Selwyn Times: February 27, 2019
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
26 Wednesday <strong>February</strong> <strong>27</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
MY PRIDE AND JOY<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
A lifetime love of rail<br />
Graham at the controls in the locomotive<br />
cab doing what he loves to do.<br />
While many of us love journeying by<br />
train, for Rolleston local Graham Lawn, rail<br />
has been a lifetime journey which started<br />
when he was a young boy.<br />
“Dad was a Signal Maintainer, stationed at<br />
Ward from 1953 to 1968,” explains Graham<br />
whose fascination for trains stems from the<br />
time he rode on jiggers with his father.<br />
Graham attended Marlborough Boys<br />
9198779AA<br />
Jones Road, Rolleston, RD 7<br />
Christchurch<br />
Ph 347 8703 Fax 03 347 9576<br />
Mob 0<strong>27</strong> 228 2854<br />
Email cameron.hcc@paradise.net.nz<br />
College in Blenheim, travelling 30 miles to<br />
school by bus before the family moved to<br />
Blenheim. On leaving school, he took up a<br />
diesel mechanic apprenticeship with Tractor<br />
Services Marlborough then progressed<br />
to rail, starting as a trainee locomotive<br />
assistant (his apprenticeship giving him an<br />
insight into how diesel engines operated).<br />
“In those days, you sat beside the driver<br />
• Panelbeating<br />
• All insurance<br />
claims<br />
• Sandblasting<br />
• Spray (Bake)<br />
Painting<br />
• Truck Refinishing<br />
• Windscreen<br />
Replacments<br />
• Chassis<br />
Straightening<br />
• Motorhome<br />
Refinishing<br />
• Loan Cars<br />
for five years before being eligible to sit your<br />
driver’s certificate. Employees were judged<br />
on seniority whereas now it is on merit,”<br />
explains Graham.<br />
On 3rd <strong>February</strong> this year, Graham<br />
celebrated 46 years in rail. In that time he<br />
has fulfilled a number of roles, moving into<br />
training in 1990. He has been National<br />
Training Manager for Tranz Scenic (now<br />
The Great Rail Journeys of New Zealand)<br />
and currently teaches trainee drivers topics<br />
such as air brake and mechanical, rules<br />
and codes, and train handling using a<br />
locomotive simulator, of which he is one of<br />
the two main trainers in the country.<br />
His passion for rail led him to begin<br />
collecting memorabilia, photographing<br />
trains, locomotives and his railway<br />
experiences, then collecting old rule<br />
and code books, other books on rail,<br />
maintenance manuals and diagrams of<br />
air brake systems, old torches and lamps,<br />
old uniform items including caps, badges<br />
worn by train drivers on their black<br />
Kaiapoi hats (in the steam and early stages<br />
of dieselisation), and some model engines<br />
and locomotives. He hopes to build on his<br />
collection and one day display the items.<br />
He has also found some of the items helpful<br />
when teaching.<br />
Periodically, Graham conducts seminars<br />
for groups or the public on track train<br />
dynamics from a safety perspective, and<br />
assisted a student produce a DVD on the<br />
effects of level crossing accidents. He was<br />
also involved in recovering the locomotive<br />
that was trapped on damaged track after the<br />
2016 Kaikoura earthquake; an operation<br />
which involved moving the train one<br />
kilometre south so the freight, wagons<br />
Graham in the locomotive<br />
simulator room<br />
and the two 100 ton locomotives could be<br />
trucked out.<br />
“For me, it’s not just a job, rail is in<br />
my blood. It’s a personal interest. The<br />
memorabilia is something that will allow me<br />
to look back as I get older and be reminded<br />
of my experiences and what I did,” explains<br />
Graham whose son Jason has followed his<br />
father and grandfather by also joining New<br />
Zealand Rail.<br />
“I’m lucky to have a job I gain so much<br />
enjoyment from. It’s been a great journey<br />
and one of the best parts is seeing the people<br />
I train achieve their goals.”<br />
Escort Metal Polishers<br />
Specialists in Metal Polishing & Sandblasting in Christchurch<br />
At Escort Metal Polishers in Christchurch, New Zealand we have over 45 years<br />
experience in polishing, from the engine of your classic car, motorcycle &<br />
marine parts, fittings and fixtures of your home through to commercial and<br />
industrial runs.<br />
We appreciate what it takes to make your car or motorcycle gleam whether<br />
it’s just a reshine, polishing up a casting, or preparation for electroplating.<br />
We can do anything from mag wheels to trims, bumpers to manifolds, tappit<br />
covers to exhaust systems, If your parts need electroplated; zinced, nickeled,<br />
chromed or anodised we can even arrange all that for you from our location.<br />
If you’ve got the metal then we’ve got the solution! Escort Metal Polishers<br />
provide the best customer service possible and strive to reach the highest<br />
possible level of customer satisfaction.<br />
Call in and see us for a quote.<br />
Mon–Fri: 7am–4pm (often later) | Saturday & Sunday: Closed<br />
21 Maldon St, Christchurch, Phone (03) 366 <strong>27</strong>08<br />
“south island’s leading hot rod shop”<br />
Phone:<br />
0800 872 7<strong>27</strong><br />
0800 usa PaRts<br />
338 Lincoln Road, Christchurch<br />
P. (03) 379 5585 F. (03) 379 5094<br />
usaparts@americanautoparts.co.nz<br />
www.americanautoparts.co.nz<br />
• Engines<br />
• Performance Parts<br />
• Chassis<br />
• Suspension<br />
• Hot Rod Parts & more<br />
need parts<br />
oVernight?<br />
order by 3pm. Visa ready.<br />
Phone 0800 872 7<strong>27</strong><br />
We also Cater For Jet Boats & other Motorsports
Change language