To the Studio 555 Front Page.
The Moving of CLIMAX STEAM ENGINE
1317 in (ACB) 3-D.
Try (ACB) 3-D Viewers

(ACB) 'Anaglyphic Contrast Balance' is an embodiment of New Zealand Patent 505513 and U'K' Patent 2366114 + Australian Patent + Canada Patent 2,352,272.

Climax Engine 1317 the day prior to its removal
The Climax Engine in state the day prior to its removal. 3-D Photography by Marc Dawson.

Te Awamutu's Climax Steam Engine 1317 was moved from the Memorial Park to a Council depot in Daphne Street on the 4th December 2004. It had been an Icon of Te Awamutu's Memorial Park for aprox' 44 years. The class B Climax all wheel drive bush locomotive dates from 1915 and is one of only six imported from Corry Pensilvania. This and two others survive as relics and one remains operating as a tourist attraction in Shanty Town. Climax engines were manufactured between March 1888-1928 by the Climax manufacturing company and later by the Climax engineering works. They made up to five at a time and up to 50 in a single year of varying sizes and classes. Between 1000-1100 were made. A patented gearing involved a differential drivechain. They operated at 10mph and made gradients up to 10 degrees.
Climax 1317 was one of several steam engines used by Smyth Bros and Boyer Ltd to haul logs along bush tramways for timber mills in the central North Island of New Zealand at Arohena till 1946 and then in Ngaroma till 1954. Archie McMillan was one of it's drivers. The firm had bought Climax 1317 from Carter Timber who had taken over the Egmont Box Company. It was gifted to the town of Te Awamutu in the late 1950’s by Smyth Bros and Boyer Ltd. Hybie Smyth offered it to Bob Vaile of the Te Awamutu J'C's. It was later moved to the Memorial Park in aprox' 1960.

Former J'C's, Bob Vaile, Phil Ward and Joe Tolich who were involved in bringing the engine to the Memorial Park, were present to see it taken out 44 years later. 3-D Photography by Marc Dawson. Former J'C' members Bob Vaile and Phil Ward with Joe Tolich, who was one of the moving crew from 1960, were present to see Te Awamutu Lions move the engine from its home of 44 years.
Joe Tolich was the only surviving member of the party which brought the Climax Steam Engine into Te Awamutu in 1960. The project was undertaken by the club under the presidency of John Martin, who also went on the recovery trip with Mr Tolich and Ken Price. A truck was borrowed from Reg Schimanski and driven by George Bain. Mr Tolich recalled the engine was on a raised siding at Ngaroma. Mr Bain backed the truck into the siding and forestry workers pushed the engine onto the truck with another engine. Everyone was surprised at how easily the shift went. Driving into town on the narrow road proved more dangerous, especially when Mr Bain pulled over for a car and the weight of the engine pulled the truck down the camber and off the road. The truck stopped, but was stuck. The team recruited a nearby farmer to pull them out with his tractor. They stuck to the middle of the road after that. The engine was taken through land that is now Christie Avenue and was tipped onto rails on a prior built concrete pad. Mr Tolich says amazingly it slid neatly onto the resting place it had for the last 44 years without a hitch.

A Hole was cut for the lifting chain
A patch was cut out of the roof to allow a lifting chain through. 3-D Photography by Marc Dawson.

The last play before the lift
The last play before the lift. 3-D Photography by Marc Dawson.
The move out of the Memorial park required the track along the Mangaohoi stream to be widened and gravel laid and an access was cut through to Christie Ave'. With the engine supported by a crane driven by Len Gray, the engines wheel assembly was pulled out using a digger. Then the engine was then lifted and loaded onto wood blocks on a flatbed truck. It travelled via Christie Avenue, Ohaupo Road, Racecourse Road, Tawhiao street, Alexandra Street and Paterangi Road to the Council depot in Daphne Street.
The engine was then lowered onto wood blocks. Rails under the blocks were rolled over steel pipes in order to move the engine into the depot shed with a push from a loader driven by Jeff Bowers.

Crane Operator Len Gray
Len Gray, Crane Driver. 3-D Photography by Marc Dawson.

Ready for the lift
Chains on ready for the lift. 3-D Photography by Marc' Dawson.

Marc Dawson recording the move in 3-D video
Marc Dawson recording the move in 3-D Video. 3-D Photography by Val' Dawson.

Front wheel assembly pulled out
The front wheel assembly was pulled out after the engine was partially lifted. 3-D Photography by Marc' Dawson.

Marc Dawson of Studio 555, who grew up with the engine over his family’s back fence, was present to record the move in 3-D on film and video.
Ken Williamson, who had recently made detailed engineering drawings of the engine to assist his building a working scale model, was available with advice for its safe handling during the move. He was encouraged to find that the engines pistons and valves were clean and intact when the head covers were removed at the depot.
"They appear to be serviceable without a great deal of trouble and the cast iron components are intact. However, the engine is generally in poor condition. The framework needs to be completely replaced and the axles and gears need a lot of work." Mr Williamson said. "The boiler may possibly be repaired for steaming, but converting the engine to run on compressed air should be considered."

Climax 1317 lifted
Climax 1317 lifted. 3-D Photography by Marc' Dawson.

Ready for the move out
Ready for the move out. 3-D Photography by Marc' Dawson.

The engine was stored in a shed at Daphne Street
The engine was pushed into the shed on pipe rollers. 3-D Photography by Marc' Dawson.

Ken Williamson finds the pistons in good order
Ken Williamson exposes the pistons and valves to find them in good order. 3-D Photography by Marc' Dawson.

A Climax 1317 trust has been formed from Te Awamutu Lions members and interested public in order to raise funds for restoration work. The goal is to promote restoration of the engine. Plans for replacement parts have been drawn by Ken Williamson. The engine is a valuable asset for Te Awamutu. Te Awamutu Lions would welcome anyone with support or assistance for the project to contact Mr Easton at 871 5576.

(ACB) 'Anaglyphic Contrast Balance' is an embodiment of New Zealand Patent 505513 and U'K' Patent 2366114 and Australian Patent 785021 + Canada Patent 2,352,272.

NEXT (ACB) 3-D EVENT

(ACB) 3-D EVENTS PAGE

TO THE FRONT PAGE