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Thread ID: 87307	2008-02-16 05:55:00	Newmarket Train Station	Roscoe (6288)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
640921	2008-03-13 08:42:00	Hi Roscoe You mentioned the photo was taken from Broadway but out of pure curiosity - was that photo taken from the Broadway overbridge by Burger King and Noel Leeming? That's the only overpass on Broadway that I can think of, but it looks to me like the Remuera Road overpass behind the old Mercury Energy building....... Andrew	andrew93 (249)
640922	2008-03-13 09:49:00	Gidday Andrew, The photo was taken from the bridge by Burger King. I also have some shots taken from the Remuera Rd bridge (facing north and south) but neither has a curve as sharp as that, nor set in concrete. The south line behind the old Mercury building (at one time the AEPB) bears east and then takes an easy turn east up the hill to Remuera. Have a look at these two looking almost southward from the Remuera Bridge. One shows the temporary station under construction and Two shows it in use. www.imagef1.net.nz www.imagef1.net.nz	Roscoe (6288)
640923	2008-03-13 20:18:00	Thanks Roscoe - that's more like what I remember! In the first photo, isn't the Newmarket train station to the right? But there aren't any obvious tracks leading to the right - are there additional tracks to the right of the picture that are not quite in the photo? Andrew	andrew93 (249)
640924	2008-03-13 21:29:00	Nice to see so many people, missing the old trams. Trams in some ways were their own worst enemy. I am talking UK now. They were made to railway standard ie tough and heavy. The result was by the 1940s some were still running which had been built up to 50 years ago. Still generally equipped with wooden seats and some outside accommodation, they did not compare to the latest buses (in those days also, buses were petrol driven and hence very smooth). Also British legislation made the tramways responsible for not only the track, but also the roadway between the tracks and some distance outside them. The trams were subsidizing all other road users. Of course the tracks were very expensive to lay and often the trams made life difficult for other traffic and tended to slow it down (now regarded as not a bad thing). Blackpool has retained its trams including some superb streamliners built in the 1930s and finds them the only way to move the massive crowds that they have at times. It is interesting to see that trams and light rail are really making a come back in many parts of the world. Tom	Thomas01 (317)
640925	2008-03-13 22:02:00	Hello Andrew, What you remember and what it is like now are two totally different things! Both photos are looking in the same direction, southward. The Remuera station is around the corner to the left, out of sight. The station that you see is one of two temporary stations that will be used until the new Newmarket station is complete. (The other is at Kingdon St on the western line.) The old station has had it's verandah removed and has been reduced to a box. It was shifted out one dark night at the beginning of this week. I understand that it will be set up at the Mainline Steam Depot at Parnell. The signal box was removed a few weeks back. It was the last of its kind. I'm not certain where that went but possibly Mainline Steam as well. There have been extensive changes to the line layout with the up line (on the western side of where the station was) being removed and not replaced as yet. One of the major problems with the old layout was that a train travelling from Britomart to Waitakere had to reverse, after picking up passengers from Newmarket, back to the western line. That will be remedied with the new layout. I would suggest that, when passing that way next, that you stop and have a look from both sides of the Remuera Rd bridge. I'm sure that you will be surprised and enlightened. The reason I have these shots is that I intend to make a DVD showing the changes as they have occurred. You may be interested also in the upgrade of the Onehunga line, although I am not certain that "upgrade" is quite the right word as there is not a lot left! All the rails, except the eight road crossings, have been lifted - a few night's work perhaps? Some of the sleepers were only good for firewood. Nothing has been done on the formation for some months now but I understand that they may be continuing shortly. All the new rails have been waiting alongside the formation since October. I understand that they are there because Ontrack need to "pre-rust" the rails.:D Eventually the Onehunga line will continue to the airport and I think it will then travel alongside Puhinui Rd back to the mainline at or near the Puhunui station. Depending on how interested you are, you may like to take a ride with me one of these days to check progress. I have a look now and then, take a few more shots and make certain that they are doing their work properly.;) Thomas: The trams here in NZ were also made in a very robust fashion. Anyone who had an accident with a tram came off second best! It was the same here with the tramways people responsible for that piece of road. The last trams ran in Wellington about 1962. I have been on the trams at Blackpool - could not resist them - and as a home for old and retired trams it is great! Have you been on the trams at MOTAT? The trams in NZ are another story entirely. If interested, have a read of "The Last of the Penny Section" which will tell you all.:)	Roscoe (6288)
640926	2008-03-14 00:29:00	[QUOTE=Roscoe;653377 The last trams ran in Wellington about 1962. I have been on the trams at Blackpool - could not resist them - and as a home for old and retired trams it is great! Have you been on the trams at MOTAT? The trams in NZ are another story entirely. If interested, have a read of "The Last of the Penny Section" which will tell you all.:)[/QUOTE] And unfortunatly with "We can't do that for at least 20 years" attitude in NZ with the exception of the small tram system in Christcurch I don't see them making any sort of comback soon as the diesel bus lobby has just too much say these days.. Pity. A good integrated train and tram service would be great in Auckland..	paulw (1826)
640927	2008-03-14 02:49:00	Thomas: The trams here in NZ were also made in a very robust fashion . Anyone who had an accident with a tram came off second best! It was the same here with the tramways people responsible for that piece of road . The last trams ran in Wellington about 1962 . I have been on the trams at Blackpool - could not resist them - and as a home for old and retired trams it is great! Have you been on the trams at MOTAT? The trams in NZ are another story entirely . If interested, have a read of "The Last of the Penny Section" which will tell you all . :) Quite a few points here . Thank you for pointing out that even here the trams had to pay for that "special bit" of road . I have often wondered about that . MOTAT . No - it is many years since I was in Auckland and I don't think there were trams there then . I did sit in a trolley bus with my family and tried to explain to my son what it was all about . Sitting in the drivers seat I pushed down on the pedal and the thing suddenly shot forward a foot or so . I presume they had some battery for very short shunting purposes and the one we were in still had some life! Blackpool . The trams there do have the advantage that they have private tracks to themselves for most of the journey . Also they travel through town centres particularly Fleetwood, and also go through open country . With all that it seems almost as though designed by Disneyland - but no it is a fully operating commercial enterprise . I am only sorry that the umpteen various other routes I used when living there have all gone . But one route - that at the south end to St Annes went years before I was even born and now they are talking of getting it back . Good idea actually . The train track is still there and far enough from the sandhills that there is no problem . Apparently the idea is to combine the train and trams . Sounds too good to be true . I don't seem to have read the book you have mentioned although my computer tells me I have read seven other tram books this last 10 years . Must get a copy . Tom	Thomas01 (317)
640928	2008-03-14 04:39:00	I did sit in a trolley bus with my family and tried to explain to my son what it was all about. Sitting in the drivers seat I pushed down on the pedal and the thing suddenly shot forward a foot or so. I presume they had some battery for very short shunting purposes and the one we were in still had some life! You are correct. All the trolley buses have batteries in them to get them off the road should there be a power cut, but as you say, they are only good for a short (and very slow) distance. They would also use the batteries for small maneuvers in the depot where the trollies may not reach. If you look above the driver's seat you will notice a very large switch (because of the high amperage) that changes from power to batteries. I'm not certain that a tram comeback will ever happen, but I would like to see light rail which could run down the main street (Queen St perhaps?) and then join on to the railway line to south or west. But I suppose that if too many people think that makes sense then it won't happen. If you, or anyone else is interested, you may like to see some more shots of the work as it progresses. For example, the Newmarket yard is almost unrecognisable. There is only one original line remaining - the down (east) line - all the rest has been lifted in preparation for the new layout. The station was removed a few days back and the yards look very bare.	Roscoe (6288)
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