I didn't think very much had been done to the ship since the last Festival but perhaps the emphasis is on raising funds.

L-R. Looking forward from the stern, down in the stokehold the Engineer stoking the furnances, looking down the companionway into the engineroom, the generator, and the pump.

Dunedin Gasworks Museum

This is No.2 Exhauster, one of two at the gasworks, which were used to draw gas from the retort house through the de-tar-ers and purifiers into the gasholders. Each unit consists of a horizontal single-cylinder steam engine coupled to an eccentric vane pump. The pressure of the gas in the mains controls a governor, which in turn adjusts the supply of steam to the engine. Thereby regulating it's steam supply and speed. The exhauster could pass 100,000 cubic feet or 2800 cubic metre of gas per hour at full capacity. G Waller of Stroud in Kent England built both extractors. The engine photographed was supplied to the gasworks in 1939 following the first that arrived in 1926.

This is a smaller extractor that was used in summer months when the demand for gas was lower. Again it is a single-cylinder horizontal steam engine driving a vane type pump capable of passing 60,000 cubic feet of gas an hour [1680 cum.] Also manufactured by G. Waller and Son and installed in 1909.

A Brian Donkin booster used to meet peak demands for gas and maintain adequate pressures to the outer areas of the City of Dunedin. When demand was lower electric boosters were used while at night time the pressure in the gasholders was adequate. The machine was also used to transfer gas between gasholders. The Brian Donkin is a horizontal steam-driven duplex reciprocating compressor capable of passing 100,000cubic feet of gas per hour at a pressure of five pounds per square inch. It was manufactured by Brian Donkin Co. of Chesterfield in England and installed in 1926 and is the sole remaining example in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ocean Beach Railway

Ocean Beach Railway operates a short line from John Wilson Memorial Drive on the St Kilda foreshore. Their carriage shed holds both restored and derelict wagons and carriages waiting their turn to be restored. With judging by their peers the Ocean Beach team won an award for their restoration of the white XP 3193 fruit and general van built in 1967 and restored from 1992.

In the middle is K543 restored as an accommodation van. In the foreground is K89, an earlier 8 ton van. She is now in need of a further restoration as the paint didn't take very well the first time it was done. The three vehicles give an idea of the increase in size of vans over the years with a comment made to me that current vehicles would barely fit in the shed.

Otago Model Engineering

 

With only one operational live-steam boat in the Club, Charlie Crossan felt it a bit hard to provide the model steam on the water for the whole weekend. The boat is Amy F in her steam guise. There is an interchangeable petrol motor drive for this craft complete with fishing boat style wheelhouse. Forward and reverse is achieved by way of a variable propeller while the steam engine works in the same direction all the time.

Des Burrow's rebuild of his early Sweet Pea was being driven by Colin Downing. This was last winter's project for Des while the winter before he was part of a team re-furbishing the Kingston Flyer. A New Zealand Government Railways pacific loco [4-6-2] built in mid 1920's and currently up for sale by Tranzrail.