News
On Saturday 22 June at 11:00 we will celebrate the official commissioning of our shunting locomotive Tr189. After a couple of years concerted efforts the locomotive has been returned to service and has successfully completed a series of commissioning trials and checks.
After the official commissioning ceremony the locomotive will be operated along our mainline track and we will have cab rides and jigger rides available.
Our mainline at Maymorn was extended a further two tracksets on Saturday 8 June, now just 10m shy of the pedestrian crossing gates.
We're keen to shift the rake of Yc ballast wagons along - to give a little more running track length ahead of our official commissioning of shunt loco Tr189 on 22 June.
All photos by Glenn Fitzgerald
Dame Margaret Shields passed away on 29 May 2013, former Labour MP for Kapiti, Minister of Customs and Consumer Affairs, Women's Affairs, and Chairperson of the Wellington Regional Council. Labour Leader David Shearer described her as "a tireless campaigner for women's rights", as evidenced by her work to to remove discrimination in the NZ electoral system, and at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research for the Advancement of Women.
Road 1 in our rail vehicle shed received our attention on Saturday 11 May. Track was connected to the short length of temporary track that wooden sleeping carriage Aa1060 was stored on.
A short shunt with Tr189 followed, hauling the carriage through to more permanent track at finished rail height.
This released a significant length of the shed for work over the winter months of 2013. Track will be connected up to the road 1 inspection pit as time and resources permit.
Both photographs: Glenn Fitzgerald
DBR1267 hauls special train F44, including Cyclops, three IAB wagons and trailing DBR1200 across Silverstream bridge on its way to Maymorn on Sunday 21 April 2013.
A selection of photographs from Doug Johnston, who followed the special train from Hutt Workshops to Maymorn.
After weeks of planning 'Cyclops' - the sole remaining 3-car English Electric multiple unit set - arrived at the Trust's Maymorn station on Sunday 21 April.
Trust members have put in a huge amount of work into the move. Connecting track was built and a number of other infrastructure and commissioning tasks were brought forward in time for the move. Rail compliance requirements were managed by the Trust, requiring negotiation and signoff from all the parties involved in the move, with final approval issued by the New Zealand Transport Agency on 10 April.
DM556 and its two associated trailer cars will arrive at Maymorn by rail at approximately 11:00am Sunday 21 April 2013. Trust members and the public are welcome to visit the site to view the unit's arrival from approximately 1100 hours - entry is free.
A long-awaited milestone - the first workshop portal frames lifted into position on Saturday 13 April 2013. A huge amount of planning, fundraising and preparation has gone into this part of the shed build, with most work done by Trust members.
The Trust is grateful for donations made towards the steelwork, welding, painting, transport and lift from: Pelorus Trust, The Lion Foundation, Rotary Club of Upper Hutt, the Upper Hutt Summer Carnival and Trust members.
Another fabulous Autumn day at Maymorn, no sign of the dry, warm weather breaking any time soon - as can be seen in the photo of our shunting locomotive Tr189 inside rail vehicle shed.
We turned our attention to rail vehicle shed tasks, which have been deferred to build the road 2 turnout, double slip and turntable road and other track for the Cyclops English Electric unit.
Commissioning work has now been completed on our Hillside Workshops-built shunting locomotive Tr189. Photographs from the second day of commissioning tests - 9 March 2013 follow. Thanks to all involved, including Rotary Club of Upper Hutt for a substantial donation towards the purchase of the locomotive from KiwiRail, and Trust members who funded and brought the locomotive back into service.
Driving cab of Tr189.
