Equipping Railway Workshops.

**Vann** · 16th April 2020, 10:51 PM

Preamble.

The first steam trains in New Zealand ran in 1863. Many towns planned, and some built, early railways. Some built in 5’ 3” gauge, some in 4’ 8½” gauge, some in 3’ 6” gauge, and one used wooden rails.

In 1870 the Vogel government passed legislation that all railways were to be built in 3’ 6” gauge (same as you guys have in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, and had in Northern Territory and small systems in Victoria and South Australia).

Each separate system needed to maintain their rolling stock, with depots and workshops.

By 1878 the two largest towns in the South Island (Christchurch and Dunedin) were linked by rail. It wasn’t until 30 years later that the two largest North Island towns (Auckland and Wellington) were connected.

By the early 1920s the four main towns (now cities) had the four biggest workshops, which had grown piecemeal and were struggling with old equipment to keep the expanding rail system operating.

In 1924 a Royal Commission investigated the situation and recommended rebuilding and re-equipping the four main railway workshops – with one in each island concentrating on locomotives repair and construction, and the other on carriages and wagons.

In Auckland the workshops were situated in a constricted location in the suburb of Newmarket, and it was decided rebuild on a new greenfields site at Otahuhu (were I did my apprenticeship many years later). A similar situation existed in the Wellington region workshops at Petone, so a site at what is now Woburn in the Hutt Valley was selected.

In Christchurch and Dunedin there was sufficient room to remain on the exist sites, but with many new buildings.

Along with the new buildings came new, modern, machinery. Specification documents were prepared and dispatched to manufacturers throughout the western world, but principally to other nations within the British Empire.

During the second half of 1925 the first specifications - 3 to 60 - were issued, and tenders requested for the supply of mostly metalworking machinery. These tenders closed on 15 January 1926.

On 2^nd September, 1925, they issued specifications 61 to 99 and 101. Several of these specifications were for woodworking machinery. Tenders for these closed on 15^th February 1926. Note that approximately 6 weeks were required for specifications to reach England, and a further 6 weeks for tenders to return to New Zealand – allowing manufacturers a relatively small window to prepare their bids.

Over the following three or so years, specifications continued to be issued and tenders were received.

By 1929 new buildings were nearing completion and machinery was being installed. A document dated 17^th September, 1930, summarises all new machinery supplied.

I found this document among files held at Archives NZ in Mulgrave St, Wellington while researching my Wadkin RB buzzer. The files are in regard to Workshops Machinery - NZR files 1916/1666 – and the best information I’ve found so far is in part 2 (1924-27) & part 3 (1927-31).

The document consists of 17 pages of successful tenders.

In following posts I will deal with each page.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 09:14 AM

Having the pages of this document scanned would have been prohibitively expensive (on my limited discretionary budget), but Archives NZ allow visitors to take notes and/or photographs.

The first sheet is a relatively small one.

p1.jpg

I transcribed each sheet in the hope of making it easier to read. Any typos have generally been left that way.

Machinery page 1.jpg

First column gives the number of machines in each order;
2nd column is a brief description;
3rd column is the order number ("W.R." is short for "Working Railway" - presumably this indicates the order was from the part of the railway concerned with day to day running, not the part that was constructing new railway lines etc.)
4th column is the specification number;
5th column is the port where the machines were delivered - and the quantity delivered to each port.
- Auckland (Auck.) is the port for machines for Otahuhu Workshops;
- Wellington (W'gton.) is the port for machines for Hutt Workshops;
- Lyttelton (Lytth.) is the port for Christchurch, for machines for Addington Workshops;
- Port Chalmers (P.Chal.) is the port for Dunedin, for machines for Hillside Workshops.
6th column is the supplier (the winning tenderer);
7th column is the total cost of machines at each port - in New Zealand £sd (pounds, shillings & pence).

Of the twenty different types of machinery/equipment listed on this sheet, only the first is a woodworking machine - a woodlathe destined for Hutt Workshops.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Vann

...Of the twenty different types of machinery/equipment listed on this sheet, only the first is a woodworking machine - a woodlathe destined for Hutt Workshops.

The sheet describes the lathe as a "Lathe Pattern-makers", which would suggest it was bound for the Pattern Shop.

By co-incidence, when I picked up my bandsaw from the Hutt Workshops back in 2015, I was able to retrieve the Machinery Record cards for most of the Pattern Shop machines, on their way to the rubbish skip.

R10.jpg

As you can see noted at the top of the card are "WR 7012" and "Spec 269" with ties in with the Order No. "W.R. 7012" and Specification "269" on the first sheet of the document. Melbourne Matty kindly sent me a catalogue cut of Thos. Robinson & Son's pattern makers double headstock lathe.

Robinson_KL.jpg

The lathe was originally line-shaft driven, but in 1964 head #1 was fitted with a 2hp, 950rpm English Electric Co. electric motor, while in 1975 the second head was fitted with a 3hp 1430rpm Crompton-Parkinson electric motor. Both motors were second-hand.

R11.jpg R12.jpg R13.jpg

In this photo of the interior of the pattern shop, taken in 1930, you can just make out part of the lathe to the right of the picture.

R14.jpg

R15.jpg

Hutt Railway Workshops, Woburn. The p... | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand

The only other photo I've found is this one from the New Zealand Railways collection, taken in October, 1952

Robinson2.jpg Photo: Archives NZ.

The Pattern Shop (and associated Foundry) was closed in 1987 and the lathe was disposed of. The building was retained to store locomotive components - but in 2016 I spotted this still attached to the ceiling. I believe it is the countershaft for the second head of the lathe.

Robinson3.jpg

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 01:01 PM

Not much of interest to woodworkers in this one. A few foundry machines, some tyre heaters (to heat steel tyres before allowing them to shrink onto steel wheel hubs - for locomotive, carriage and wagon wheels), and time clocks (to make sure we didn't sneak out early).

Note that some time clocks were sent to East Town (E.Town) workshops (Wanganui). This was the 5th largest railway workshops in New Zealand.

Photo of original document page.

p2.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 2.jpg

The next one is also of little interest to woodworkers

.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 01:23 PM

As suggested, there's not much of interest to woodworkers in this one either.

The fifth item down is four "Dust & Sawmill Refuse Exhausting Plants" - presumably big cyclone dust extraction units - supplied by our old friends Thos. Robinson & Son.

Photo of original document page.

p3.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 3.jpg

There are a couple of items here for "Napier". Napier had a well equipped Locomotive Depot.

The next sheet is also sparse on woodworking gear. In fact we have to wait until sheet #9 before we get to much of interest to woodworkers.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 01:39 PM

Again, not much for us woodworkers.

The second item is a couple of grinders for mortiser chains and chisels. Thos. Robinson & Son are doing well so far.

Photo of original document page.

p4.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 4.jpg

There's a pneumatic hammer for Bluff (port for Invercargill) - presumably for rivet repair/replacement on steam locomotive boilers, or general replacement of rivet on wagons and other rolling stock, etc.

The next sheet lacks any woodworking gear (edging closer to sheet #9

).

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 06:00 PM

Nothing for woodworkers. Not a sausage

.

Photo of original document page.

p5.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 5.jpg

Nothing of interest in the next sheet either

.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 06:47 PM

Again, nothing for us woodworkers.

Photo of original document page.

p6.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 6.jpg

No woodworking gear next sheet either. Quite a number of metalworking lathes though.

It gets more interesting from sheet #9. Honest.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 07:05 PM

Here we go: engine lathes, turret lathes, wheel lathes, vertical boring machines and slotting machines - but nothing for us woodworkers.

Photo of original document page.

p7.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 7a.jpg
Machinery sheet 7b.jpg

No woodworking gear next sheet. Just more metalworking machines.

Only one more 'til sheet #9.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 07:25 PM

More metalworking machines: grinding machines, shaping machines, planing machines, nut tapping machines, more engine lathes and vertical boring machines - but still nothing for us woodworkers.

Photo of original document page.

p8.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 8a.jpg
Machinery sheet 8b.jpg

Next sheet - sheet #9. Lotsa woodworking gear

.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 17th April 2020, 07:55 PM

More metalworking machines. But also a 4-sider, some spindle moulders, saws, bandsaws and sanders - for us woodworkers.

Photo of original document page.

p9.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 9a.jpg
Machinery sheet 9b.jpg
Machinery sheet 9d.jpg

Note the "Saw Band 30" Pattern Making" - that's the beastie that lurks in my garage workshop.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 18th April 2020, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Vann

...The second item is a couple of grinders for mortiser chains and chisels. Thos. Robinson & Son are doing well so far...

A further 5 from Thos. Robinson & Son, and Wadkin & Co. get their first successes with 4 machines.

Of interest are a number of Canadian manufacturers, General Combustion Co. (3 metalworking machines), Cowan & Co. (1 sander) and Preston Woodworking Machinery Co. Ltd. supplying 8 machines.

And on the subject of Preston...

Originally Posted by Vann

...Note the "Saw Band 30" Pattern Making" - that's the beastie that lurks in my garage workshop.

Looking again at this part of sheet #9 you can see that Preston supplied four 36" bandsaws and two 30" bandsaws.

Machinery sheet 9b.jpg

in the row for "Saw Band 30" Pattern Making" you'll also see "W.R. 6040 " and spec. "88"

These numbers also appear at top RH corner of the "Machinery Record" card that came with my bandsaw. So definitely the same saw.

P1710.jpg

I've asked myself, what's the difference between "Saw Band 30" Pattern Making" and "Saw Band 30". As they both cost exactly the same I'd say there's no difference.

The saws supplied would appear to be Preston's No.132, which came in both 30" and 36" sizes. Here's a cut from a Preston brouchure.

Preston132_3t.jpg Thanks to Melbourne Matty for the cut.

And a picture of my saw taken a few days before I purchased it in September, 2015.

Preston1.jpg

Like the Robinson lathe on sheet #1, this bandsaw went to the Pattern Shop at Hutt Workshops. And like the lathe, it's mostly obscured in this photo.

PatternShop.jpg

PatternShopSaw.jpg

It appeared again in the 1st edition of the Railways Bulletin in 1963. Note the bandsaw to the right of the photograph.

Pattern Shop Safety Record - V4.jpg Pres1963.jpg

Here's a link to a thread on this saw Preston Bandsaw

Cheers, Vann.

**clear out** · 19th April 2020, 09:59 AM

Love your research, you’re a regular bloodhound.
The last two photos are classic.
The photo in the Railways Bulletin article has them smiling, the other is probably more typical.
Very similar looking crew to the blokes I worked with when I served my time at a naval dockyard patternshop from 64 to 69. Some of our machinery was probably of a similar vintage.
We wore overalls not aprons but the foreman and chargehand had dustcoats.
The photo of the young bloke on the Robby lathe looks staged even though he’s got chips etc on his clobber.
I have few classics of myself in PR recruiting shots for apprenticeships.
H.

**Vann** · 19th April 2020, 10:03 AM

More offerrings from woodworking machine makers Thos. Robinson & Son, Thos. White & Sons Ltd., Wadkin & Co. and J. Pickles & Sons.

Photo of original document page.

p10.jpg

Transcribed sheet.

Machinery sheet 10a.jpg
Machinery sheet 10b.jpg

Note the last listing on this page - 4 No. "Overhead Electrical Travelling Cranes 100 tons" . That's fairly big (though I'd guess some Aussie railway systems had bigger). More on those in a later post.

Originally Posted by Vann

...On 2^nd September, 1925, they issued specifications 61 to 99 and 101...

That last specification #101 crops up on this sheet - 12 No. "Bench Planers HS". Won by Wadkin & Co.. One of those resides in my garage/workshop too.

Cheers, Vann.

**Vann** · 19th April 2020, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by clear out

...The last two photos are classic.
The photo in the Railways Bulletin article has them smiling, the other is probably more typical...

Thanks Clear out.

A bloke I know in the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Soc. (a railway and historical enthusiasts group) alerted me to the Bulletin article. I figured the photo was probably taken by the official railway photographer. The New Zealand Railways photograph collection is now housed at Archives NZ in Wellington. I was lucky (the indexing system is a bit random) to find the photographer had taken three photos. That grumpy photo had the best detail of the bandsaw itself (note the almost brand new MEM and Crabtree switchgear on the 34 year old machine).

Cheers, Vann.

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