Train turntable takes shape

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 415, 3 December 1991, Page 3

Train turntable takes shape

BY

DENNIS

BEYTAGH

The result of many hours of planning and work by members of the MTRO group (Main Trunk Rail Ohakune), students and staff of Ruapehu College and a local contractor can now clearly be seen at the railway turntable in Ohakune Junction. The turntable pit has been almost completely excavated with the remaining fill to be removed by hand and shovel after the major part of the fill was removed by local contractor Koi Young. The excavated fill will be terraced and planted behind the turntable pit to provide a landscaped viewing area from which to watch and photograph the operation of turning a 145-tonne steam locomotive around. The 2.5m deep pit itself is in good condition with the concrete retaining wall intact. The main ring-rail and central pivot around which the supporting cradle turns, have been revealed and all drains have been cleared and are now in working order. New Zealand Rail will

be supplying the 70ft(21m) turntable cradle and bearings when the pit is completely ready and the tracks to it have been laid. Up to 30 girls and 20 boys from Ruapehu College elected to assist with the cleaning up of the railyards last week during their end-of-year activities programme . with many helping to stack railway sleepers in

preparation for sale by NZ Rail. Others helped with establishing a new bark garden in front of the station building which will be planted with shrubs donated by Trevor Reynolds. MTRO president Bob Norling wishes to thank all those who have contributed to the development of this restored

railway village project so far and invites others who might have been holding back in order to see some progress first, to come forward with voluntary help and join the working bee as this is an on-going project which will ensure a steady stream of visitors to Ohakune throughout the year when the turntable and railway museum are fully functioning.