Posts Categorized: News

Steam Train Sound Recordings From an Earlier Era

Dawson Wilkinson and Peter Mellor were pioneers of train recording in New Zealand in the 1950’s and 60’s. Using equipment that we would regard today as antiquated, large reel-to-reel tape recorders, vibrator converters and heavy lead cell batteries were carted to site and set up in advance of the train.  Peter Mellor was recently interviewed… Read more »

McColl Sawmill Onehunga Extensions 1918-22 Drawings

We have recently scanned a collection of 42 drawings of extensions to the McColl Timber Co sawmill at Onehunga dating from 1918 to 1922. These came to the society from the late Alan Bellamy. The company was located directly in front of the Onehunga Railway Station, with a private siding accessed by a turnout alongside… Read more »

Progress on WMR Carriages Restoration

In June our restoration team was making good progress on restoring WMR 48 to as near its as-built condition of 1906 as possible. Work is in hand on: Progressing with completing the electrical fit-out; Hanging the interior doors, two swing doors between saloons and the corridor past the toilet, and that into the toilet compartment;… Read more »

WMR 52 Progress Update

This photo shows John Vannisselroy cutting tierods out from the floor framing of WMR 52. Broken and rotted longitudinal sills from behind him have already been removed. They were very badly affected by breaks and by rot as a result of long exposure to the weather. Transoms are being removed as the team work from… Read more »