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NEW ZEALAND’S ORIGINAL STEAM HERITAGE ATTRACTION |
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PAGE 3 |
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Traction engines, locomotives, steam-powered oddities and rare mechanical insights into our treasured past—all of that and more is housed here in our regularly-updated Steam Archive. |
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As a reminder that steam power was used for purposes other than driving engines, the Museum collection includes Steam Hammers. The Hammer is simply a reciprocating engine mounted vertically with a hammer on the end of the shaft while the steam is introduced through a special valve gear to raise or drop the hammer as required. Most of the larger Blacksmith stores owned a Steam Hammer and used it for a wide variety of forging work. Speed of operation and length of stroke could be varied to give light or heavy blows as needed, although precise operation required considerable skill on the operator’s part. Typical of a small Steam Hammer is the one owned by the Museum, built by Peter Pilkington of England circa 1905. The Museum’s Hammer was installed new in the Gear Meat Freezing Works engineering shop and spent its entire working life there.
The models corner of the Museum is always a favourite place for young and old visitors alike. Museum founder Colin Stevenson is here depicted demonstrating the wide variety of miniature train and steam models we have on display. A good many are run on compressed air and are true scale working model steam engines. One may well ask “Why do we run them on air?” Quite simply it means we can quickly demonstrate an engine because the pressure builds up in a fast two-to-three minutes. Interestingly, the models still make the same sound as if they were on steam. The majority of models on show were made by the late Phil Rhodes of Rata. These were initially on loan to the Museum for many years but have since been purchased outright. As a showcase example, the model saw mill is a good representation of what was required of a steam engine. In addition, the small locomotives can also be run but we prefer operating just the full-sized, outdoor versions. Since model making is still popular today, we are never short of people keen to see our models in action.
Hugh Rainey, seen here in 1968 driving a trailer load of boy scouts at a Tokomaru Domain rally, was a talented engineer who designed and built this working model Traction Engine at one-third scale. It is now on show at the Plains Museum in Ashburton. Hugh was a pioneer in the restoration of Traction Engines that were thought to be long past their use-by date. The one-third scale is probably the most popular size for building steam models but both larger and smaller varieties exist. Although small in stature, these models have considerable towing power and have been witnessed hauling loads carried by full-size trailers that, in and of themselves, weigh a minimum of two tons.
As a reminder that the vehicles of the past were more hands-on and laborious to drive than the automobiles of today, here is an operation checklist taken from the plate of a steam wagon similar to the one shown here, dubbed the Sentinel. “Instructions for drivers: Before starting a fire, examine water level, clean firegrate, tubes and ashpan. While steam is being raised, clean the engine, replenish all lubricators and test needles (they should be quite free in the sockets). Test the mechanical cylinder lubricator by opening try cock and turning the spindle with handle provided. Look round wagon for loose nuts etc. Examine brakes and steering chains and adjust if necessary. When steam pressure reaches 150lbs run engine for a few minutes; if knocks are noticeable make the necessary adjustments. Test Injector and Water Pump. Caution: The steam jet should be used only when absolutely necessary and then very lightly; a heavy jet is liable to cause tube troubles. Double high-pressure gear should only be used for very short periods; it must not be used continuously for more than two or three minutes. Keep the tubes and fire-grate clean. Don't neglect lubrication. Wash out boiler after not more than 100 hours work.”
After a false start in 1996 and years of preparation thereafter, Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong finally made it into theatres mid-December, 2005. A significant part of the movie takes place at sea aboard an old tramp steamer, the S.S. Venture. When it came time to design and fabricate the engine room setting for the steamer, a process that began in earnest in 2003, the filmmakers turned to Tokomaru Steam to provide some necessary authenticity. The museum was privileged and happy to lease a variety of engines and other memorabilia to the production for use in a number of scenes below-deck. Pictured is a corner of the Venture’s engine room set and in the foreground, skilfully camouflaged and integrated into the surrounding machinery, is a fully operational engine from the museum. In a much appreciated and kind gesture, museum owners Colin and Esma were invited to Wellington to view the finished result and admire the full-scale version of the Venture moored at Queen’s Wharf. Steam fans will be pleased to know that Director Jackson makes good background use of the engine room machinery, while also adding atmosphere to a few of the sea-bound sequences by cutting to insert shots of the engines in all their close-up glory. And though we can’t promise to show you a well-fed Kong nudging a traction engine into action, we can nonetheless tell you more about our involvement with the movie, and point out all of the relevant machinery, should you pay us a welcome visit at the museum.