Vintage Locomotives To Stay In South Island

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30392, 17 March 1964, Page 16

Vintage Locomotives To Stay In South Island

The Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine), has told Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P. for Riccarton, that there was no proposal to transfer the vintage F-class locomotives, Ivanhoe and Peveril, to the North Island.

Mr Connelly received a letter yesterday in reply to a telegram sent to the Minister on February 19, when it seemed possible the two engines would be transferred to the Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology. “In the meantime,” says Mr McAlpine’s letter, “these locomotives are being suitably preserved by the department and the question of the ultimate resting place can be considered later when we see just what developments, take place in the establishment of an appropriate transport museum in Christchurch.

“I assure you that the claims of Canterbury will not be overlooked.” The Association of the Friends of the Canterbury Museum of Science and Industry are seeking the establishment of a ntiiseum in Garvins road, Hornby, and the Paparua County Council has already approved the project in principle. Negotiations are now in progress for the purchase of a site of about one acre.

Peveril and Ivanhoe, the two old engines chiefly concerned, have been long associated with railways in Canterbury. Peveril was built at Glasgow in 1872 and Ivanhoe in 1880. “The Minister’s letter leaves no room for complacency,” Mr Connelly said yesterday in a statement he prepared in association with Mr G. Hickford, a member of the Science Museum Committee. Competing Claims “It seems that unless Canterbury presses ahead with an institution to house this rolling stock, then otter competing claims for it, including Auckland’s, might have to be considered. Since details of the Minister’s letters have become known a further major step towards the establishment of a museum of science and industry has been made,” the statement said. Representatives of the Canterbury branch of the Rail-

way and Locomotive Society of New Zealand, of the railway unions, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Engine Drivers’, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association, and the Railways Tradesmen’s Association—and of the Tramway Preservation Society, have met the executive of the association. Ways and means were discussed for making a combined effort to establish a museum which would include a transport section, catering for rail, trams, and all other kinds of transport. Others Interested The association believes that other societies interested in veteran cars, aircraft, shipping, tractors and agricultural machines, horsedrawn vehicles, communications, model engineering and antiques of various kinds have expressed a desire to join in the museum project. The statement said specialised knowledge and experience would be welcomed. Members of other societies would be assured of an opportunity to play an active part in the museum project. Those interested should get in touch with the chairman of the association, Mr A. W. Flack, of the School of Engineering, Ilam.

“The museum will be more than a repository of old and historic engines and equipment,” the statement said. “In fact the latest discoveries in communications, space explorations, and productive equipment will be displayed. It will show working models, operated by push button, demonstrating scientific and engineering principles. An important aspect of the museum would be its emphasis on education, both for young people, students, and those engaged in science and industry, the statement said.