Visitors to our running-day  ●  John Heald's B-class boiler is pretty-much finished  ●  Paul Newton does some modifications to an NZR J-class he built  ●  Dobwalls update

Visitors to our running-day

A group of six members of the Hamilton Model Engineers descended on us for our regular running-day in October 2010 and a great time was had by all.

John Heald talks to Dennis Collins whilst raising steam on BEAU SEJOUR

Stefan Lipsey was there with his daughter and Clive (his father) and their "Sweet Pea"

Raising steam on Dennis Searle's NZR WAB-class

Dennis (here with his wife Romoanan) has just finished building John's new boiler (see below) and there was cake and bubbly all round

Paul Newton was having trouble lighting a candle on the cake. Kind of ironic that a man of his experience can't start a fire!

Some visitors had a birthday party and brought along a "train birthday cake"

John Bremner seemed to spend a lot of time driving John Heald's loco - but then it is a delight to drive

The blossom is beautiful at this time of year

Stefan and his Dad's Sweet Pea "JJ"

John Bremner again. The part of the track alongside the stream is lovely

John Shelton looking way too comfortable driving the club's diesel

BEAU SEJOUR on the turntable at the end of a lovely day

Words and photos by John Oxlade

Visitors to our running-day  ●  John Heald's B-class boiler is pretty-much finished  ●  Paul Newton does some modifications to an NZR J-class he built  ●  Dobwalls update

John Heald's B-class boiler is pretty-much finished

Note that the steam dome (which was tested separately) was blanked off for the hydraulic test

Dennis Collins has handed the boiler over to John. It has passed its hydraulic test with flying colours, now it has to be steamed 40 times. This is because it is the first boiler in 2205 Duplex Steel.

To keep within the New Zealand 50 litre limit on boilers, the front tube-plate is much further back than it should be and thus the extended smokebox. Interestingly, because duplex-steel is so much stronger than normal boiler-plate it doesn't need to be so thick, and as a result, the boiler will be lighter. In fact, John reckons that even though it is a large loco, when finished it will be lighter than either of his Kerr Stuarts!

Words by John Oxlade, photos by John Heald

Visitors to our running-day  ●  John Heald's B-class boiler is pretty-much finished  ●  Paul Newton does some modifications to an NZR J-class he built  ●  Dobwalls update

Paul Newton does some modifications to an NZR J-class he built

Some years ago Paul built an NZR J-class - being a 3' 6" gauge prototype this works out to be a very large loco in 7¼" gauge. It is back in Paul's workshop to have the side-swing of the rear truck adjusted as it is a bit tight on some curves.

Words and photos by John Oxlade

Visitors to our running-day  ●  John Heald's B-class boiler is pretty-much finished  ●  Paul Newton does some modifications to an NZR J-class he built  ●  Dobwalls update

Dobwalls update

To follow on from what was mentioned in May, it can now be confirmed that the Dobwalls collection has moved to a private track in Melbourne. This has been confirmed by several magazines.

Words by John Oxlade

Visitors to our running-day  ●  John Heald's B-class boiler is pretty-much finished  ●  Paul Newton does some modifications to an NZR J-class he built  ●  Dobwalls update

All information on this website is © Copyright Cambridge-Rotorua Live Steamers Inc.  |  This site last updated: 25th January 2012

Website developed and maintained by John Oxlade of john2consulting who is a member of the Cambridge-Rotorua Live Steamers Inc.