone present was excited and wanting to start work straight way. But we just have to wait for that final signature.

Thanks go to the following:

Paul as he has been busy making the points, and soon we will have a team of keen workers at our workshop making the track, so once our concrete is poured it will be all go.

We owe great big thanks to the Cambridge Lions club, as they are helping us more than 100%. One of their members collected over 200 out of more than 500 signatures we obtained in support, he also organised for several drain laying businesses in Cambridge which have bobcats to dig our track, organised for us to get our concrete at cost, and for several tonnes of quarry dust to compact before the track is laid. Several Lion Club members have offered to help lay the track also.

The council staff that we have been dealing with has been a great team to work with. We have had them walk the proposed track several times and are looking at removing a hedge and perhaps some tree’s if needed. They are going to grind any tree roots that will be under the concrete to stop them breaking our concrete.

The local business’s that have given us support, e.g. items for our raffles, items for our mystery thing at our club dinner’s, and offered help when we need it.

The local residents who have been supportive.

Those members and supporting club’s that have given us donations and debenture loans, and helped with setting up every thing – a big thank you.

With out all the above support and help we would not be where we are today.

By Romoana Collins

Club news ● Our Club Dinner ● In the local newspaper ● Progress on John Heald's B-class ● Savannahlander Rail Tour

Our Club Dinner

I decided that our club was not going to be a male only club, with the wives/partners left at home unless we needed their help. The committee thought this was a great idea.

Our first social get together was a B-B-Q at our place, after we first walked where the track was going, around about Christmas time. That seemed to be enjoyed by all that attended. Then Thursday night in (7th July) we held our first club dinner at the Oxford Tavern in Tirau (Thanks Paul for booking it and organising that great meal). I was determined that it was going to be fun night – I had to think about what we could do to make it fun.

When the members arrived they were hit upon to buy a raffle ticket (with prizes being for the wife’s/partners) and a card for the mystery thing. There was a few worried looks on faces – wondering what I was up to.

Once seated, each male was asked to come forward – collect a rose and then take back to their wife/partner and thank them for being so supportive in their hobby. Then when the first course was finished, the mystery thing was revealed. IT’S IN THE BAG. Dennis did a good job offering the bag or money after each who’s number had been drawn had answered 3 questions. I have heard that it was enjoyed by all. Some prizes were a brick from Christchurch, caps, socks and a soil sample from the Leamington Domain.

It is with interest that many, are trying to find out what the mystery thing is going to be at our next dinner which is to be held on Thursday 1st September will be. If you are interested in coming along just let Paul or myself know and we will book your seat. The cost is $27.00 per head.

Next month I hope to bring you progress on our track.

Thanks for all the support that has been given to our club and myself.

By Romoana Collins

Club news ● Our Club Dinner ● In the local newspaper ● Progress on John Heald's B-class ● Savannahlander Rail Tour

In the local newspaper

We had an article in the Cambridge Edition newspaper of 24th August 2011

Club news ● Our Club Dinner ● In the local newspaper ● Progress on John Heald's B-class ● Savannahlander Rail Tour

Progress on John Heald's B-class

The coal bunker weighs in at 55Kg's and holds 30kg's of char or coal!!! It takes two guys to lift it into position. Its made up from 4mm steel and stick welded to avoid distortion. Saddle tank weighs in at 22kg's and is also made up from 4mm plate with dummy rivets. Its looking good for a steam up in October.

Photos by John Heald

Club news ● Our Club Dinner ● In the local newspaper ● Progress on John Heald's B-class ● Savannahlander Rail Tour

Savannahlander Rail Tour

How would you like to travel from Auckland to Wellington and back with just the original bush and odd community settlement? Plus only one train per week? That can be done on the 'Savannahlander' two car rail motor from Cairns to Forsyth and back over 4 days.

The rail motors are of Australian stock being built in 1963 for urban rail commuters. These were built in Brisbane (3' 6” gauge) and by to days standards are still a very good ride. Many were built and some are still around due to good building techniques and modern style bogies with Timkin bearings. They have been updated with Cummings motors and Allison auto gear boxes which give a very quiet noise free journey. Back in my early days I worked for British Rail on the construction of similar rail motors fitted with AEC or Rolls Royce motors , both being noisy with much vibration. With new technology engines fitted to both cars gave good power output and returned about 500litres of diesel consumed over the 4 days. Seating was original vinyl covered with tilt backs to view forward or reverse movement.

The service is run by the Cairns Kuranda Steam Pty. Ltd, a small organization built up from people interested in promoting and restoring vintage trains. I believe there is a Kiwi connection involved also. In March 2004, the Queensland Transport entered into an agreement with Kuranda Steam to a service communities and promote tourism between Cairns and Forsyth.

The journey starts from Cairns station at 6:30am every Wednesday morning. With two staff on board, namely Matt and Leigh who coincidently gave us some very humorous commentary which added to what was to be one of best rail journeys, we have under taken to date. They both share the driving duties.

The first major stop after the delights of Kuranda is the Mutchilba local pub (there always seems to be a pub at most stops!!) where we stop for morning tea, orders taken from the train and prepared for us all on arrival. After our 10:00am smoko we travel onto to Dimbulah for a quick stop at the station museum and shop. This museum was well stocked with specialized books on Australian railways and well worth a visit. We left at 11:00am and headed for Almaden which used to be a big steam rail centre as this was the junction for the line to Chillagoe mines. The track is still in position although the white ants have had a feast on the sleepers over the years. Almaden was the first night stop (the rail motor was left here for the night) were we left in a coach to stay and visit the Cillagoe caves and old copper smelters. You cannot beat a good Aussie pub meal and the Rail way Hotel in Chillagoe was no exception. From Almaden to Forsyth the rails are only 40lb rated which set our maximum speed to 50k's, even so the ride was not bad.

Day two we set off from Almaden at 8:00am for the famous Bullock Creek Cafe for morning tea or coffee (all Australian grown too), a must to see!!! After refreshments and the purchase of a cup (the drivers hate washing up) , we headed further west for Mount Surprise, named after a small hill that is part of the local flat land scape. Here we had our pre ordered lunch and admired the metropolis of the main street and its three or four shops and of coarse, the local pub.

The locals have done some very nice renovations to the incoming rail track by replacing wooden sleepers and tidying up the surrounding station and associated buildings.

We left Mount Surprise at 12:15pm for Forsyth, arriving at 5:30pm. With Forsyth being the end of the line the rail motor does a turn on the 'Y' with most of the towns school children aboard. Apparently this is the norm every Thursday after school!! We had booked in for the tour to Cobbold Gorge and returned to the rail motor at the settlement of Enasleigh on the Friday morning at 12:15pm. Einasleigh virtually means one horse town!!! A sign on the entrance to the local pub read as follows:

• Lost one pig with pink collar

• Dinner tomorrow night is the best roast pork

• Found one pink collar

Onwards back to Mount Surprise for another night stop with most passengers, including ourselves, going for an overnight stop at the Undara Lava tubes motor camp. We managed to see these gorgeous formed tubes before heading back to our rail passenger carriage style accommodation for the night. After a bush style Aussie breakfast we headed back to Mount Surprise for our 8:15am rail motor connection. This being our last day and the longest trip in one go (10.5 hours) we arrived back in Cairns at 6:30pm.

This was a fabulous trip and one of the best world rail trips we have done if you want to see some thin of out back Australia.

Words by John Heald, pictures Robin Shirley

Club news ● Our Club Dinner ● In the local newspaper ● Progress on John Heald's B-class ● Savannahlander Rail Tour

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