November 2015 - Tramway Historical Society

Ferrymead
Tram Tracts
November 2015
Newsletter of the
Tramway Historical Society
P. O. Box 1126
Christchurch
www.ferrymeadtramway.org.nz
A Busy Month for Charters at Ferrymead...
Since the start of November, the Tramway Historical
Society has run at least two charters at Ferrymead
Heritage Park for special occasions, be it for visiting
railway enthusiasts or to remember the untimely
passing of a stalwart Society member, as happened
more recently.
The first charter, on 3 November 2015, was run in
conjunction with our neighbours at the Canterbury
Railway Society for a group of visiting members from
the Association of Railway Enthusiasts (Australia).
Having come to Christchurch to travel behind AB 608
on the multi-day Steam Incorporated tour of the
South Island, the group made an afternoon visit to
Ferrymead to sample the trams, and take a slightly
larger interest in the trains on their way home. The
group arrived aboard the Society’s ex-London
Transport double-decker bus following lunch, and
most of their number rode it again that evening to
the Valley Inn at Heathcote to watch the Melbourne
Cup being run live via Sky TV.
Charter 1: F 13 Peveril from the Canterbury Railway Society
and Kitson No. 7 line up at Ferrymead Station. 3 Nov. 2015.
The second charter, on 16 November, was a much
sadder occasion as it was in relation to the funeral of
Society member Dave Carr, whose unexpected
passing on 9 November at just 57 years old caught
everyone by surprise. The Society contributed three
electric trams and Dave’s favourite, Kitson steamtram No. 7, at the Carr family’s request to carry
guests from Ferrymead to the Friendly Societies
Lodge in Ferrymead Park where several eulogies
were delivered and light refreshments were shared.
An Obituary for Dave appears on Pages 3 and 4 of this Charter 2: Christchurch 26 arrives at the unofficial Tram
Stop by Moorhouse Domain to unload passengers to Dave’s
issue of Tracts.
function. 16 Nov. 2015
Both photos Alastair Cross.
Editorial Address: Alastair Cross, 17 Huntingdon Drive, Rangiora 7400. Phone 027 661 3446. Email
tracts@ferrymeadtramway.org.nz
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Comment
President’s Piece—Graeme Belworthy
It is with great sadness we note
the passing of one of our very
active members Dave Carr. Our
deepest sympathy goes to Colleen,
Sarah, Beca and Sam. A full
obituary appears elsewhere in this
issue of Tracts.
2. "Traverser Pit Repairs"
Convenor: John Atkinson. This work is underway now
as reported above.
3. "Reserve Track Curve Repairs"
Convenor: Ken Henderson
4. "Investigate acquisition of Standard Trailer 126"
Planning for next years’ COTMA
Conference is going well. A third
hotel the Break Free which offers
budget accommodation is also
offering a special rate.
Convenor: Dave Hinman. It has been suggested another
trip to scope the move is required.
After serving the tramway movement for over 50 years
the next copy of Tramway Topics will unfortunately be
Repairs to the wall of the traverser is underway including the last. After starting as a magazine produced on a
being tied into a concrete apron in front of Tram Barn 1. Gestetner to the glossy edition it is now is a credit to
those who edited it over the time. More details on what
This will help prevent the wall moving again in the
will fill the gap is outlined elsewhere in Tracts.
future.
The very important work continues in and around the
site maintaining our trams, buses and infrastructure to
allow the Society to keep operating.
The festive season is fast approaching and even the
weather is improving so we can look forward some good
time over Christmas New Years period.
The next four Goals/ Projects reviewed by the Management Committee were:
Phyllis and myself would like to wish every one a safe
and happy Christmas and New Year.
1. "Complete refurbishment of Trolley Bus 210"
I think that’s about all I have to report for now.
Convenor: Alan Roi. Only the downpipes need replacing Cheers, Graeme
and the name badge on the front.
Alastair’s Angle—Alastair Cross
Another month has come and
gone and it’s already been a busy
month at Ferrymead with two
charters, and the arrival of Roslyn
cable-car 97 from its long-term
resting place since mid-2012 at the
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Museum. This move happened
fairly recently, and despite what
Don McAra rightly refers to as
‘botched restoration’, No. 97 appears to be in excellent
condition and definitely restorable. I should point out
that the assessment is Don’s, not mine!
Ferrymead—he really was a very well-rounded individual
with wide-ranging interests. The Society will miss Dave
and his contributions, and our deepest sympathies are
with his widow Colleen and family.
On the brighter side, we have had a good month with
two charters already, the first for the Australian
Association of Railway Enthusiasts, and the second to
celebrate Dave’s life. Both events were well received
and I believe the maestro responsible for planning both
(hope that’s right!) was Dave Hinman. It was his idea to
position ‘Kitty’ and F 13 Peveril together at Ferrymead
Station for the ARE Charter, and while yours truly had
come up with the initial idea, I’m happy to give credit
Sadly, this month the Society lost one of its outstanding where it’s due to Dave for taking it ‘a step up’ .
members when Dave Carr passed away suddenly and
Well, that’s all from me now.
unexpectedly following a stroke on 9 October. It wasn’t
until I attended the recent function at Ferrymead that I Alastair
found out just how much of a part Dave had played at
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Comment—Farewell Tramway Topics 1962-2015
Dave Hinman reports on the imminent demise of New Zealand’s longest-running tramway publication, Tramway
Topics, later this year following difficulties in finding a new Editor to replace former incumbent, Bruce Efford.
We have been advised by the Wellington Tramway Museum, who have been the publishers of Tramway Topics on
behalf of the NZ tramway museums, that the next, long-awaited edition will be the last. This was resolved at their
recent AGM on November 7 following the presentation of this report by WTM Secretary Henry Brittain:"The 2013 Annual General Meeting approved the Board of the Tramway Museum considering the future of
“Tramway Topics” given the problems that were being experienced in publishing it on a regular basis.”
Since that date and despite attempts by the Museum and Editor to keep it afloat, the situation has not improved
and an edition has not been published since number 255 was issued in May 2014.
Efforts to attract a new Editor have been unsuccessful and publication has lapsed.
Tramway Topics has filled an important role over the past 50 years in recording the history of Tramways in New
Zealand including keeping readers updated on respective Museum growth and activities.
Over the past few years individual Tramway Museums have enhanced their own newsletters and by the use of
electronic communication, have taken over dissemination of their own activities.
Tramway Topics has been mostly superseded and the Wellington Tramway Museum is of the view that the
magazine has run its course and should be wound up. The two other museums who have been major contributors,
i.e. Western Springs Tramway and the Tramway Historical Society, have been consulted on this proposal and both
accept that closure is the best option given the circumstances.
I have been in contact with the Editor of the New Zealand Railway Observer (Graeme Carter—Ed.) regarding the
potential for him to include matters of Tramway history and Museum activities in its publication and he is quite
prepared to cover this topic. Ironically the Observer used to cover New Zealand tramway activities prior to the
introduction of Tramway Topics in the early 1960s.
I seek approval from this meeting for members to agree to the formal winding up of Tramway Topics noting that
the vacuum will be filled by individual Tramway Museum newsletters and the New Zealand Railway Observer.”
Henry has further advised us that the final issue, No. 256, will be published and distributed before the end of this
year. Alan Smith, who has been involved in various ways with Tramway Topics since its first issue in 1962 is
organising the completion of this final issue, which will include references to the many alternative sources now
available for New Zealand tram information and pictures, in particular the on-line newsletters and websites of our
museums, and the New Zealand Railway Observer which has been covering the overall New Zealand rail transport
scene since 1944.
THS members will be aware that in anticipation of this, we have at our last AGM made changes to our by-laws to
remove the category of membership which included the provision of Tramway Topics in the subscription. We are
sorry to see the end of what has been an important, well produced and respected publication and had earlier
hoped that it might be able to remain in digital form. But this still required a new editor and none was forthcoming.
Our thanks to the Wellington Tramway Museum for managing Topics production for most of its 52 year life and to
all those who contributed to it, including the various editors, concluding with our own Brent Efford in whose hands
it completed the move from what had begun as a low budget cyclostyled black and white newsletter to a full colour
journal of professional quality.
Dave Hinman
(Editor’s Note: When I took over as the Editor of Tracts in September 2015, Allen Harbrow kindly gave me a bag of
old back issues of Tramway Topics which I could use bits of in Tracts. Since then they have proved invaluable not only
for my Editor’s job but also writing academic essays on tramways in New Zealand. It also proved to be an excellent
source of ideas in its final iteration for the current layout of Tracts as it is now. On the other side, a mistaken
misinterpretation of an article in one issue led to the slip-up in September over Dunedin trolleybus No. 1. Oops!)
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In Memoriam: Dave Carr 30 July 1958– 9 November 2015
Dave Hinman reports with sadness the unexpected passing of Dave Carr earlier this month:
It was with shock and disbelief that many of us
learnt of the untimely and unexpected passing of
Dave Carr, following a cardiac arrest, on Monday 9th November. He was 57. Dave was a long
serving, hardworking member and respected
leader in the Tramway Historical Society, the
Heritage Tramways Trust and the Ferrymead
Trust and many tributes flowed in as news of his
death spread around New Zealand and beyond.
Among those to respond were many of our
COTMA colleagues from around Australia and
New Zealand, and from as far away as Denmark
with these thoughts from Tramway Museum
President Mikael Lund:
…… It will take time for all of you to come to
grips with him not being there anymore. It is
very unfortunate to lose such staunch supporters
so early, but I am sure that you will forever
preserve all the good memories of Dave and his work for
and at Ferrymead – however good, long serving and
hardworking volunteers are always difficult to replace.
And then without any prior notice!... “
Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Manchester Street, on Monday,
November 16, followed by a gathering in The Friendly
Society Lodge building at Ferrymead Heritage Park. The
THS provided tram transport from Bridle Path Road to
the venue, and at Colleen's request the trams in service
David Critchley from the Sydney Tramway Museum had included Kitson 7 and trailers, Double Decker 26 and
this to say:.
Dunedin Combo 22, all of which had special significance
“… I was so shocked to read of Dave's passing yesterday. for Dave and his family. Cam Lill organized a couple of
Not only has Christchurch's heritage lost a champion and large trucks to also be on display. It was a great send off
with lots of laughs and stories of Dave mixed with the
a leader, but so has the heritage tramway movement
across New Zealand and Australia. A gentleman, a friend, sad reflections and realization that he was no longer
with us. President Graeme Belworthy and Past President
a leader, and an inspiration. Dave's love of trams and
and long serving HTT staff member Graeme Richardson
heritage transport went beyond borders and inspired
were among those who paid tribute to Dave, following
many. His amazing talent with technology and
on from Cam Lill, whose friendship with Dave extended
restoration can be seen not only in Christchurch but in
to their common interest in trucks and machinery as well
Museums in other New Zealand cities and here in
as their Ferrymead involvement.
Australia….”
Photos courtesy Dave Hinman
Dave's life was celebrated at a Funeral Mass held at St
And this obituary from Tramway Historical Society member Cam Lill:
David John (Dave) Carr was born at Waikari hospital in
1958 and from an early age began his love affair with
machinery, trucks and generally anything that moved or
made a noise. He also began a lifelong passion of
photography in his early years and this developed into
quite a serious hobby and he has amassed a collection of
thousands of transport-related photographs over the
years ranging from traction engines to trucks. Dave’s
truck photo collection, which starts in the 1970s, has to
be seen to be believed and he was slowly working his
way through the prints methodically scanning them to
digital format, although we believe he only made it as far
as 1986! What he has captured on his camera over the
last 40-plus years is absolutely priceless and captures
many moments in history which would be long forgotten
about otherwise.
Dave was a very active member of the Tramway
Historical Society for many years. He served on the
Management Committee, Operations Committee,
represented the society on the Ferrymead Trust Board
and was a Heritage Tramways Trust Board member for
15 years during which time he held the Chairman's role
for about 10 years. He was a key person in the ongoing
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In Memoriam: Dave Carr 30 July 1958– 9 November 2015
success of the HTT operation and whilst attending to a
full-time job he somehow found the time to manage the
workshop operation (which included the staff and
projects), maintain a good working relationship with the
board's key client, Christchurch Tramway Limited and
handle many of the other day to day aspects of the trust.
Dave always enjoyed the “hands-on” projects at
Ferrymead and would always be in boots and all! He
liked to make sure the job was done properly so of
course you know the old saying “if you want it done right
- do it yourself” and this was exactly Dave’s philosophy.
He could often be found on the old yellow Case loader or
operating an excavator and a good sign that he was hard
at work was his tongue working around his lips – you
knew to leave him to it when you saw this otherwise you
might have worn a few expletives for ruining his
concentration! Another favourite pastime on the
Tramway was firing and driving the Kitson steam tram –
I’d say Kitty was one of his favourites. Dave somehow
always managed to find a balance of work, family and
hobby time. When the kids were younger they often
came with Dave when he was at the Tram Barn for
workdays or jobs that needed attending too. Dave would
be busy beavering away and Sarah, Beca and Sam would
entertain themselves or come and give some of us some
cheek, these are times I remember well! We must
acknowledge Colleen as well for letting Dave attend to all
his commitments – most of the time anyway as I’m sure
there were times she had to put her foot down!
breaks and on evenings with his trusty camera out and
about happily snapping photos. A strange pastime you
may think, but these will undoubtedly become valuable
memories for future generations.
Dave perhaps appeared “gruff” to some when they first
met him but once you broke through the first layer he
was a top bloke and was known to a few of us as “the
bloke”. Personally Dave and I shared an interest in trucks
There were many trips away over the years which ranged
and whilst he never did get to own one personally he
from parts “bludging trips” to coke (the type the Kitson
certainly enjoyed being around mates who had trucks. I
runs on) gathering trips and many other enjoyable
was lucky enough to spent the weekend with him,
weekends away. There were a couple of really fun
before his death, on a truck run and subsequent evening
overnight trips to steam and machinery festivals – one
function known as the “Bull- session” that we both
being the Waipara Steam Festival and the other a
helped organise. Here Dave was in his element catching
machinery rally at Kirwee. There was serious work firing
up with many acquaintances, friends and business
the Society’s Cochranette boiler and running steam
contacts and for those of us driving trucks on the run it
engines that were on display during the day which was
was great to have Dave out capturing it and then sharing
followed by the more social side of such gatherings
the photos via the “Magpies Truck Photos” Facebook
during the evening – I’ll leave the rest to your
page that Sunday night.
imagination but needless to say it was all good clean fun
as the dirty work was done during the day!
Dave’s sudden death left many of us feeling very empty
for a few days afterwards but I have a feeling he would
In his professional side of life he was involved with the
want us all to just crack on with it. He will be sorely
transport industry for many years in either managerial or
missed by us all in the many areas he was involved with
sales capacities and in recent years worked for
either professionally or in his pastime. Our thoughts are
McDowalls Freight, Online Distribution and Fruehauf
very much with Colleen, Sarah, Beca and Sam and we
Trailers. He is probably most recognised in his most
hope to be able to continue share all the great memories
recent role as the Palfinger sales and technical support
of Dave in the future.
representative for the South Island, a role which saw him
travelling the length and breadth of the South Island for Dave, we hope wherever you are now that the camera
the past 7 years, selling a brand he was very passionate shutter is still clicking away.
about. During his sales trips he could continue his truck
Cam Lill (THS Member)
photography and he could be often spotted during lunch
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‘New’ Arrival—Roslyn No. 97 comes to Ferrymead
Cable car project leader, Don McAra
notes the arrival of another vehicle for
restoration at Ferrymead.
After 2½ years in storage at the Royal
New Zealand Air Force Museum, Wigram,
ex-Roslyn cable grip tram No. 97 has
finally moved to Ferrymead Heritage Park
for storage and eventual restoration for
the Dunedin Light Rail Trust. It was
picked up from Wigram by the team from
Elevate Crane Trucks Ltd. with the help of
Don McAra and several other THS
volunteers on 21 November
The body of No. 97 was acquired from
the Wanaka Toy and Transport Museum
in 2012. It was partially restored, though
unfortunately part of the ‘restoration’
saw most of the original frame members
replaced by lengths of Radiata Pine which
were bolted to the remaining parts of the
old frame. It will need a new chassis
when the time comes, but still has most
of its original features and is in good,
restorable condition.
With space now available at Ferrymead
to store Roslyn 97, Don and his team
retrieved the car body from Wigram
Similar thanks have been or are being
expressed to the RNZAF Museum and
Elevate Crane Truck Hire for their part in
assisting with the storage and moving of
Roslyn 97 respectively.
At last! The team involved in
the move pose with Roslyn 97
at Ferrymead on completion of
the move, 21 November 2015.
Earlier in the day, Cam Lill and
Don McAra had the delight of
‘flying’ No. 97 out of its storage
hangar away from some crates
of artwork from the Art Gallery
in order to get it onto the truck.
Having a long-reaching crane
arm certainly helped…
Photos courtesy Don McAra.
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On the Buses
With a Little Help from our Friends…
Allan Harbrow examines the history of the eight Wellington
City Transport Reliances used by the Christchurch Transport
Board. Photos from the THS/Dudley Kirker Collection.
During the Commonwealth Games in 1974, the Christchurch
Transport Board was short on buses and so hired a number
of Wellington City Transport 1962/3 Mark II Reliance 470
buses to increase carrying capacity during the period of the
games. These buses were officially on loan from WCT, and
retained their WCT livery and numbers. It is known that at
least four Reliances, WCT Nos. 340, 343 and 371 were used
in Christchurch along with a fourth whose number has not
yet been confirmed. The WCT Mark II Reliances were
fitted with bodywork by the NZ Motor Bodies plant in Petone Wellington Reliances 371, 343 and 340 stand in the
and had more curvature in the front and rear than the Mark Moorhouse Avenue bus yard, 1974. A fourth WCT
Reliance is parked directly behind 371, while at right
I.
is CTB ‘Short’ Reliance 389.
Fast forward eleven years, and the Christchurch Transport
Board was again caught short on bus capacity in 1985 prior
to the delivery of MAN SL202 Citybuses, when they needed
extra buses to fill their school bus operation. Four 1957 AEC
Reliance 470 Mark I's were purchased from Wellington City
Transport, numbers 272, 280, 288 and 338. They retained
their Wellington livery of red with white roof and their fleet
numbers, which did not clash with the CTB’s existing
numbering sequence, and had a white CTB sticker placed on
the sides. These buses had been supplied to Wellington fully
built up in England with Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage
Works (MCCW) bodywork and seemed a bit smaller and
'gutsier' than the Christchurch Short Reliance 470 buses of
similar age. That however, may be the writer's impression
and experience in earlier years commuting on these buses,
powering up Wellington's hills and racing off trolleybuses
downtown. The Mark I's were sold off in 1986 following the
arrival of the first MAN Citybuses and the November 1985
bus driver’s strike which resulted in a decline in passenger
numbers.
So, all in all, a thanks for Wellington City Transport for
helping us (CTB) out in a time of need.
As a postscript, Allan also ran the original registration
numbers of the four ex-WCT Mark I Reliances at the Editor’s
request to see if any have survived to the present day. From
his research, Allan concluded that it was highly unlikely that
any of the four survived beyond withdrawal by the CTB in
1986. It is however possible that if any were purchased for
conversion to motorhomes, they were re-registered.
Another possible suggestion is that if any survived, they are
now static homes and no longer road-legal. (Ed.)
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Ex-WCT Mark I Reliances 288 (above) and 280 (below) in
the Moorhouse Avenue bus yard, 1985-86. These buses
ran either in peak-time service or as school buses before
being withdrawn in 1986 as a direct result of the new
SL202 buses arrival and declining patronage after the
1985 bus driver’s strikes.
Remember When… The Opoho Tram Runaway
All Aboard, and Hang On!
Allan Smith remembers the Opoho tram runaway of the late 1930s. Story provided courtesy of Don McAra.
One typically mild Dunedin day, about 7.30am, the morning rush to work had just begun and the tram heading for
Andersons Bay, via the City centre departed from the terminus at the corner of Signal Hill and Blacks Roads,
Opoho. Mr Anderson was at the controls and as he put on just enough power to get rolling, he wound the hand
brake handle to a safe position for negotiating the steep slope down towards the first stop outside the Opoho
Church. Unfortunately the brakes did not work and away they went gathering speed as the tram rolled down the
hill. The initial hundred yards below the terminus stop is a straight piece of line, with a slight curve to the left
where the street flattens out before the tram stop outside one of the local shops. Sadly just at a critical moment Mr
and Mrs Kenny came out their front gate, Mister on his way to catch the tram while Mrs Kenny stood at the gate to
wave him off. One can only imagine the horror she witnessed as the tram thundered past her, failing to take the
bend and jumping the rails before crossing the right hand side of the street, demolishing the fence and plunging
down the bank and coming to rest about twenty feet below the road. As it crossed the footpath the unfortunate
Mr Kenny was right in its path, and was killed in front of his wife’s eyes.
All this happened a long time ago somewhere in the late 1930s when I was a small boy. This probably happened
about 1938 as I would have been at the Opoho school, and although I didn’t see the tram in its resting place below
the roadway, I did see, in the early evening, efforts being made to get the beast back onto the rails. On the street
was a traction engine valiantly pulling on a wire rope, slowly easing the tram up the slope. “Keep back, kid!”
someone yelled as I took a natural interest in the goings on, so I retired a few yards from the action, which was just
as well, as at that moment the wire cable snapped and whipped around like a demented snake, while the tram
with a lurch resumed its position halfway down the bank.
Somewhere about 9.00pm that night they must have been successful in restoring the tram, to its rightful spot on
the rails, as by next morning all was back to normal with the exception of course, in the home of Mr and Mrs
Kenny. With the exception of the unfortunate man, far as I know, there were no other casualties as a result of the
runaway Opoho tram, Number 25 (?) To the best of my knowledge this was the only accident on the Opoho line in
all of the life of that line, 1926 to 1950.
Allan believed that the tram involved in the Opoho runaway was ’Combo’ No. 25, of the same type as our own No.
22. (Ed.)
And here she is—Dunedin No.
22, running on 26 October 2015
with Dunedin horse-tram No. 18
as part of the Ferrymead 50th
Anniversary celebrations over
Labour Weekend.
The Labour Weekend event was
apparently very busy, although
your Editor was only there on
Labour Day (Monday) and so
had to rely on the observations
of other volunteers who had
been there the day before. The
other service trams that day
(Monday 26) were Christchurch
1 and Brisbane 236.
Photo courtesy Alastair Cross.
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Mystery Tour
FUNCTION
:- Wednesday January 27th 2016
7-30 pm sharp
Where:- Tram Barn
Cost:- $5.00
What:- one of John Shanks wonderful mystery
sunset tours. End destination same as start but
only John knows where the middle is going but it
is sure to be very interesting and exciting. Wear
shoes suitable for walking
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Recent Happenings...
ABOVE: OK, so it’s not a tram, but it is the reason for one of the charters earlier this month! Steam Incorporated
ran a special tour of the South Island in November behind recently restored steam locomotive AB 608 Passchendaele,
and stopped in at the Weka Pass Railway for a few days on the way home. 7 November 2015.
BELOW: During the ARE Charter on 3 November 2015, Dave Hinman and Alastair Cross made the ‘last trip of the
day’ with Christchurch No. 1 to meet Alan Roi on the trolleybus at the Truscotts crossing. The weather packed in not
long after—in fact it was so blustery, Alan lost the poles on Wellington 103 several times coming back!
Photos courtesy Alastair Cross.
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