Some pictures of the restoration work being done at our Silverstream site.
We have Wellington and Manawatu Railway Carriages 42, 48 and 52 which were made in the Thorndon Workshops of the WMR Company 1905-07. WMR 48 is well under way with restoration as can be seen in the photos under Restoration tab. Work on rebuilding WMR 52 commenced in 2023 and is progressing steadily and WMR 42 is waiting it’s turn.
Unless stated otherwise, all photographs by Rod Merrifield, Bill Prebble and Glen Fitzgerald.
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- WMR 42 arrives at Silverstream.
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- 2 bogies ready for the body of WMR 42.
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- Positioning over the bogies
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- The final check for alignment.
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- WMR 42 is pulled into the shed
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- WMR 52 (red, left) and 48 early in restoration of 48.
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- Viewing in the restoration workshop.
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- WMR 48 being worked on (left) and WMR 52 beside it.
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- New clerestory sashes ready for glazing
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- Replacement headstocks for 48 and 52.
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- New headstock ready for placement on tenoned joints
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- Inside view WMR 48
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- Clive Davis fixing window headers on WMR 48
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- Making progress with the external cladding mostly in place.
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- Our KP class store wagon tool shed
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- Overhauled bogies stored ready for wheels and replacement under the body.
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- Bill Prebble checking everything before a test run.
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- Clive Davis supervises roll out
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- Ready to exit, will it fit ? The duty Loco takes over.
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- Out in the open for the first time.
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- WMR 48 ready for its test run.
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- Passing the Silver Stream Railway’s signal gantry .
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- The end of the run out to the McKirdy station.
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- WMR 52 being inspected.
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- Graeme Bennett bolting up a sparkguard on the clerestory windows of WMR 48.
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- Mike Dutton filling over nails
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- The inside, showing the seat supports in place
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- General view of the work area with the extension being organised.
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- Overall view of WMR 48 showing its final colour.
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- The rear platform.
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- Checking the plans for the details of the seats
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- Aidan Crooks of dZine Signs writing part of the company name.
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- Completed carriage side lettering on WMR 48.
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- The 3D style carriage class wording
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- Jason Robertson and Aidan Crooks, shown adding the pinstriping .
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- Right side of the carriage
Cover Me Ltd. of Upper Hutt has made the upholstery and fitted it all, based mainly on photographs of WMR carriages being built. The seats are leather, padded with foam rubber in preference to the original horsehair.
Adding the finishing touches to the seat squabs. Principal Dion Hunter is looking on.
Cover Me Ltd staff who contributed to this work posing on completed seats.
Carriage 48, drawn out into the sun.
Signwriting completed
Door hinge parts: left, as received from the foundry; right, ready for final assembly.
Photo: Bruce Shadbolt
Salvaged parts that have to be replaced and/or reproduced as we progress with restoration: left to right, window latch, door hinge, catch-plate for door locks.
Photo: Rob Merrifield
Part assemblies for reproduction kerosene lamps to go in WMR 48. This shows the large central oil reservoirs with brackets holding burners and their glass chimneys. Two burners per lamp.
Photo: Bruce Shadbolt
A Flashback to 2018 – members visiting the North End Workshop
