Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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My dad sent me a photo - I assume he took it (perhaps not, I'll check...)  Ka-951 His comments: Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:It is Ka-951 on the main line from Wellinton I think Paekakariki where there was a tea break.
I seem to recall they were just under 150 tons and the rarer Kb of which there were 2 only at the tunnel to the West Coast at Arthur's Pass and they were 156 tons. Any Kiwis have any information about this loco or class? |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 08/11/2005(UTC) Posts: 3,529 Location: Mullerup, 4200 Slagelse
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Any Kiwis have any information about this loco or class? I have found some; but I'm not a Kiwi [:I] What shall I do  Fond here: http://www.hiwinui.co.nz/climatic-conditions.html[img]http://www.hiwinui.co.nz/user/image/large/37/Manawatu%20Gorge%20Train%20Crash[/img] On August 20th 1946, the railway engine KA 951 and three wagons were engulfed by a slip across the railway line. The engine driver and the fireman lost their lives, while the guard survived and walked back to Ashhurst in the dark and pouring rain to raise the alarm. They must have gotten it out of the water again, here is a bit more, from 1960: http://steammachine.com/hvmes/bp/bpaug2004.pdfFound here: http://www.greatnzsteamjourneys.co.nz/about.aspK Class: 4-8-4 (See Ka 945 at Steam Inc ) These were New Zealand’s largest and most powerful locally built locomotives weighing nearly 90 tons. They proved very successful for heavy mixed traffic main line work with the most powerful being used on coal trains across the heavily graded Midland Line in the South Island . They were built from 1932 until 1956 and survivors are at Mainline Steam, Steam Incorporated, MOTAT and the Silverstream Railway. Most were converted to oil firing during their working lives and No. 942 is particularly interesting as it is preserved in streamlined form. Per. ( Chicken, maybe; Kiwi, no way!  Actually the opposite way !  ) |
If you can dream it, you can do it! I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In case this is not legally possible: I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.  |
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Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC) Posts: 11,165
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Per, great that you found some info!
Damon, do you know when the pic was taken? |
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service... He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb] |
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,705 Location: United Kingdom
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Very interesting links, Purellum.  |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Ok guys, here's some info on the Ka series of locomotives:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZR_Ka_classYou will note that it was Ka 949 that perished at Tangiwai. 151 people died in NZ's worst rail accident. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangiwai_disasterSome specs on the Ka locos Length 69’ 8” Width 8’ 5” Height 11’ 6” Weight 148 tons Tractive force 32,740 pounds Water capacity 5000 gallons Working steam pressure 200psi Track gauge 3’6” Fuel oil capacity 1570 gallons Wheel arrangement 4-8-4 Power output around 1500 HP
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Some pictures    I got an opportunity a while back to climb into the drivers cab of Ka935, which is stationed across the road from our Marklin Club Rooms. Looking down the loco you realise how long 70 feet is, and the very restricted view you have. Awesome machine though. Each of these locos did over 1,000,000 miles of operational service, and 3 of them have been preserved, including Ka935. Unfortunately, Ka935 is not operational, as she is in the process of having maintenance work done. Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 13:46:22(UTC)
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Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC) Posts: 6,769 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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And to add more interest to all of this, NZR is on 1067mm gauge (3' 6") which some may consider to be a narrow gauge. But that same gauge is "standard" for much of Japan, Queensland(Australia), South Australia, Western Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Finland?, Argentina etc.
regards Kimball |
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge. |
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Joined: 23/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 1,828 Location: Sydney, Australia
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This has been a most interesting post.
As an addendum to the last comment, the 3'6" gauge sometimes used to be referred to as "Cape Gauge".
And for the Kiwi members, does the Tranzalpine train still go all the way across to the west coast? A current ad in the travel section of the paper seems to imply that it doesn't. |
Gary Z Scale "Never let the prototype get in the way of a good layout" |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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That's interesting Kimball, I've only used Australian rail in Victoria and NSW, so thought all of Australia was the larger (standard) gauge (4' 8 1/2"). The 3'6" gauge was used here because of the mountainous terrain through the central North Island, and parts of the South Island. I think the Tranzalpine still runs, at least you can do an online booking: - http://www.tranzscenic.c...ervices/tranzalpine.aspxOf course, as Macca previously posted, NZ Rail has been brought back by the NZ Government recently.
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Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC) Posts: 11,071 Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
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Victoria really uses the big Gauge 5'3" the Irish Size. There are standard Lines in most states now. Nev |
NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders and a hose pipe on the aorta Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around |
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Joined: 14/11/2003(UTC) Posts: 1,443 Location: Northeast Ohio
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Looks like a mean machine. What are the 2 vertical flanges on the front of the loco? Are these for aerodynamics? Did this thing actually take off and fly?
Love the huge headlight; would have been a better model for the Polar Express stories.
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Larry, the locos were originally streamlined, and I think the flanges may be mounting points for the streamlining. The streamlining was removed during the late 1940's / early 1950's. Here's a picture of a streamlined Ka.  Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 13:45:46(UTC)
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Here's a better picture, of Ka942 with streamlining.  And for good luck, here's a neat picture of a J class steam loco, J1234  And here's a couple of pictures of Ka935, the loco that is stored across the road from our clubrooms, that I got to at least climb into.   Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 13:45:21(UTC)
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Yes indeed, my Dad took that photo: Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:The Ka was the engine pulling the train we took to Wanganui - must've been the end of '53 as it was 35mm and I remember the train stopping for a dining room rest. At the time I was sorry it [the photo] didn't have more detail. I expected too much from a hand-held ordinary film/developer shot. Yes, my Father comes from Wellington [:I]. Over the years, he's gotten over the whole sheep thing...[:0] Just kidding (Hi Dad, if you're reading  ) I should mention that my Dad got me into this whole Märklin thing -- we were living in Amsterdam, and I had the measles/mumps or something, and he arrived home one night with a 2963 set (3000 with flat car and red coal wagon)... The rest is history. On the gauge thing -- was this line (Wellington-Auckland) narrow gauge? Yes indeed, Queensland is all narrow gauge (3' 6"). The excuse was that the sheer quantity of track required was so large that narrow gauge was the only alternative. Queensland couldn't afford anything else... I remember finding a discussion about gauge vs speed vs capacity. The conclusion was that with modern technology, it didn't make a lot of difference. Japan still uses narrow gauge (3' 6") for everything except Shinkansen. All the Tokyo "circle" route, and the regional lines. And yes, Victoria is "Wide" gauge, I believe the same as the old "Great Western" in Britain. |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by ozzman <br />And for the Kiwi members, does the Tranzalpine train still go all the way across to the west coast? A current ad in the travel section of the paper seems to imply that it doesn't.
It certainly does: TranzAlpineChristchurch to Greymouth Greymouth is an interesting spot. Monteith's brewery are there -- fine beer!    Also get one of Barry's Burgers with Kumara chips...yum  |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,705 Location: United Kingdom
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Very nice pictures, Bigdaddynz.
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Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DamonKelly <br />On the gauge thing -- was this line (Wellington-Auckland) narrow gauge? Yes Damon, all of NZ uses the 3'6" gauge, so the Main Trunk line, as we call it, is 3'6". If your dad is still into Marklin Damon,I'm sure he would be welcome to pay us a visit at our clubrooms. We are based in Lower Hutt, about 20kms from Wellington.
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Joined: 04/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,652 Location: New Zealand
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote: Originally posted by DamonKellyHis comments: Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:I seem to recall they were just under 150 tons and the rarer Kb of which there were 2 only at the tunnel to the West Coast at Arthur's Pass and they were 156 tons. Any Kiwis have any information about this loco or class? Great Pic Damon, Per and Bigdaddy. Thanks for the information. A couple of extra details as follows: K Class 30 built. K900 - 929. 136 tons. 3 preserved including the protorype at MoTaT) Ka Class 35 built Ka930 - 964. 146 tons. 3 preserved. Kb Class 5 built Kb965 - 970. 146 tons. 1 preserved. As you say the Kb was for the trickier parts of the South Island and differed from the Ka mainly by having a two-cylinder auxiliary booster in the rear bogie. The accident to 951 happened in the Manawatu Gorge and yes the loco was retrieved. A dangerous area for both road and rail. They run on opposite sides of the gorge. I travelled many times through there on rail. Always very slowly. The last time I drove through the gorge it was a terrible day and a horizontal water spout / jet / whatever was shooting out, horizontally mind you, for a distance of over 20 meters, hitting a rock face then cascading down under the raiway track. Spectacular and a little scary!!! I lived in Palmerston North on the western side of the gorge for 16 years and had never seen that sight! Welcome Per, Bigdaddy & I now confer on you the status of Honorary Kiwi. The only thing holding up the ceremony is the Oath of Allegiance to the Hurricanes Edit:I have a book on NZR disasters that lists the accident. Packed away and inaccessible at the moment just when I needed it [:(!] I know that we took our kids to the site, well the road opposite where we could see the site. |
Lord Macca New Zealand branch of Clan Donald.
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Welcome to Clan Kiwi Per. As part of the initiation, we will take you to a bridge high above a river, and throw you off with nothing more than a large rubber band attached to your legs!! (called a bungie jump).   [:0][:0] Go the 'Canes (you need to learn that one for the Oath of Allegiance). BTW, if Märklin was ever short of a new item to model, they could do worse than to make a model of the mighty Ka. The Ka class of locos is held in the same esteem by Kiwis that the Germans hold for the Class 44 Jumbos, I would say.
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Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,871 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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Great pics! I love these "main-line" narrow gauge locos. They look powerful but compact.
BTW - I have always heard the 3'6" gauge refered to as "Cape Gauge".
Ray |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Bigdaddynz <br />If your dad is still into Marklin Damon,I'm sure he would be welcome to pay us a visit at our clubrooms. We are based in Lower Hutt, about 20kms from Wellington.
Unlikely, he's lived in Brisbane about 45 years now -- from before I was born, in fact. He did go to Silverstream College in Upper Hutt, though. |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DamonKelly <br />Unlikely, he's lived in Brisbane about 45 years now -- from before I was born, in fact. He did go to Silverstream College in Upper Hutt, though.
No problem Damon. Our clubrooms are across the road from the Silverstream Railway, where, as I said before, Ka935 is stored. By Silverstream College, I take it you mean St Pats College, Silverstream, (Catholic Boys school) as there is actually no Silverstream College as such.
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Bigdaddynz <br />No problem Damon. Our clubrooms are across the road from the Silverstream Railway, where, as I said before, Ka935 is stored. By Silverstream College, I take it you mean St Pats College, Silverstream, (Catholic Boys school) as there is actually no Silverstream College as such.
David, yes - St Patrick's. He always called it just "Silverstream". I only became aware that it was actually called "St Patrick's" last night  Off topic again...[:0][:0][:0] |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC) Posts: 6,769 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge. |
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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It's funny, that as one ages, one starts to value one's "heritage"... Was that suitably pompous  By that I mean that I remember driving through Upper (and Lower) Hutt on our (MrsK and I) last holiday in NZ. I remarked that my father had attended school here at "Silverstream", but we never stopped. I regret that now. Doubly so now that I know there is a Ka at Silverstream Station... This was before my Märklin "re-awakening", so trains weren't high on the list. [:(] Still, NZ is a pretty cheap destination now from Oz. I was comparing the TranzAlpine with the Ghan, and for airfares+trainfares NZ vs airfares+trainfares Oz it is a close call, considering "cultural differences" and novelty. Maybe we should re-visit my ancestral stomping grounds... Although MrsK is decidedly in favour of the Ghan... OT again... |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 12/05/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,908 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
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Great pics! What a steamer  |
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,705 Location: United Kingdom
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Very good, How many total of class is made? |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Stephan, see Macfire's post for your answer, but to summarise:
K Class 30 built. K900 - 929. 136 tons. 3 preserved including the protorype at MoTaT) Ka Class 35 built Ka930 - 964. 146 tons. 3 preserved. Kb Class 5 built Kb965 - 970. 146 tons. 1 preserved.
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,705 Location: United Kingdom
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Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 04/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,652 Location: New Zealand
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by DamonKelly Although MrsK is decidedly in favour of the Ghan...
Life's short Do both [:p][:p] |
Lord Macca New Zealand branch of Clan Donald.
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Joined: 04/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,652 Location: New Zealand
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PAEKAKARIKI 1963  Ka's and an Ab Class locomotive at the depot. Trains from Wellington (to the south in this photo) were pulled by electric (Ed or Ew) or diesel (De, Df) power into paekakariki where Steam power took over. Interestingly the mainstay of diesel power in New Zealand, the Da Class, was not used into Wellington as they could not fit through the original era tunnels until they were lowered in the late '60s. Original photo caption: "Paekakariki Yard, photo scanned from inside cover of the NZ Woman's Weekly, May 1963. A few of these buildings are still remaining today, with Steam Incorporated's engine shed taking the place of the NZR depot, although in a slightly different location." From: PARKAKARIKI RAIL & HERITAGE MUSEUM http://pspt.wellington.net.nz/The (country) road at the bottom of the picture is State Highway 1. The main north highway to Auckland and still used today!!! |
Lord Macca New Zealand branch of Clan Donald.
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,705 Location: United Kingdom
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Nice colour picture, Macfire.  |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Great picture Macca. Not a lot seems to have changed in 45 years!! Looks pretty much the same today. The turntable has gone, some of the sheds have changed, and the line is now electrified as far as Paraparaumu. The road still follows the same route. BTW, for rugby fans, Paekakariki is the home of the 'Paekakariki Express' (no it's not a train!), aka former Hurricane and All Black Christian Cullen, who recently ended his playing days playing for Munster in Ireland. Tomorrow night (Saturday) the All Blacks play Ireland in Wellington, will you be watching Stephen?? (Sorry guys, off topic here  ).
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Joined: 04/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,652 Location: New Zealand
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Kiwi topic Dave Not really off topic, more parallel. We (including Per after the oath of allegiance) can bring up rugby as we wish.
Now Beer - Speight’s or Macs please [:p]
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Lord Macca New Zealand branch of Clan Donald.
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Joined: 26/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,423 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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How about a Monteith’s Pilsner? An excellent beer!    Back on topic...[:(] Are there HO scale models of the fabulous Ka? Regardless of 3-rail or 2-rail...? |
Cheers, Damon |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Damon, I don't think there are any commercially made models of the Ka. Possibly some enterprising modeller may have built a scratchbuilt one, but I'm not aware of any. Macca may know something more.
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Joined: 04/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,652 Location: New Zealand
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Lord Macca New Zealand branch of Clan Donald.
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Joined: 11/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 33 Location: Auckland,
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I well remember, as a 13 year old schoolboy in 1963, travelling between Wellington and Auckland to boarding school on the Overnight Express Train which, as Lord Macca has said, left Wellington Station at about 7.30 pm behind either an Electric or Diesel Loco, and switched to a KA Steam Loco at Paekakariki. It reached Frankton Station in the Hamilton area south of Auckland in the early morning, where the Ka Loco would be replaced by either a Diesel or Electric Loco for the final stretch into Auckland, arriving usually at around 7.00 am or so. Many memories of smoke and soot filled carriages during the tunnel sections of the trip, and in the Winter months, stopping for water for the Ka somewhere in the middle of National Park near the North Island Volcanoes at 1.00 or 2.00 am in the middle of the night. The ice on the tracks meant that the Ka would slip for quite a while attempting to get mobile again, and I will never forget the noise this made. I think it was a crying shame when the Steam Locos were taken out of service.[V][V][V] |
Quite a few Loks & bits & pieces but no layout yet, hope I never grow up |
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Joined: 09/06/2008(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Thanks to Damon I found this thread, and it's most interesting.
There waere some good links. I especially liked Purellum's pointers to the two Ka's and Wellington Terminus. The trams met right outside - the Lambton Quay route and the Featherstone St route. There were lines to Thorndon and Musgrave street too. Many of those trams did I catch every day to/from primary school.
I was unaware the Ka951 had been retrieved from a previous crash. The picture was, now I think of it, actually taken at Levin because there are no steep hills in the background of a train on the north-bound track. The shadows are about right for a mid-day stop of the Wellington-New Plymoth Express. That would have been within days+- of the Tangiwai Disaster. The rest of the film had pictures of the Royal visit decorations and some snaps of the Queen and Phillip being received at town hall, Wellington.
The Wellington-Auckland overnight express was called the "Limited" as there was a fixed capacity for an express to get over the rugged central highlands and it could be hard to get a seat often. The two trains usually passed at or near National Park, one from the south gradually climbing up the mountain and the other having just struggled up the Spiral south of Taumaranui to gain height.
I actually had the good fortune, once, to travel on the rare 'Daylight Limited' from 7am to 7pm - a service resorted to only at peak periods, like Xmas. What a great way to see the country it was. Pity the wash-out hadn't occurred in daylight - The crew would've seen it in time, most likely.
I imagine the Tangiwai train would have been going faster than stated in the newspaper report. I worked with an ex-NZRail engine driver who told me that with a J class engine pulling freight on the stretch between Palmerston and Dunedin, thru the hills and tunnels, he would get the speed up on the downhill stretches to 70mph+ so the fireman didn't have to work so hard on the up gradients! The fireman would curse him if he even blew the whistle, as it meant extra shovels of coal to keep up pressure. This was disturbing news to me as there were a lot of unguarded level crossings on that stretch and I had had a narrow squeak there once, myself.
It was he who told me there were no Ka's in the South Island but there were 2 of the slightly heavier Kb's (that I didn't know existed) on the pull over the Southern Alps.
Queensland adopted the 3'6" gauge because of it's population distribution. Altho 90% is wide-open flat as a tack country, it was the east of the Dividing Range where settlement occurred and grew that the rail had to go to. That meant tight curves and the occasional steep climb. Narrow gauge was the best answer. The standard gauge ends at Brisbane 50 miles from the border w NSW. I once saw the 'Flying Scotsman' in the yard at Yeerongpilly among the standard rail stuff. It was on some kind of visit. I wonder if they flew it out? :-)
As for Silverstream being St. Pat's - we rarely called it 'St Pat's' because the original St Pat's was still going in Wellington 17m away and it would've been confusing with two of the same name. In 1931 they stopped taking boarders at the 'Old Coll' and it became a day school only. Boarders went to Silverstream from then on. Thanks for the invite to see the museum. I doublt I will get to see it, but one never knows!
Cheers and thanks for the memories. Murray
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All the time learning Benny Hill |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Thanks Murray for your report, great reading. Unfortunately, I don't remember the Ka and other steam engines at all, although they were around when I was a child (born 1960). The English Electrics were in use for the Wellington Commuter trains (and they are still in use 48 years later), and the Steam engines never seemed to be around any time I was in Wellington. I do remember the Wellington trams, but these were removed in 1966, I think.
The Silverstream Railway now runs where the main old line used to run, before they put the double tracked commuter line in in the mid 1950's. Our clubrooms are in the old Silverstream Hospital complex, across the road from the Silverstream Railway. The Hospital is now owned by a Christian Retreat. They are slowly demolishing a lot of the old derelict wards, and putting up new buildings, but for now we remain in one of the better condition old wards.
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Joined: 09/06/2008(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Bigdaddynz, I suddenly clicked where the hospital is. It's down the raod on the other side of the rail, just this side of the bridge. :-) My memory of it anyway. It was still in use by the military when I was at school, I think. 1950-53. A mass of (typical army) temporary huts - rather like some at the school - intended for a short life and still alive 60 years later! Some of the trams were quite modern - they had a model called the 'Fiducia' (?) which were introduced for the Wellington World Exhibition in 1940. Not a good year to pick, I'm afraid. Still, on a really busy morning, I can recall some trams from the early part of last century turning up at Wadestown terminus with open sides and brakes operated by the driver cranking a wheel up front. And that was some steep hill to come down fully laden with people on a frosty road.
Murray ____________________________________________________________________ The Silverstream Railway now runs where the main old line used to run, before they put the double tracked commuter line in in the mid 1950's. Our clubrooms are in the old Silverstream Hospital complex, across the road from the Silverstream Railway. The Hospital is now owned by a Christian Retreat. They are slowly demolishing a lot of the old derelict wards, and putting up new buildings, but for now we remain in one of the better condition old wards. _______________________________________________________________________
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All the time learning Benny Hill |
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Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Yes you are right Murray regarding the location of the hospital. It was used as a general hospital for a time, I remember my grandmother being there in the mid '70's. I think they closed it up not long after that, and it sat for many years, looking for someone to find a use for it.
Many of the old wards are still there, but are in very bad condition. The one we have is one of the better wards, we have done some work to it, and at least it is watertight and dry.
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,705 Location: United Kingdom
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Welcome to the forum, Murray.  |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 09/06/2008(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Brisbane, QLD
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Thank you. Murray
steventrain Posted - 2008/06/10 : 16:55:31 Welcome to the forum, Murray. |
All the time learning Benny Hill |
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Joined: 04/11/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,652 Location: New Zealand
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Yes, Welcome to the Fold, Murray. God I am really showing my age here... Trams I remember well. The mainstay of our transportation system and we could catch Miramar or Seatoun trams depending whether mum fancied a walk over the hills to Karaka Bay or not. I used trams regularly to get home from school at Marist Miramar. I remember the first trolly bus ride after they were replaced. I thought they were palacial but realised the significance of the ending of the tram era. Other memories include passing the old Rongotai aerodrome with silver Lockheed Lodestars and Electras with DH Herons and biplane Rapides as well as local Wellington Aero Club types. The aerodrome could not take the DC-3's. I also remember steam engines at Wellington station. The family always maintained that I would have been too young to remember. This happened before I was 3 years old. But then I reminded them of the time I ran away from home - only my nappy falling down and catching my ankles prevented a clean get away - I was 18 months at the time and I remember THAT clearly.... |
Lord Macca New Zealand branch of Clan Donald.
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