TTTTTramramramramram TTTTTractsractsractsractsractsNewsletter of the

Tramway Historical Society IncP. O. Box 1126

Christchurch.Website

www.ferrymeadtramway.org.nz

Editorial address: Joe Pickering, P. O. Box 17, Woodend, North Canterbury 7641. Phone 03 312 2578. Emailjpickering@clear.net.nz.

Ferrymead

Next work partyThe next work party is scheduled for Saturday 20 April 1013. Formal work parties are held every thirdSaturday of the month and Alan Roi provides a cooked midday meal. There are also activities every

Saturday and on Monday evenings.

April 2013

FOLLOWING ON from the article inthe March Tracts, some pictures ofprogress. No 24 has now been raisedup on the tram jacks by another “twosleepers width” worth of height, andis now surrounded by scaffolding.Some stats: We have 39 separatelengths of scaffolding pipe, and used56 “swivel clamps” and 20 “rightangle clamps” to hold it all together.It went up surprisingly fast over twoweekends.

The next task is to remove all thebolts etc fastening the body to thechassis, before the chassis can beseparated from the body andlowered. As many/most/all of thesebolts etc are rusted in place, progresshere is likely to be a little slower—and less photogenic—but I will seewhat I can do.

Controller restoration page5>>>

Upper and lower right: 24 festoonedwith scaffolding.

Below: Some of the fancy scaffoldingfittings.

Scaffolding appears on Hills car No 24Pictures and words by STEPHEN TAYLOR

Ferrymead Tram Tracts, April 20132

ALTHOUGH IT WAS a great loss tothe Society when Trevor (Cable Car)Craib passed away, he has left alegacy among us of a strong desire tofinish the second of his main projects,Mornington Trailer 111. Meticulouscraftsman Brian Taylor is no longerin Christchurch either, but followingRoger Rasmussen’s initial work onmost of the undercarriage, PimSanderson and Don McAra areproceeding with the brake riggingand tow bar that connected 111 withthe grip cars that towed it.

They are supported by adviceand practical help mainly fromGraeme Richardson, and also LarryDay, Mike Lawson, and Carl Pumpa,and have almost completed hangingthe wheel brakes and improving thearrangement of pivots, levers, andpull rods that work them. Consultingengineer Murray Meyer is checkingon the brake lever ratios and othermatters for us as the intention is forthis vehicle to be fully operable whencomplete.

For the Dunedin Cable CarTrust (DCCT), the Dunedin group ledby engineer Phil Cole, 2013 is a mostimportant year, as it will involve anall out effort to raise funds. Theirstated aim is to have a MorningtonCable Car line restored and runningup High Street from the Exchange tothe original terminus by 2018, andthis line is to include some heritagevehicles in its small fleet. Trailer 111,and in time Mornington and RoslynGrip cars 103 and 97 will have roles

to play. Trailer 111 is to be shippedto Dunedin to be on show as part ofthis major fund raising campaign.

In surveys, over 80% ofDunedin people favour therebuilding of the Mornington line.Funds between $22- $25 millionneeded, so donations large and smallare needed for this historic project.The Trust’s bank account is 03-1766-0317719-10 should you wish tosupport their efforts.

Dunedin would be the only cityoutside San Francisco to have streetrunning cable cars, and as in the past,all visitors to Dunedin would bewanting to ride them. The Trust isalso setting its sights on local peopleas commuters, with a car park at thetop of the line, and a cable carmuseum included in the car shedsand winding house. It is hoped toraise these funds without having tocall on Dunedin’s overburdenedratepayers.

Don McAra has written a fullconservation plan for MorningtonGrip Car No. 103 whose body isstored in Tram Barn 2 at present.Once 111 is complete, 103 will takeits place in Tram Barn 1 and workbegin on it. A generous donation of$5000 by Mrs Shona Johnstone ofWanaka has kicked off funds for 103,though much more will be needed asthe intention is to restore this car torunning order.

Any members wishing tosupport the restoration of Grip Car103 with donations large or small

please send your contributions to POBox 1126 Christchurch 8140 or on lineto the Tramway Historical Society’sbank account as on our website: 03-0802-0095056-01, clearly marked“Grip Car 103”.

2.If we build sufficient funds for 103 thepaid staff could make short work ofthis very special little grip car whichcould then be leased to the DCCT torun on their proposed line. Thiswould be similar to leasing theSociety’s electric trams toChristchurch Tramway Limited.

The National Toy and TransportMuseum of Wanaka have recentlygenerously donated the body ofRoslyn grip car No 97 to the Societyfor restoration, and Dave Carr isarranging transport so that it can bestored for a few years in the NationalAir Force Museum at Wigram untilwork on it too can begin. Since theearth quake driven return of citytrams to the Society’s barns hasdeprived us of the room to store 97,we are most fortunate to receive helpfrom Therese Angelo and her team atWigram for three years until we seeour way clear to bring 97 toFerrymead.

Cable car project forges aheadDON McARA brings us right up to date on this intriguing project

Mornington cable trailer No 111 beinghauled by grip car No 103 passing

Grant Street on the downward grade inHigh Street in 1951.

Photo: Graham Stewart—from FaresPlease! The Horse, Steam & Cable Trams of

New Zealand

>>>to page 4

Ferrymead Tram Tracts, April 2013 3

THERE WAS A GOOD turnout ofmembers—probably the best turnoutwe have had for a meeting of thisnature. It was good to see that agoodly number of members are sointerested in helping decide on thefuture direction of the Society. Therewas some good robust discussion onsome goals and projects. There wassome reprioritisation of goals andprojects, plus a few added and somethat could be marked as closed.

The meeting commenced about8 pm and the initial discussion wasfocused on the high priority goals. Itwas good to see progress on a large

Addressing how the Society performs its museum functionsExtend traverser into car parkContinue urgent upgrade of trolley bus overheadBuild additional storage next to trolley bus barn (aka trolley bus barn extension)Cable car trailer 111Birney 15Hold further/ongoing membership drive(s)Hills Car 24Progress the Strategic Plan and Business PlanAddress issues of the long-term sustainability of the Society

Work towards getting the tram barn landComplete construction of the Munnings drain bridgeProgress the repaint of 452Progress the repair of the motor from 410An assessment of the Kitson boiler and a strategy for boiler replacement103 Grip car restorationSprinklers in tram barns for compliance etcInvestigate acquisition of Cranmer buildingRepaint of Dunedin 79 plus exterior refurbishmentRepairs to trolleybus barn—ongoingRepairs to point outside livery stable for track going into Hall of WheelsMcCormack Deering tractor to be put under coverInspectors office adjacent to church (relocation)Tram Barn 3 project—complete fit-outRefurbishment/repainting exterior of trolley bus 210Traverser pit repairs (following earthquake damage)Reserve track curve repairs (following earthquake damage)Retrieval of Roslyn grip car 97 ex Wanaka

number of them occurring, and it isexpected quite a few more will becompleted in the 2013/2014 year.There was a break about 9.30 pm forone of Phyllis Belworthy’s sumptuoussuppers, and the meeting thencontinued through to about 10.30 pmwith a discussion of the lower prioritygoals.

The list of goals as updatedfrom the meeting can be found on theSociety’s web site under the“Projects” tab, though for the“internet challenged” I am able toemail, or print a copy of the goals toanyone who wants them.

All members are invited to getinvolved in the projects that they areinterested in—it is requested thatthey should contact the projectconvenor for the goal/project or aTHS committee member to indicatetheir interest. While it is a truism, itbears repeating that the only handsthe Society has are your hands andthat we need your active support ifthe projects are to be achieved.

The next goals/project meetingis anticipated to be in March 2014.

Below is a table showing thecurrent summarised latest list of highpriority goals.

Goals and Project meeting well attended and profitableSTEPHEN TAYLOR reports on the meeting held on 20 March

Allen HarbrowDave CarrGraeme Belworthy, Larry DayJohn Atkinson, Dave HinmanDon McAraJoint group - HTT/THS/CTLGraeme Belworthy, Allen HarbrowStephen TaylorGraeme Belworthy, Stephen TaylorTHS management committee—ongoingTHS management committeeGraeme RichardsonAllen HarbrowDave CarrMike Lawson, Dave CarrDon McAraGraeme BelworthyTHS management committeeAlan RoiAlan RoiKen HendersonDave CarrMurray SandersTHS management committeeAlan RoiDave CarrKen HendersonDon McAra

Goals/Projects Title/Description, focus for next 12 months fromMarch 2013

Convener

Tram driving tipfrom Driver Training Officer DAVID JONES

The new children’s park alongside the Masonic Lodge must be treatedwith extreme caution. Be prepared to stop suddenly. Keep your speeddown and ring the gong on your approach to the park. Remember,children can be very quick and don’t always look where they are going.

Get Tracts by email

• Save the Society money• Get it earlier than by mail• See it in full colour,

Email Barry Marchantbarry-m@paradise.net.nz

Ferrymead Tram Tracts, April 20134

IN MARCH TRACTS I stated thatwork had started on the west side ofthe building. The early photo showsthis side in its dying state, not a goodpresentation to visitors. This side hadbeen fitted with wooden panelling inCTB days, possibly back as far as the1930s and was in a very poor statewhen we received the building in1973. I am told that this side wasrebuilt by members shortly after the

building arrived at Ferrymead, but 40years on it is again in a sorry state.The decision was made that it shouldbe replaced with a steel panel in thesame style as the other panels, andthis is now being attended to as theother photos show.

The vertical pieces beingfitted are from a panel (from thenorth shelter?) which weresalvaged many years ago and, after

rust treatment, do the job perfectly.Unfortunately this particular steelsection is not now available, so wehave substituted two strips ofsimilar width, the thickness ofwhich matches the old pieces.

The top photo shows progressto 31 March 2013 with the vertical,and top and bottom horizontal barsin position. The cross pieces arepartly fabricated and await fitting.

Progress continues on Square ShelterBARRY MARCHANT has been hard at work

Ken’s track reportKEN HENDERSON

1/ Does it get better than this? Seen in the tram barn justbefore smoko and enter Jill McAra carrying neatly launderedand ironed overalls which Don had left at home!2/ Track work has been concentrated in the village whereusing a hired digger with breaker attachment and a smallteam of volunteers broke out the concrete around the ninerail breaks caused by the earthquakes. Over a four dayperiod Andy Rowe assisted by Brian Fairbrass welded thebreaks/joints. John Atkinson and Ken concreted the holeson the Wednesday before Easter with the intention of beingable to use the track on the Sunday and Monday of theholiday weekend. Work on the “out” road began after Easter.Members may have noticed the period type hurdles madeby Jason and Ken placed over the holes and enhanced byold lamps – none of those ugly wire fences and cones.

Ferrymead Tram Tracts, April 2013 5

We could do withone of these!

Just the thing Ken and his boysneed for keeping weeds down onthe track. We’re not sure where

this is but the photo came from theinternet.

If anybody has any information,please let the editor know.

RATHER SPLENDID castings arrived at thetram barn recently, to progress the next stageof renovation of the controllers for Car 24.

The segment mounting blocks, which areto be attached around controller shaft, havebeen cast from the patterns fabricated by ourpattern maker.

The castings will be machined and holesdrilled to mount the copper segments beforebeing attached over the controller shaft withan epoxy product.

Patterns have also been made for thecontroller handle and brake valve (see photo).

Jonathan and new member Murray Hobbshave been assembling the new controllerfingers.

Previously, new blow-out coils werefabricated by ABB.

Investigations are being pursued into asuitable heat resisting board, from which couldbe cut segments for the arc chutes.

Above: Patterns for the controller handle, segment mounting blocks and brake valve handle.Upper right: Segment mounting blocks and controller fingers.

Lower right: Controller taking shape.Photos: Murray Sanders

K 10 Controller overhaulprogresses

MURRAY SANDERS

Ferrymead Tram Tracts, April 20136

Links between this Society andDunedin groups, already begun withthe display of Roslyn/Maori Hillelectric car No 1 at Toitu Settlers’Museum, have much to offer bothparties. Because Hillside Workshopshave a questionable future theDunedin Cable Car Trust areconsidering commissioning ourSociety to provide further heritageprofiled rolling stock, once they havesufficient funds in hand.

Despite being a much smallercity, Dunedin would benefit in asimilar fashion to San Francisco fromrestoring a cable car line, and theCable Car Trust intends to draw uponthe experience of that city when, inthe 1980’s, it undertook a total rebuildof its lines and winding gear withgreat success. In the same way, newlife could be brought to the StockExchange area of Dunedin which wasformerly the city’s hub and retainsmuch fine but underusedarchitecture. High Street retains itscharacter of Edwardian elegance, andwith its alternating steep climbs andflat running is for all the world a SanFrancisco of the South. This Societysends its very best wishes to theDunedin Cable Car Trust in its braveattempt to restore a city, and anational, icon.

On The Move seriesTHE LIBRARY has a real special dealfor the On the Move series. That’s eightseparate booklets coveringChristchurch transport through theyears from bullock wagons, hansomcabs, through horse and steam trams,onwards to steam trains, thence totrams and buses, with a touch alsoof tidal travellers. A magnificent setproduced by your very own Society—authors Les Dew and MarkAlexander and now going at halfprice...$25.00.

To obtain your set, please contactAllen Harbrow on Ph. 03 3855519 ort h r o u g htours@ferrymeadtramway.org.nzPayment can be by cheque to THS atP O Box 1126, Christchurch or byinternet direct to the Society’s account.Allen can provide details if you preferthat method. Don’t miss this greatopportunity, $25.00 it’s a steal!

Existing LoopAs earlier reported, Downers, thecontractor for the pre-earthquakeCity Mall refurbishment and thetrack extension, have the contractfor the track repairs and a start onsite is now expected by about theend of this month. Connetics Ltd,assisted by Hi-Tec Aerials NZ Ltd(Greg Harris) have been awardedthe contract for overhead repairswhich will include some additionalsteel poles to replace buildingfixings where the buildings nolonger exist and the supply of newcontact wire to replace some whichhad been damaged or cut into smalllengths for (temporary) removal. Atthis stage this work is expected tobe completed in July.

Christchurch Tramway Ltdnow have limited access to thetown tram shed and repair work onthe building is due to commenceshortly. It is hoped to recommencetram operation later this year, butthe date and the possibility ofhaving to open in stages, is still thesubject of discussion betweenCERA, CTL and the Council.

The extensionApart from some work on

installing the special work inCathedral Square and at the OxfordTerrace-Worcester Boulevardcorner, proposed to be doneduring the track repairs,completion of Stage 1 of the tramextension and the construction ofStage 2 remains “on hold”. This isin part due to lack of certaintyabout the future form of the“Innovation Precinct” areadesignated in the ChristchurchCentral Recovery Plan whichincludes that part of the tramextension beyond ManchesterStreet. The governmentdepartment responsible, theMinistry of Business, Innovationand Employment (MBIE) is aboutto appoint consultants to preparea “spatial framework” for theprecinct. This is expected to becompleted by July and may welldetermine the future of the tram inhis locality.

The pre-earthquake “Long

Term Council Community Plan 2009/19” provided for $11.5M for the tramextension, spread over the financialyears 2009/10 to 2013/14, and abouthalf of this had been spent whenwork stopped after the 22 February2011 earthquake. Changes in theCouncil’s priorities are apparent in itsdraft “Three Year Plan” (TYP) whichis currently open for submission, asit does not include any funding forcompleting Stage 1 or for buildingStage 2 of the tram extension. Thedraft TYP refers to the tram on p327 of Volume 1 under the headingof “Proposed Capital Programme—Unfunded” and shows ”Tram Base”—$0 for 2013-14 and 2014-15 and$902K for 2015-16. Being in the“Unfunded” category means, at thisstage, NO funding for the next threeyears.

Information about the TYP canbe found on the Council’s website:http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/policiesreportsstrategies/ltccp/index.aspx

Vol. 1 can be downloaded as apdf. :- http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/f i les / l t ccp/TYP2013/Volume1/CHCHThreeYearPlan2013Volume1.pdf

THS, CTL and other interestedparties, including some central cityretailers, are likely to put insubmissions seeking an earlier startto completing the tram extension.This follows on from submissionsmade to CERA requesting greaterrecognition of the tram in theAccessible City chapter of theChristchurch Central Recovery Plan(see February Tracts). The Minister’sdecision on the final version of thischapter is still awaited.

Anyone can make asubmission to the Council on theThree Year Plan and if you wish todo so, about the tram (or any otherissues), the closing date is 19 Aprilat 5.00 pm. Submissions can bemade online, (seewww.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay ) byemail to ccc-plan@ccc.govt.nz orpost to Freepost 178, ChristchurchCity Three Year Plan, P O Box73013, Christchurch 8154. Furtherinformation is available from thewebsite or at Council ServiceCentres or libraries.

City tram progressCable car progress—from page 2