All Decked Out

Since the Christmas Party work has continued on the decks of the end platforms of 547. The decks have been fitted now after repairs were completed to the supporting pieces. There are still some details to attend to but the decks are looking great.

The next area to receive attention is the headstock on the end nearer 343. 547 has been moved a short distance to allow access to the headstock and work is under way. As was done on the other end the steelwork will be unbolted and where needed the bolts will be replaced. After the headstock is repaired and repainted it will all be reassembled.

There are no new photos as I haven't been able to get to recent workdays. I hope to remedy that soon.

Christmas Party

Yesterday was the Christmas Party. Nearly twenty people enjoyed the relaxing day at the restoration site. Although it appeared a casual affair a great deal of planning went into the day.

Justin and Kevin arrived early and set up a large tarp to provide shade. This was important as the day was forecast to be over 30 and fine. Paul arrived soon after to start preparing the lunch. As it was a warm day it was decide to have a cold smorgasbord and Paul, with assistance from Jeanette, arranged a selection of cold meats, salads and fresh bread rolls. This was followed by fresh fruit salad. It was set up and covered with plenty of ice until the guests arrived. A large container of cool drink proved popular during the day.

Jim arrived a little later with the other tables and after Kevin and he set them up it was time for a coffee. Getting Paul to have a break proved difficult though. There was a few small jobs to do making sure the carriages on display were accessible. Also a couple of last minute cleaning jobs were found. However it was all under control before the guests arrived.

We were pleased to see some members who can't attend many events. It was good to catch up. Jeanette made sure everyone had some nibblies and a cool drink until it was time to start the main course.

The meal was well received with everyone going back for more. A bit of clever thinking saw the cover with the ice moved to a spare tyre forming a small pool that the fruit salad bowl was floated on and kept cool.

Some mince tarts and Christmas cake was served with coffee.

Of course each year someone has to make a spectacular arrival and Mario wins the award this year after being towed into the yard, his truck had broken down on the other side of Sydney early in the morning.

There were still several people sitting around talking well into the afternoon. An enjoyable day was had by all who attended.

A big thank you must go to those members of the carriage group who made the day a success. Kevin for setting up the tarp and Paul for the catering deserve a special mention.

The photo shows Paul and Kevin having a well earned rest. There are several other photos in our photo gallery in the Carriage Site Activities album.

Ready to Party

This Sunday we finished getting the site ready for the Christmas event. There was some tidying up and the toilet area was cleaned. Paul as arranged some of our Heritage items for display in 361.

Justin and Kevin did some work on 547 but were not able to finish the end deck. One platform is done so it will be possible to have a look inside 547 just not exit at the other end.

Members who intend being there but haven't let Jeanette know please do so asap.

Preparing for Christmas

Actually for the Christmas event which is in a fortnight. The main plan for yesterday's activity was to tidy up the carriages. With the continued work going on there is little thought given to keeping the place tidy. Also we had to reduce the chance of injury to visitors walking through the cars.

Justin and Kevin arrived early and did some work on the ends of 547. We plan to have the end platform decks renewed before the event and one is finished. Hopefully the other one will be done next weekend.

The past week has seen some wild weather with wind and plenty of rain. We found the tarp on 547 had moved a bit so that took the highest priority. We managed to pull it back into position and tie it down properly.

Justin then concentrated on 547 and Kevin and Jim on 361. Several containers of rubbish were removed and they both look a lot better.

With the main aim of the day achieved we had an early day.

Photos of the exterior work on the toilet and the new deck on 547 are in the photo gallery.

The Door Saga Continues

There was a workday yesterday and in many ways it was a repeat of the last couple of days. Work is continuing on 547 and on the toilet area of 361.

Kevin spent the day working on the end platform of 547. He removed some of the timber that needs replacing and undercoated the metalwork.

Paul finished undercoating the interior if the toilet cubicle. It will get a colour coat over the next couple of workdays.

Jim removed some more of the lacquer on the exterior of the cubicle. It is hoped to have the cubicle finished well before the Christmas Party.

There will be another work day next Sunday.

Door and More

OK writing about a toilet door doesn't sound exciting but that is where most of the work happened yesterday. Work continued on the toilet section of 361.

Paul installed the latch etc. and it is all working properly. Paul reckons it needs a bit of an adjustment and he will look at again next time. He also commenced undercoating the interior.

Kevin prepared the trim moulding that goes along the panel above the door. Fortunately we have a fair bit of materials after the toilet in 343 was removed.

Jim and Paul stripped a lot of the lacquer off the outside of the compartment. It had many layers but is coming off quite well with plenty of stripper and a bit of effort. After sanding it looks good.

Paul prepared another cold collation for lunch which went down very well.

After lunch Kevin did some work on the end platforms of 547 and Paul and Jim continued of the exterior of the toilet.

More on the Door

There was a short workday last Sunday. Kevin and Paul did some work and planning on the end platforms of 547. There is still a bit to be done cleaning and painting the supports. Some repairs have been done and when this work is complete the new deck can be installed.

Paul started installing the latch on the new toilet door in 361. We already have the paint to finish the interior so that will be the next job. The exterior has been partially prepared. Some of the old lacquer has been stripped and sanded but there is still some to do.

Some of the committee members joined the workers for lunch, Paul had prepared a cold collation which was well received. After lunch everyone called it a day.

There will be a workday next Sunday as the weather is forecast to be fine and cool. Any help will be appreciated.

Finally a Door

One of the projects that has ben outstanding for a while is the toilet cubicle in 361. It was started some time ago when the chemical toilet was purchased. The inside of the cubicle was repaired and much of the outside was stripped of lacquer. However one of the things missing was a door. We had one but it needed some work to fit. It was finally done yesterday. Justin and Paul fitted hinges in the correct place and made a few other changes to make it fit. The latch and striker plate are to go on and it is done.

Work also continued on the side of 547. The screw holes were filled and a start was made on sanding and preparing for paint. They will need some further attention but a good start was made.

Some more deck timbers were prepared and oiled ready to go on when the rest of the end platform is repaired.

There are no photos today as I couldn't be there. But I hope to get a few photos next Monday. Yes the workday next week is on Monday as it is a long weekend. You can still come and give us a hand without missing the Grand Final!

Time for a Party

The Carriage Group had offered to host the TRAK end of year event this year and at the recent Committee meeting this offer was accepted. After receiving agreement from Mario planning is now underway. This will be the first opportunity most members will have to view our newest carriage CBA547. We plan to have much of the exterior of it done before the party. Our Heritage items will be on display too.

There will be a BBQ or picnic (depending on the weather conditions) on 25th November at the carriage restoration site. At this early stage there are some details not yet decided. The October OnTrak will hopefully have full (or at least fuller) information.

For the carriage group this means that some effort will need to be put into making the site presentable and hopefully getting a few jobs done. Anyone who can help with some cleaning up and other preparations please let us know. There will be workdays most weekends from now on and a little bit will be done each day.

Cover Strips

Work continued on the sides and ends yesterday. It was the first workday for a couple of weeks due to the recent damp weather. Fortunately it was a beautiful day, sunny and warm without being too hot, a good day for a workday.

Justin arrived early and started on the sides. He had prepared cover strips to fill the area over the joins between the sheets of cladding. He fitted these during the day after filling the gaps between the sheets with silicon first.

Work was well underway when Jim arrived. There was some planning to be done and Jim caught up with Mario first and then started on that. See the next post for some more details and an exciting announcement. Justin and Jim looked at the toilet area of 361 which is well advanced but there is still work to do.

Paul arrived a little later than usual after brushing shoulders with the dignitaries at the opening of the new bridge in Windsor. He joined Jim and a job list was created.

Paul and Jim then removed the decking from the second end platform of 547. There is some evidence of prior work here and the timbers supporting the deck are in better condition than the other end but not perfect.

Paul had prepared a cold collation for lunch so that was enjoyed next. After lunch Paul and Justin continued with the side while Jim did some preparatory work on cleaning up the end platform.

On the End

The workday yesterday was spent working on the end platform. We arrived to find the area saturated. There was a lot of water lying around after the rain we had experienced all week. Fortunately the area below the end platform and the interior of the car was dry. A quick check around found all the tarps were in place but a couple of ropes were loose.

Kevin, Paul and Jim started on preparing the steelwork that is under the platform for paint. When it was ready Kevin applied some rust inhibiting paint. There is some corrosion in this area but nothing to worry about. With the paint it should be okay for many years to come.

Kevin also did some work on timber for the top steps. These seem to suffer the most as they are out in the open and get the most traffic. Only one of the four on 547 are reuseable the others will be replaced.

The next workday is planned for a fortnight's time.

There are a couple more photos on the gallery, several more older ones have been added over the last couple of weeks too.

Loading Up

When the exhibition was on we borrowed some equipment from another group. This has been stored at the Carriage Site until they needed it back. As they are holding their exhibition this weekend it was needed. So today we loaded up the gear so Paul can return it.

Kevin, Paul and Jim arrived almost in unison and once cars had been turned around and positioned properly the trailer was hooked up to Paul's ute. We then got into loading and had it done in about half an hour. There was a bit to load, all the crowd control stands we used.

When it was done and tied down we enjoyed a well deserved cuppa in the morning sun. Kevin wanted to finish attaching the gangway plate he had been working on last Sunday and had brought the screws he was missing. So he did that before we all left for the day.

Below Deck

Yesterday was another day spent working on the end and side of 547. We are making steady progress at the moment.

Kevin and Paul arrived early and started working straight away. When Jim arrived a little later Kevin had the railings installed and was painting the headstock and railings. He had repaired another of the uprights and made some additional bolts. Paul had continued on undercoating the sides.

The deck on that end is in reasonable condition but several of the boards were loose. It had been decided to screw it in place. Before that is done we decided to lift it and check the supporting timbers. Kevin and Jim got started on removing the deck. It came off easily but underneath was worse than we expected which explains why the deck was loose. The photo shows the rotten timbers that will need to be repaired, it also shows some of the work already done on the headstock etc. The timbers nearest the steps just bolt into place and we started on removing them. Several of the bolts will need replacing too.

By this time Paul had the BBQ going and we had a steak lunch.

After lunch the last of the timbers and bolts were removed. The timber will be repaired and the steelwork will be cleaned and painted.

The end posts will need repairing, they have rotted at the bottom. This is not unusual and all of our cars have been repaired in this area before, probably more than once during their lifetime. Kevin had a look and worked out how to do it. After cleaning up the site we called it a day.

Next workday we will continue with the repairs to the end platform. We will clean up the deck timbers and remove all the nails from them. We also need to work out how much needs to be done to the end wall panels. They are the original cedar panels and appear to be in good condition but need a little filler around the edges. We will make a template of the pieces needed for the end posts too.

A Few Updates

The new OnTrak newsletter is out now, just click on the link on the side panel.

The Photo gallery has been updated quite a bit lately. There are over 150 photos there now. The most recent additions are to the 547 album (mostly of recent workdays) and the 361 album (some old images including its first workday). Click on the link on the left top to access the gallery. It will keep growing as I have time to add more images.

Work Continues

There was another successful workday yesterday. I had other plans so there are no photos this week.

Justin and Paul continued on the sides. The cover strips were applied and a start was made on undercoating the new panels. The steel cover strips were measured and Justin will get them cut during the week.

Meanwhile Kevin finished painting the headstock and surrounding area. He has refitted the steelwork which includes the hand rails etc. It is starting to look good.

A start was made on the exterior of the end platforms. Undercoat was applied to one end. Some filler may be required before new cover strips are applied. The existing timber, which is cedar, is in good condition although a little rough around the edges. The cover strips should hide that though. The area around the door arch will need stripping and repainting as it is bubbling. There are probably many coats of paint under it like much of the interior.

The end platform decks will need replacing at one end and refitting at the other. We will obtain the necessary materials for the next workday.

Steve arrived after lunch and helped Paul adjust the tarps and a few other jobs.

Finishing the Sides

The task at hand today was installing the cover strip over the joins on the side. Last workday the amount of material needed was calculated and ordered. We also purchased some more tools. Unfortunately the countersinks for metal hadn't arrived but that didn't delay any work today.

Ron and Jeanette had collected the pine cover strips and delivered them this morning. Justin and Alan installed the strip under the window sill and the end strip on the sides. These are made of treated pine. The vertical strips on the sides will be steel. We have them too.

Meanwhile Kevin was working on the end. The restoration of the headstock is almost complete. He has reinstalled the steps and most of the fittings. The rails will be installed next time.

Keeping our tarps in place is an important task as they protect the carriages. Jim replaced a couple of ropes and fixed another broken one today. We walk the full length of the carriages on both sides each workday and check all ropes.

There are more photos in the photo gallery. You can click on images here to see a larger version too.

Workday Cancelled

It has been decided to cancel the workday this Sunday. We hope to have another workday next weekend.

In the meantime Alan has been working on getting the materials to finish the sides of 547. We are going to put some silicon around the sheets we installed to stop water getting behind them. Then we will fit the cover strips. We have been advised that the steel strips are better although the timber ones look better. Both suggestions came from our visitors last week.

Under Inspection

Yesterday started cold but sunny, this was one day we would have liked to be working on the sunny side of the carriage. Alan and Justin arrived early and got stuck into finishing the side. While all panels had been attached most only had a few screws. Alan had obtained longer screws which gave a better grip in the poorer timber. They proceeded to add extra screws to each panel, replacing some but not all of the shorter ones in the process.

Kevin arrived to find the end of the car was still damp. Timber dries slowly on these cold mornings particularly when the sun doesn't touch it. He dried where he could so he could continue with the undercoating and painting the headstock. He was able to attach the buffer and cover later in the day.

When Jim arrived he prepared the table area for lunch after giving everyone the news we were expecting guests. Paul arrived later loaded with sufficient food for everyone.

When Justin and Alan finished adding screws and after a cuppa, Alan and Jim applied a little undercoat to all areas where bare timber had been exposed. By this time Paul had the BBQ alight and was preparing lunch.

We have fortunate to have a former carriage works expert available to us to advise and assist us. Wayne visits us occasionally and is always welcome. Today he brought his former boss Bill and a couple more of his mates. They had a good look around and then joined us for lunch. Over lunch we discussed our plans as well as getting some good feedback.

When the food was gone Bill and Wayne continued their look around passing on valuable information as they went. The van was opened for inspection and to pack away a few things from the exhibition. We discovered a broken rope on 683 so Alan and Jim replaced it.

After our guests departed we finished cleaning up the site and headed off home. An interesting and fruitful day.

As always click on the pictures for a larger view and then are other images in the gallery. Over 120 photos are there now, click on the link on the top left.

Back to Work

It will be a short post today as I don't have much time.

After the well earned rest last weekend it is back to work this Sunday. We intend to continue working on the sides and ends of 547.

Having a Rest

After the busy weekend at the Hobby Show the general consensus was we deserved a break this weekend. So the workday is cancelled but we will back on the 15th.

Thank you to all the carriage group workers who lent a hand at the show, early reports are it was a great success.

Starting to Look Good

Yesterday represented a major step forward in our restoration of 547. For the first time we started to put things back together. Attaching the side cladding means we are now returning the carriage to its complete condition.

Justin and Alan arrived early and started to measure out the sides and plan their attack. After marking the correct position the first sheet was put in place. By this time, Kevin, Paul and Jim had arrived and David got there just in time to see the panel go on. Justin had the honour of driving the first screw.

By the time Paul had lunch ready, another great BBQ, three panels were in place. By then we had realised there was a small problem. Although the frame at the top and bottom had solid timber the area in between is of varying quality. Often a screw would go straight in to the timber and not bite, longer screws were required in this area. We were using the size recommended by the timber manufacturers and they worked fine on good framework but not on the poorer parts.

David and Jim left early but by the end of the day all panels were in place, the side was completely covered. We will obtain some more suitable screws to complete the job, in the mean time enough screws were used to make the sides secure.

We need to attach cover strips and other trim later. The sheets arrived with undercoat already applied, we will touch it up in places where it was cut and around the screw holes etc. It is covered with plastic at the moment.

While all this was going on Kevin continued on with the end of 547 in between assisting on the sides, some of the headstock was undercoated but one side was still wet from the recent rain.

The only downside to the day was the discovery that 1539 is leaking badly. The tarp has been a problem on this carriage before. We patched it last time but this time the tarp has ripped around the vent. Nora has suggested using old tyres to support the tarp over the vent and a new tarp is being sourced.

Well done to everyone who helped on the day. There are some more photos in the gallery. It was a great event to finally be putting the car back together.

Calendar Update

There has been a change to the dates for workdays. On the 24th of this month we will have a stall at Windsor Crafts Markets so there probably won't be a workday. We will be promoting the Hawkesbury Model and Hobby Show that is on the following weekend. As always any help on the day would be appreciated.

The End of 547

No we aren't finished it but we have been working on one end. The metalwork has been cleaned and painted, timber work repaired and undercoated. Work is progressing to plan at the moment.

The aim for today was to continue the headstock work we started last time and to plan the fitting of the side cladding. Kevin with help from the rest of us continued on with the headstock. Justin and Alan worked out how the cladding will be attached while Paul and Jim did some paperwork for the Hobby Show.

We had another great BBQ lunch thanks to Paul. These lunches will be a regular thing now, $5 all you can eat is a good deal. One neighbour of the four legged variety joined us and although a little shy seemed to enjoy the sausages.

Some pictures have been added to the photo gallery of today.

Next week the workday will be on the Monday which is a Public Holiday. We intend to fit the sides so anyone who can help please be there. Lunch will be available as usual but if you can let us know you are coming it will help with catering.

We Needed this

Some time ago we were extending our track and needed to drill out some sleepers. It was a difficult job, fortunately Kevin had a heavy duty drill. This would have been ideal.

More Photos

The Photo Gallery has been updated with many new (actually old) photographs added. There are photos going back to 2002 now. Nearly one hundred images and still growing. I will add more as time allows.

Many of the photos were taken by me but some were taken by other members. If you have photos taken at the site of work on our carriages and other activities there please send me a copy so I can share them with everyone.

May Workday

It might appear early to have completed the workdays for the month but there will only be one this month due to other events. We hope to have one or two in June but even they may be difficult to fit in. Keep an eye on the calendar at the left for the latest information.

Paul and Kevin arrived early and a start was made on cleaning the heritage items. After Jim arrived they stopped for a morning tea. There was no time wasted though as we made plans for the display of some of our heritage items while taking our break. Kevin and Jim then moved onto car 547 leaving Paul cleaning and refinishing.

Our plan for the day was to clean and paint the metal items on each end of 547. The end platform has metal railings and uprights plus there are numerous pieces bolted to and through the headstock. The headstock is the large piece of timber that hold the buffers and couplers on each end. Actually they pass through and bolt to the frame but you get the idea. Rusted pieces were to be removed and where necessary repaired and painted before being replaced. There was no need to remove the couplers or buffers but they would be repainted. Some damaged railings had already been done and were ready to go back on, thanks Kevin. It was planned to clean up and repaint the headstock at the same time. Some nuts and bolts are being replaced as required.

We removed much rust and there was one panel we decided to remove completely. It covers the couplers and is part of the walkway between carriages. The bolts through the headstock were heavily rusted as they are vertical and the water just runs down them. It took some time and much applied muscle power to remove them. By that time it was nearly lunch time so by universal agreement we took a break.

The barbecue was lit and we enjoyed a well deserved repast of hamburgers with bacon and salad. We have the lunch almost down to a fine art now as we were better prepared than last week. There was an overabundance of BBQ tools this time. We need to work out a system for covering the costs of these lunches but as lunch for 3 or 4 is little more than we were each spending on takeaway it shouldn't be difficult.

Nora asked us for help loading a tram body and that took over after lunch. We managed to remove several parts for the Tramway Museum. Steve arrived while we were busy there. He was returning several items he had been working on at home. After finally getting the tram on the truck we decided it was too late to start back on 547 so called it a day.

Working for Our Lunch

We finally got to mow the grass around the carriages yesterday. Although it was only thin, spindly growth it was getting long so it was mowed down. Kevin and Alan got there early and got stuck in. When Paul and Jim arrived they gave a hand with the mowing and moved some fallen branches. It was all done in time for morning tea.

Kevin refilled the water tank too. So now there is water for the basin again. This was put to good use when we started cleaning the Heritage items. Most things were dusted or brushed. Paul started washing down the signs and got most done.

The stretchers were taken out in the sun and brushed to remove the worst of the dust. A couple of them felt a little damp after the wet week we have been fortunate to have so it was decided to move them to the van. They were all examined and it was realised one was different from the others. It is believed it is the most original having Tarpaulin Factory stamps and red handles. The others have green handles and on a couple it is apparent they were originally red. One is in poor condition with the canvas torn and paint peeling. We may restore that one to new condition. The others are in good to excellent condition and we will try and maintain them as they are.

Alan treated the metal on the side of 547 with Fish Oil. Some shows some corrosion but Kevin feels none is bad enough to be concerned about. It was decided to treated it and then spray it with rust resistant paint before replacing the sides.

Paul had won a meat tray at the club the previous evening and decided to share it with the rest of the team. So the BBQ was moved away from the carriage and lit up. Kevin had repaired the tray that hold the volcanic rocks so this was the first use in TRAK hands. We dined on steak, pork and lamb chops with onions and fresh bread rolls. Mario and Nora joined us for the meal and all enjoyed it. Certainly a big improvement of takeaway. We hope to make this a regular feature of future workdays.

Kevin had repaired the handbrake assembly of 683 and it was moved into the car for storage until it is replaced on the rear platform. Kevin has been gradually working through the metal parts of this carriage, repairing and repainting as needed. We hope to replace the headstock very soon.

Paul got back to cleaning signs until a call from our treasurer looking for end of month paperwork meant a couple of us needed to scurry home to get it ready.

The photo gallery has been updated, some new albums were created with photos from yesterday, there is a general one as well as one for 683. The Heritage items has been updated with several new photos and one or two were added to the 547 album. Click on the new link on the top left to access the gallery.

Calendar Update

The TRAK Calendar has been updated to include NSW Public Holidays and school terms. This may assist our workers in checking if they can make it to our workdays.

The workday on the June long weekend has been moved to the Monday so some of our people who aren't available on Sundays may be able to come for the day.

Just click on the heading of the calendar to see the full calendar, it can be viewed for the day, week or month.

More on Heritage Items

Some photos of the heritage items have been added to the album I started with the last post. These are still in their as received condition. We intend to give them a thorough inspection and clean up over the next few workdays. See the photos here.

Hopefully there will be a workday this weekend. the forecast is hopeful, Sunday will be the first fine day for a week if the BOM is right.

Heritage Items Donated

StateRail has begun the immense task of sorting out their Heritage Collection. Items that are not considered part of the core collection are being distributed to various Rail Heritage groups. We were invited to tender for some items and were successful in obtaining a number of them. We had to collect them from the Heritage store on Sunday.

As there were a few large items, desks and cabinets etc. it was decided to hire a small truck to move everything in one go. Kevin was appointed trucker, John his offsider / navigator, Jim drove the crew car with Alan and Paul as labourers, David assisted with unloading and arranged storage for some items. The collection was loaded in the morning and delivered in the afternoon. Some of the items have been left at the carriage site for cleaning up so they can be displayed at the Museum display in Kurrajong village.



There are a couple of photos here and more of various items will be added later.

Adding to Our Collection

TRAK has been given a number of items that are considered excess to the SRA Heritage collection. Several other rail groups have also obtained items. This Sunday we will collecting them and moving them to storage. We intend to make many of them available for public display.

Consequently the regular workday will not be held this weekend.

Fit to be Tied

Well the workday went ahead today. With the early showers and overnight rain I doubted any mowing would happen and I was right. The grass is just that fine spindly stuff and hasn't grown and as it was wet we didn't mow.

We did however find plenty to keep us busy for the morning. A couple of ropes on the tarps had snapped and we fixed one and had to replace another one. We need some more rope as we have used up all we had on site.

After the rope tying we started discussing the Hobby Show. The site plan is being prepared and as we have had a good response from exhibitors the hall is filling up. There are a couple of stands we still need. Some rides would be nice too.

After all this we called it a day at noon as a couple of us had other places to be.

We are planning a special day next Sunday so stay tuned for details when we have it worked out.

Updating the Update

I knew I would forget to add something in the list of site updates. And I was right.

The new Carriage Report (PDF file) has been added. Click on the link on the left to download it. The new OnTrak newsletter is on the TRAK website to. Click on the link on the left and go to the updates page for the download link.

Site Updated Again

There have been some changes to this site over the last couple of weeks. You may have noticed some of them.

First the map option on the calendar works for most events. The exception is the Workdays. The carriage restoration site is private property and so the address is not made public. All other events have a map although some are not real accurate. Just click on the event and the information screen has a map option, click on it and you will see a Google map with the location marked.

Second, the Meet our Carriages page has some more information and photos added. Although it is a little technical most people will find it interesting. Some more additional info like this may follow.

Speaking of photos many posts from now on, the workday reports at least, will have a link to additional photos. They are stored on our Picasa site. Hopefully some old ones will be added there later and then a link will be added to the main page.

I think that's all the recent changes. Please let us know what you think of them and what else you would like to see on this site. Your comments are appreciated.

Easter Plans

Next weekend is Easter and so our workday will be moved to Monday.

At this stage our main plan for the day is site maintenance. the grass needs mowing and there might be a bit of cleaning up to do. If there are enough people we will continue work on 547.

A Productive Day

After several false starts over the last few weeks we finally had a workday. The plan for the day was to complete the windowsill of 547. But as will be seen several other things happened along the way.

First our President, David, arrived with a BBQ he was donating to the association. It arrived in pieces but as can be seen in the photo David and Kevin soon had it sorted out. It needed a grill replaced and Kevin said he had a suitable part and has taken the piece home to fix. Once it is operational we will be able to host a BBQ for our members. It will also be available for workers to use (subject to fire restrictions etc.) as long as they keep it clean. It has been stored under one of the cars so it is out of the weather but still easy to access. Thanks David and Kevin.

The new caretaker Reg wandered over and introduced himself too. We were surprised to learn he has a strong interest in trains and was able to tell a few interesting tales. No doubt there will be more in future.

Our founding Vice President Jim (not the same Jim who writes this though) has donated a genuine carriage luggage rack. It is similar to the fake ones we bought earlier but as it is original it will get pride of place.

After the enjoyable interruptions we finally got to the sill. It was better than we expected as there was less to redo than we thought. We sanded it, particularly underneath which had not received much attention earlier as most damage was to the more exposed top. After we (or I should say Alan) were happy with it a coat of under coat was applied to protect it until we are ready to paint the whole side.

The steps and other area of exposed bare timber were also given a coat of undercoat while we had brush in hand. It's not safe to stand still for too long or Kevin will paint you!

After cleaning up the site the generator was loaded into Jim's trailer. David has offered to have a look at it and see if it can be fixed. 3 tired workers then made their way home.

You can see more pictures here. Click on pictures on this page or in the album to see them larger.

Next Workday

We are planning to have a workday this Sunday. it will be the first workday for a few weeks due to a number of things. We plan to finally finish the window sill. We will then plan the next stage of work on 547.

The forecast is good, at this stage, fine and 23 which is good working weather. Any members who can help please let us know and be there on the day.

No Workday

There won't be a workday this Sunday as there are no volunteers available. Next weekend is the Springwood Exhibition (if you can help out there please let us know) so the next workday will be on 25th.

Alan wants to finish the window sill so we can start on the cladding. The sill will require some sanding etc. After a final inspection it may require a little filling or touch up of the undercoat. Then we will start replacing the cladding on the side. The window frames need to be prepared for repair too.

Donate Your Search

An Australian Blogging site has set up a page that allows you to use Google Search and support some worthwhile charities at the same time. It still works the same as using Google.com but provides much needed funds for worthwhile causes. See the Blognow Site for more details.

This inititive is worthy of your support so give it a go.

Updates Keep Coming

The Carriage page has been updated again. Some history details have been added for each car. Click on the link on the left to view the page.

There is no facility on that page to leave comments. however if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions please leave them here. Any ideas to improve this site or the carriage page would be appreciated.

Yard Maintenance

One of the jobs that needs to be done but isn't very popular is looking after the yard around our carriages. We raked up leaves and removed fallen branches and other debris. This reduces the fire risk as well as keeping the area looking cleaner.

Justin arrived early and Alan and Jim a little later. Unfortunately that was all that turned up. It was a big job for so few especially given the warm day, into the 30's I believe. It is therefore surprising that so much got down.

There is still a bit to do but not much. It should be easy to finish next week.

In the photo, Justin was really getting into it loading leaves manually into the barrow. Innumerable loads were removed from the area over the day.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Calendar Update

The Calendar published in the latest OnTrak shows a workday on 8th April. As this is Easter the workday will probably be held on the Monday. This will be confirmed closer to the day.

Dark and Stormy

"It was a dark and stormy night", the famous words written by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton in 1830 as the first line of his novel "Paul Clifford" describe quite well the morning we woke to yesterday. As a result the workday didn't happen.

The forecast for next Sunday is more hopeful, fine and 31 degrees, so with a bit of luck we will be able to have a workday then.

Meet the Carriages

Another change to this site is the addition of a "Meet Our Carriages" page. Click on the link under About us to view details and photos on all of our cars.

Site Update

There has been some updates to this site and more are planned.

The most obvious update will be the labeling of all posts. On the left under labels you will see a list of the labels used. These labels identify what each post is about. Click on 683 for example and you will see each mention of 683 in this blog.

Maybe a quick explanation of what each label means is in order. The carriage numbers are obvious but the others may not be as clear.

Links are other sites our members and visitors might find interesting.
Misc. is for entries that aren't easily classified, this one for example.
News posts cover information about TRAK or news in general that might affect TRAK.
Plans will let you know what we intend to happen at the carriage site in the near future.
Reports will let you know what we did on our most recent workday.

If you think there should be other labels please let me know, (leave a comment). Do you find the labels useful?
What else can we do to the blog to add to your reading pleasure?

Keep visiting here as there are some more changes coming, very soon I hope.

Stacked

The donated timber has arrived and the details follows but first a little background. A large Silky Oak tree was cut down and was offered to our friends at Hawkesbury Woodcraft. They had sufficient timber and remembered that the interior of our carriages used Silky Oak quite a bit for things like seats. So we were offered it. They would arrange for it to be sawn into manageable sizes and we would store it to age. After a few false starts and setbacks this is what happened.

Alan, Justin and Kevin arrived at the site early to clear a space inside 683 to stack it. They also needed to prepare spacers to go between the boards to allow the air to circulate. These are important as the timber needs to have a moisture content of less than 10% before it can be used. We had been given some scrap plywood that was cut up for this.

After lunch the Andy Macs' truck arrived with the timber. Paul providing an escort to the site (for no particular reason, he just timed it well!) where Alan was waiting at the front gate to guide it in.

After the timber was unloaded it had to be moved into 683 and stacked carefully. Paul and Kevin provided the muscle to move it while Justin and Alan provided the knowledge (and some muscle) to stack it.

There was some sign of moisture between the boards, we don't know exactly when it was cut and how long it has been waiting to be moved. As it is now stacked under cover and with spacers it should dry out fine. There are various sized pieces and after drying it will be useful as we progress with the restoration of the carriages.

How Things Worked

Here is any interesting site that details how some rail equipment works. It is US based but some of the technology was used in Australia. In NSW for example we used the belt driven electrical power and steam heating. Our cars have the belt drive system. It was called the Stones system as that is the manufacturer of much of the gear.

It is based on the drawings of a retired New Haven employee who spent his career working on rolling stock. He is recording what he remembers so it won't be lost.

Stacks to Do

We received a message this morning that some timber that had been donated to us has been cut and is ready. Fortunately the timber yard are going to deliver it (no charge). But we need to stack it properly so it can dry. We have been given some scrap ply that will be cut into strips and placed between the timber.

All of this is to happen next Sunday so everyone who can please be there. If you want more info please give Alan a call.

The First

After a few false starts we finally had a workday yesterday. I received a report from my onsite correspondent as I was unable to attend. Anyone else who was there and wishes to add details please do so.

Work continued on the window sill. Paul and Alan got stuck into it. It justs needs a final sand and paint now. Stephen cleaned up the carriage. As work had mainly been on the outside lately the inside became a dumping ground so it needed attention.

Alan had to leave early so it was decided to to call it a day.

Back to Work

We are hopeful we can finally get back to work this Sunday. The forecast is good at this stage, fine and 28. A confirmation will be posted later in the week.

At the Quarry

If you are at a loss for what to do with the workdays being cancelled we have the answer. The Australian Railway Historical Society has just released a new book on the Quarry Railways around Sydney. It is part of the Sydney's Forgotten Railway series that has been so popular. It covers our local Yarramundi line as well as 5 others. Go to the TRAK site to download an price list and order form. For more info email us, see the profile page for contact details.

Summer Days

Its that time of year again. The hot lazy days of Summer. Unfortunately it is not good weather for carriage restoration. We have cancelled all workdays so far this year, one for lack of volunteers and the rest due to extreme weather.

Last Sunday was the first one with suitable weather but due to a number of things most of our regulars were unavailable.

Our plans for next Sunday, 21st, are on hold at the moment as the forecast is for 41 degrees C. Not suitable weather for working on the side of wooden carriages. If there is a change to the forecast as the day gets closer we will review the cancellation.