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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2008 20:35:16 GMT 12
I just discovered that the Sounds Historical radio programme featured Colin Smith from the Croydon Aircraft Company at Mandeville, talking about a new vintage railway they're building there! Go here www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/soundshistorical/20080511Click on the first audio link and zoom the slider along to 22.30 minutes and you'll be able to hear the interview, plus some class sounds of a KB locomotive hauling a train! Ryan, do you have any more info or photos from down there? |
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Post by John L on May 21, 2008 18:42:22 GMT 12
I thought the Rogers K92 (one of the engines recovered and restored, from the Oreti River) belonged to Colin and the boys. So, I assume it'll be going home, once it has a new home to go to.
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on May 21, 2008 19:31:55 GMT 12
Quite right. The Rogers does belong at Mandeville, its currently on the line at Oamaru.
Colin is re-developing the old Mandeville Railyard, which is behind the Croydon Aviation Heritage Trust hangar.
We have the original Mandeville goods shed which has been restored, approx 6 carriages (2 or 3 pass cars, 2 or 3 goods cars), steam powered crane which has wheels and is self propelled on track. There will be several sets of turn outs, a turntable, large water tower and approx 3 or 4 km of track around the airfield.
The "K" will be housed in a shed similar to the sheds for the trains in Dunedin, with glass frontage to view through.
Quite interesting stuff and another feather in the cap of Mandeville.
Hope to have the "K" home soon and on its own track.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 21, 2008 23:37:36 GMT 12
Awesome, it really sounds like an interesting place. It almost sounds like a theme park where you step back to the golden age of the 1930's rail and aviation.
Will you get a chance to drive the trains Ryan?
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Post by John L on May 22, 2008 16:33:27 GMT 12
Or in this case - 1890's rail.......
Any chance of getting the P class being restored (I assume), from Dunedin over there. You'd have a real Edwardian flavour to the railway, then.
No doubt there will be visiting trains at odd times.......
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on May 22, 2008 19:00:14 GMT 12
Never really had a lot of interest in train, but it beginning to grow a bit. Would definately like to have a go at driving the train at some stage.
The awkward thing about getting visitors (train wise that is) is that there is no connection with the main line. The main line runs through Gore onwards to Invercargill but the line that used to go from Gore through Mandeville to Kingston is no longer there.
Having said that it doesnt stop anyone putting the train on a low loader and trucking it to Mandeville, thats how we got the "K" to Oamaru.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 22, 2008 19:17:18 GMT 12
Do you think there's any possibility in the future of restoring the line to link Mandeville back with the main line? I know it would be a huge job, but I am just wondering if it's a feasible option.
I know the Nelson railway which was ripped out with much protest and publicity in the 1950's (which was the protest that got Sonya Davies into politics) is now being put back. Maybe not all of it but it's a start.
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on May 22, 2008 22:33:04 GMT 12
13km of track from Gore to Mandeville over mostly high yield dairy land. It would be millions of dollars to lay track over that distance so cant imagine it will ever happen.....shame though.
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