The Barging Described.

The actual work of barging the locomotive to Dargaville and bringing locomotive “F” 216 out from Dargaville is best explained

The First Difficult Operation Accomplished.
(Photo, A. Cole.)
Safely on the barge at Tangowahine.

by the engine driver and fitter (both of Auckland) who carried the work out in one week. Their description of this interesting transport feat follows:–

“Early on Tuesday morning ‘F’ 254 was steamed from Tangowahine siding down the river bank to the edge of the water, and when the tide was full the rails were run out on to the barge, the latter being secured with two wire ropes. The engine was then steamed on to the barge. This was quite an anxious moment for all concerned, because as the weight of the engine came on to the shore end of the barge it naturally sank, and the other end stood high out of the water. However, by keeping the engine moving forward steadily, the balance was reached, the barge rested on an even keel, and the first operation was accomplished successfully.

“The rail was uncoupled, the ropes let go, and the long tow to Dargaville commenced. It was quite fair sailing except for the difficulty experienced at the Dargaville traffic bridge. We were informed the bridge opening was not quite at right angles to the river current, and the launchman, Mr. H. Stanaway, displayed fine seamanship in safely getting the barge and launch through the comparatively narrow opening. This was accomplished by running the launch up into the current and allowing the barge to drift, the launch meanwhile running at ‘slow’ holding the tow-rope taut, thus steering the barge through.

“At Dargaville there are three sidings running parallel to the river front, and by running the barge inshore the engine was landed at right angles to the sidings. In order to allow the engine to be turned, two rails were laid down on the siding rails, and the temporary road from the barge was laid on these rails. All was now ready to steam ‘F’ 254 ashore. It was quite a comfortable operation steaming on to terra firma compared with the Tangowahine operation.

“The turning was done by ‘F’ 216, to which was attached a length of stout wire rope. The turning was accomplished successfully, the engine standing exactly over page 56 the siding rails but about eleven inches above them. This difficulty was overcome by removing the sleepers at the lightest end of the engine and putting in two-inch timbers. With two wooden wedges bolted on to the rails the engine was run down into the siding rails and was safely on the Kaihu railway.

“‘F’ 216 was steamed up the wedges on to the temporary track and ‘F’ 254, and the wire rope soon had ‘F’ 216 at right angles to the siding and in position to steam on to the barge at high tide. Locomotive ‘F’ 216 was soon ‘sailing’ up the river to Tangowahine, and steamed ashore and up the river bank to Tangowahine siding and uncoupled for her long tow to Auckland.