Thursday, 24 February 2000, Canberra    

Michelle and Michael Potter are the proud parents of a baby girl born 8.00am on February 24. Mother and daughter have been certified for traffic.

The historic bus shed purchased by the Society is now just a big meccano set.

Erik Jochimsen continues to work on sorting out the hundreds of components of the bus shed the Society purchased a few months ago.

He currently spends several days a week with the backhoe sorting out and organising all the various bits of the framework into similar piles.

Its hot and heavy work but someone has to do it!

Unfortunately, the powers that be didn't think that taking photos of the shed before it was dismantled was really important.

So now we have a very complex task in working out just how to put all the components back together.

Erik has made significant progress on this aspect.

1210's innoculations against the Y1900 bug appears to have held true against the later Y2K variant, according to our boiler inspector during his visit on Saturday, January 22.

Accordingly, he has issued a boiler certificate bill of health current 'till his next visit in early 2001.

To find out about other rollingstock under the care of the ACT Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society, all of which can be seen during a visit to the Canberra Railway Museum, go to this page. -- Ed.

Saturday, 1 January 2000, Kingston   

This loco remains in good shape.

The turbo-altenator will be stripped down to replace the badly-worn bearings.

Full power has not been possible from the unit for the last few months.

Those baulking at the high cost of getting the body beautiful look no further.

Saturday, January 22 saw nine of the Society's keep-fit brigade assemble at Tuggeranong Siding to trial the latest in recreational fitness equipment.

Warm-up was achieved on the group horizontal beam tote.

Teams of four vied to move the scientifically-designed wooden beams (amusingly called sleepers) from the equipment truck to exercise transfer unit (flat-top).

Re-locational cooling was achieved using the re-locational unit (VW engined quad) to the fixed equipment at 332.500km.

Here a team-effort compost and chain gang transfer exercise was conducted (dig out rotted sleepers and ballast).

This was followed by the under-iron horizontal grip and slide (insert new sleeper).

This received group acclaim and was therefore repeated at least ten times.

The final exercise at the fixed site was the crusher lift and place (sleeper packing).

Realising that the Railway Gymn is assured of popularity, the team toted further horizontal beams in readiness for the expected rush.

The ancient ritual of placating the gods of exercise was upheld in the ceremony of placing and retrieving the red flag and dets before and after exercising.

If you would like to assist in future track work, please contact the Track Manager, Alan Ward (02) 6297 3335, or one of the assistant Track Managers: Erik Jochimsen (02) 6295 7719, Bruce Blain (02) 6287 2299, or Jeff Knight.

To learn more about the Society and membership, see About the ARHS. -- Ed.

Saturday, 1 January 2000, Kingston   

It is hoped that TAM 906 will be used on the Cooma Mail re-enactment during late March.

The external condition looks quite poor because automotive paint was used in its original restoration and this was not suited to a wooden surface.

Inside is another story. The car was rebuilt from gutted condition largely by Bluey Thomson and Marie and Lindsay Buck, to a very high standard.

Refurbished bogies purchased last year from Lithgow are to go under this car as the existing ones need quite a bit of work.

TAM 1888 has been completed and awaits its new bogies to be refurbished by Derek Russell.

This car is also excellent inside as it was one of the last TAMs to be disposed of.

It spent a lot of its final service life in covered storage.

Its external colour was quite bizarre until its recent repaint.

Monday, 10 January 2000, Kingston   

IFS 2166, our long-suffering dance car, is in the carriage shed for an external repaint.

The red paint and yellow striping, and the roof silver, have been completed.

Black underframe and details are being applied.

The russet window band may be repainted or may be polished, according to time allowances.

The car, plus three stainless steel sleepers, has been hired by RTM for a charter to Tamworth and it will leave Canberra about 21 January.