Welcome to the Web Pages of the

Canterbury Society of Model Engineers


 The Canterbury Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Inc (CSMEE) is for all people in the Canterbury region who are interested in the design, construction and operation of models and machines.  We are based at Halswell Domain.  Come and see for yourself, we would love to see you. Why not become a member or supporter of CSMEE? Click here to check out our Facebook Page.  Take advantage of our new Family Membership.

The Club Contact for making a booking for a group to visit our facilities is John Howie Ph 3887629.


CSMEE has been listed by The Press as one of the 150 best things about Canterbury.  Come and see for yourself!


New Club Rooms

Construction Progress

As part of the overall development of our site at Halswell Domain, CSMEE is at another important milestone - construction of our new Club Rooms.

Click here for the Plan and Elevation of the new Club rooms.

Photos taken 9 July 2011.



CSMEE would like to thank Greytone Painters and Decorators, Resene Paints and K.K. Electrical Ltd for their contribution towards our Club Rooms.

See the Sponsors page for more details of Club Sponsors.


Thanks also to Solid Energy for sponsoring our coal supplies.

 


 

Upcoming Events:

                                                          
January Run Days                We will be running as normal at

                                            Halswell on each Sunday during January.

February General Mtg.        Tuesday 7 February.  Andrews Cres.

                                            Speaker will be Peter Smith who will talk

                                            about flood damage and subsequent repairs

                                            to his railway in Cornwall UK

February Boat Night             Tuesday 14 February

Regular Events

 Running Days:

Club members are running locos, traction engines, sailing model boats, at our site in the Halswell Domain on Sunday afternoons (1pm - 4pm) throughout the year - subject to weather

Follow the signs at the main entrance to the domain - off Halswell Road

Special Boat Sailing days are held the 2nd Sunday of each month.

Meetings:

Currently meetings are still held at our Clubrooms in Andrews Cres, Spreydon

First Tuesday of the month      - General Meeting often with a guest speaker

Second Tuesday of the month - Boat meeting

Third Tuesday of the month     - Chat night



FEATURE MODEL

See below for our latest FEATURE MODEL

Jock Miller's recreation of Canterbury Railway's No 9 0-4-0 in 7 1/4" gauge.


FEATURE MODEL        Canterbury Railway's No 9

No 9 was a small four-coupled tank locomotive built by Neilson and Co, Glasgow in 1873.  It was designed to replace horses on the rather light wharves at Lyttelton.  At the time the Christchurch to Lyttelton railway was 5' 3" gauge.  The Government had already decided to standardise New Zealand's rail gauge at 3' 6" but some broad gauge locomotives continued to arrive.

After unloading and assembly, No 9 made a trip from Christchurch to Rangiora and back on 10 March 1874.  According to the Press report the following day "the engine was driven by the running foreman, Mr Dickinson, and the result was most satisfactory".  On 10 December 1874, No 9 was involved in a collision which resulted in a tightening up of safe working methods through the Lyttelton tunnel.  No 9, driven by a A. Blackmore, had drawn a rake of wagons into the tunnel and was about to reverse into the goods yard when it was rammed by a special goods train from Christchurch hauled by locomotive No 2.  Both locomotives were considerably damaged.

Eventually No 9 was overtaken by the move to 3' 6" gauge and was sold to South Australia Railway and went to Adelaide.  However its journey was not plain sailing.  It was loaded on the Hyderabad but this vessel was wrecked off Waitarere Beach.  Eventually No 9 was salvaged (no mean feat and an interesting story in itself) and completed her journey finally entering service in Adelaide in 1879.

Specifications:
0-4-0 T; length 18' 2"; 12.4 tons; boiler pressure 130 psi;
Cylinders - 2 outside the frame.  Bore and stroke 9" x 16"
Driving wheel diameter - 2' 11"

Jock's project is unusual in the scarcity on information available but Jock is determined to produce an authentic representation.  Jock has managed to find some GA drawings and plans and pictures of similar locomotives from the same period.  The pictures below show that Jock does not have much to work with but the results are looking fantastic.