The Railway Enthusiasts Socciety

Listed below are special events that are run each operating season plus extra running days. For further information contact Glenbrook Station (operating days only) or the Railway Enthusiasts Society clubrooms. Phone numbers are listed in the ‘Contact Details’ web page on this site.

Bookings are not taken for seat reservations for any of the special events listed below unless specifically noted. Please purchase your tickets at Glenbrook Station on the day.

Standard fares may not apply to some events as noted below:-

 

 

Download a previous “Day Out With Thomas” poster (pdf)

The only qualification for membership is an interest in railways and railway travel.
Members are drawn from all walks of life and all ages.
Membership is on an annual basis starting from your joining date.

Membership Categories
Adult
Individual membership for people above school age. Includes:-

Full voting rights at formal Society meetings.
Use of reference library at the Museum and Clubrooms.
Members discounts when offered on merchandise.
Attendance at monthly meetings (supper donation applies).
50% discount on train fares on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway (personal to member).
Youth
For those aged 5 to 18 years. Same options as above, at a discount.

Family
Covers a “family” with one member of the household being the nominated “Full Member” for voting rights. Otherwise as above. (Only ONE copy of YARN and the Society mail-outs will be sent to each address).

Subscription rates – (all per year)
Membership
Adult (one person) = $20.00
Family (two or more family members) = $25.00
Youth (5 – 18 yrs) = $ 5.00
YARN Magazine
Posted within NZ = $25.00
Posted Overseas = $45.00

Overseas Railtours

In recent years the Society has planned, booked and operated a series of successful Overseas Railtours annually for groups of interested members. These Railtours provide the opportunity for members to visit overseas countries as part of an RES Railtour Group to enjoy the scenic and other attractions that different countries offer – and generally to travel by train as much as possible in doing so.

All the planning, organization and running of these Railtours is undertaken on a voluntary basis by experienced members who have “done it all before”. The Society contracts directly with overseas service providers.

All this generally ensures that we visit destinations of real interest to our Railtourists, can offer “Optional Activities” to those who prefer to be organized, provide a balance between travelling and free days and maximizes “value for money” for everybody travelling!

Further information on future Railtours including more detailed itineraries, Booking Forms and Conditions of Booking and Travel may be obtained by calling the Society’s Office and Clubrooms at (09) 636 9361 or by emailing

Monthly Meetings
These offer a variety of railway related subjects in the form of talks, videos, movies and on occasions panel discussions from invited guests. Supper is served for which a small fee is charged.

From February 2011 meetings will be held at:-.
View Larger Map in a New Window/Tab
Venue: The Pearce Street Hall, Onehunga.
Location:

Pearce St, off Onehunga Mall, behind the library, near the bus station and approx 200 meters from the Railway Station.
Day: Every second Tuesday of the month. (8 Feb, 8 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May, 14 Jun, 12 Jul, 9 Aug, 13 Sep, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 13 Dec).
Time: 7.30pm

Clubrooms and Museum

The society has its own club rooms/museum and administration office housed in the former (re-located) Onehunga Station Building.
Members are invited to visit the club rooms at 38 Alfred Street, Onehunga during office hours which are 9am – noon, Monday – Saturday.

The museum/clubrooms contains an excellent collection of New Zealand railway artefacts and books for reading or reference, plus an extensive collection of number plates.

Our vintage steam trains are available for charter at any time during the year for any occasion, whether for that special birthday party, wedding, anniversary celebration, business event, tour group, photographic event, or just for fun.

If you require a train for an hour, a morning, an afternoon, or a day, perhaps with refreshments supplied or even a barbecue, contact us to discuss your requirements.

On an operating day you can hire a carriage for your own exclusive use i.e. for a birthday party etc, for either one trip or as many trips as you like (same price). There are two carriage hire options:-

(a)	Dining carriage with fixed tables between the seats (refer photograph) that seats up to 72 people. Cuirrently this carriage has no cooking facilities available but has a small area to prepare food for serving.
(b)	Standard carriage with longitudinal seating (seat up to 50 people), we will supply trestle tables at no extra charge for your food if required. No food preparation area.

Note we do not provide catering services for birthday parties etc on operating days, however our refreshment room is open. Carriage hire prices are available on application.

Charter enquiries should be forwarded by fax to +64-9-625 4057 or contact our Charter Manager whose telephone number is listed on the ‘Contact Details’ web page.

Dining Carriage Interior

Glenbrook Station – 26 Dec 2006Board the train at bustling Glenbrook Station after inspecting the steam engine, (the driver will be happy to answer any questions) and settle into the immaculate wood paneled carriages. The friendly guard in vintage uniform will clip your ticket as you listen to the panting and whistling of the steam locomotive, smell that special aroma of the coal smoke and experience again the thrill and excitement of travel by steam train.

The regular operating season starts on Labour Weekend (late October) and continues until Queens Birthday (early June). During this season trains operate Sundays and most public holiday weekends.

Video of typical operating days at the GVR can be found on the Videos page.

Timetable
The gates open at 10 am on operatng days and trains run to a hour and a quarter schedule, departing Glenbrook Station at 11.00 am, 12.15 pm, 1.30 pm, 2.45 pm and 4 pm. Departure times from Victoria Avenue Station, Waiuku are 11.25 am, 12.40 pm, 1.55 pm, 3.10 pm and 4.25 pm – note the last return service from Victoria Avenue is at 3.10 pm, the 4.25 pm departure does not return to Victoria Avenue.

 

2011 – 2012 GVR (Interim) Operating Days Calendar
Year Month Glenbrook Vintage Railway – Operating Days
2011 October 22 to 24 30
November 6 12 & 13 20 27
December 4 11 18 26 to 31
2012 January 1 to 3 8 15 22 28 to 30
February 4 to 6 12 19 26
March 3 & 4 11 18 25
April 1 6 to 9 15 22 25 29
May 6 13 20 27
June 2 to 4
Please refer to the Special Events page for additional information

The Railway is closed from Queen’s Birthday weekend (early June) until Labour weekend (late October).
Other activities available include hand and motor jigger rides and a children’s playground.

Other attractions in the area include the Waiuku Museum, Hartmann House – (quality crafts), Wrights Waterlily Gardens, Awhitu Regional Park, Karioitahi surf beach and sheltered harbour beaches.

GVR Standard Fares
Adult Fare $16.00
Child Fare (4 to 15 years) $8.00 (child under 4 years – free).
Family Pass (2 adults plus up to 4 children) $42.00
Group discounts available for parties with 15 or more fare paying passengers (apply on the day).
Standard fares may not apply on special event days, please refer to Special Events for fares on these days.
Bookings are not taken for seat reservations on operating or special event days, please purchase your tickets at Glenbrook Station on the day.

Volunteers to help run the Glenbrook Vintage Railway are always required on operating days, plus volunteer help with maintenance and restoration activities is also needed.

On operating days we require volunteers for the station (refreshment room, souvenir shop, ticket sellers, jigger operators) and the train (guard, assistant guard, steam locomotive fireman who we train through to the position of steam engine driver).

Anyone who is interested in helping in any way, from once a year to every day of the week, is invited to contact the Railway Enthusiasts Society clubrooms (refer to the ‘Contact Details’ web page) at any time and your name will be forwarded to the General Manager or appropriate Branch Manager.

The Manager will then contact you with any information you need to join our team of volunteers.

Currently we are looking for volunteers to join our commercial team. Follow this link for more information.

GVR Location

We are an easy 50 minute drive from central Auckland. Take the Drury or Pukekohe off ramp from the Southern Motorway and follow the main route towards Waiuku. Turn into Glenbrook Station Road. Unfortunately there is no public transport available to the Glenbrook Station.

Facilities available
Free off road parking, picnic area with tables, a children’s play area and wheel chair access toilets.

Disabled access is from the Glenbrook Station car park, the car park entrance is on the corner of Glenbrook Station Road & Farm Park Road, Glenbrook. Disabled access toilets are available at Glenbrook Station.

The train is wheel chair accessible from the Glenbrook Station only.

Activities
Available every Operating Day subject to operating requirements.

Food – Souvenirs – Books
At the Glenbrook station a large selection of hot and cold food and drinks are available and a range of railway books and souvenirs, including “Thomas the Tank Engine” merchandise for the younger folk, are also for sale.

Steam Train Rides
Steam locomotive hauled trains of restored vintage carriages travel from Glenbrook Station to Fernleigh and return, stopping at the Pukeoware Workshops to allow viewing of other vintage locomotives and equipment. The return journey of 15 km takes approximately 1 hour, including the workshop visit of approximately 10 minutes.

The Waiuku township is within easy walking distance of our Victoria Avenue station, you are welcome to leave the train to visit the township and return on a later train. Note the last train departs the Victoria Avenue station at 4.25 pm.

Hand & Motorised Jigger Rides
Hand and Motor Jigger rides operate after the steam train has departed from the Glenbrook station. The Hand Jigger within the Glenbrook station yard and the Motor Jigger to Morley Rd and return (4km).

GVR Standard Fares
Adult Fare $16.00
Child Fare (4 to 15 years) $8.00 (child under 4 years – free).
Family Pass (2 adults plus up to 4 children) $42.00
Group discounts available for parties with 15 or more fare paying passengers (apply on the day).
Standard fares may not apply on special event days, please refer to Special Events for fares on these days.
Bookings are not taken for seat reservations on operating or special event days, please purchase your tickets at Glenbrook Station on the day.

The Railway Enthusiasts Society Inc. was registered under the incorporated Societies’ Act on the 17th of July 1958, with its principle objectives being as follows:-

• To foster an intelligent interest in railways and in their operation and development generally.
• To facilitate the exchange between railway enthusiasts of information concerning the history, development, design, construction and operation of railways in New Zealand and elsewhere.
• To encourage the preservation of private and public collections of railway photographs, films, literature and equipment.
• To publish, print, distribute and authorise periodicals, books, magazines and other printed matter on topics of railway interest or related to the Society’s activities.
• To arrange trips, tours and excursions to places of railway or general interest.
• Railway Enthusiasts Society Inc. (Clubrooms)
  38 Alfred St
  Onehunga,
  Auckland, 1061
  New Zealand PO Box 13-684
  Onehunga,
  Auckland, 1643
  New Zealand

  For Excursion Details, Booking Forms, or General Enquiries

  (From Auckland) Phone: 636 9361
  (Outside Auckland) Phone: 0800 4RAILFUN
  0800 472 453
  Fax: +64 9 636 9558

• Excursions
  These are a major activity of the Society, which owns and maintains its own fleet of vintage carriages and catering/service vehicles. Seldom does a month go by without the running of an interesting and scenic day excursion. In fact we have built up an enviable reputation for arranging innovative and appealing outings not available from any other operator.

  Preferential bookings are available to members, who are automatically advised of all trips and tours. Please contact the RES Clubrooms (refer to Contact Info) for further information about the events listed below.

  If you are unable to open the brochures which are PDF files, Adobe Reader may need to be installed on your computer.

Hanging plant pots are a great way to add some visual drama to your garden. There are a wide variety of hanging basket plants to choose from, and you can even purchase young cascading plants. Just be sure to find a suitable pot and hanger for them. You can also add spiller plants to create visual drama.

Outdoor and Indoor plant pots

Plants are a beautiful and practical way to bring nature into your home. Plants placed in decorative pots can make the space look incredibly attractive. However, it is important to remember that the proper type of plant pot must be able to drain properly. If this feature is not present, your plants are in danger of staying wet and will not be able to absorb nutrients.

To avoid this problem, it’s important to choose a pot that complements the size of your plant. Choosing a pot that is too small can result in a top-heavy plant that tends to fall over. This is not only messy, but it could also damage the plant.

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A plant pot can be made of many different materials, such as plastic, wood, or metal. Most pots should have drainage holes to help the plant breathe and absorb water. For best results, choose a pot with plenty of drainage holes and well-draining potting mix. It is important to remember that all types of plants need room to grow, so it is important to choose a pot with enough depth and height. Also, make sure that the pot is not too large, or it will not be able to hold the plant properly.

Plastic plant pots can be recycled like other plastics. Soil in these pots can also be composted. Make sure to rinse out the soil before recycling.

Cascading plants for hanging baskets

Cascading plants are a beautiful addition to hanging baskets. They can be used both outdoors and indoors. Depending on the species, the cascading effect can range from a few feet to several feet. They are also popular choices in flower beds and containers.

Cascading plants are easy to maintain and are a great choice for hanging baskets. Choose annuals that will bloom each spring or use perennials in climates where winters are mild. Plants with trailing properties are also easy to maintain. If the weather conditions are sunny and mild, you can use ivy leaves or trailing English ivy for a dramatic effect.

Cascading plants for hanging baskets are also perfect for enhancing the productivity of vegetable gardens. You can find several styles to choose from, such as cascading roses or anthurium plants. The cascading style can be achieved by tying the plants to the basket or a pot that has a built-in spout. This allows the weight of the plant to be evenly distributed while creating a waterfall effect.

Cascading plants for hanging baskets are a great way to soften the edges of a raised garden bed or retaining wall. They have long, trailing stems that are natural groundcovers. However, they can be trimmed and given height to cover vertical surfaces. This makes them ideal for hanging baskets. The lilac-blue trumpet-like blooms of these plants are stunning.

If you prefer a more natural look, you can use natural basket liners. These liners are made of coir and have holes that allow the plants to grow. Some large baskets may require two tiers of holes. Place compost in the bottom of the holes, then plant the plants. Once they have grown and have filled the holes, they can be transplanted to the top of the basket.

Cascading flowers look lush and welcoming in a hanging basket, making them an excellent addition to a front porch or doorway. Hanging baskets may be expensive to purchase, but they can look beautiful for many years. Just make sure you use the right basket. Plastic pots are inexpensive and widely available.

 

If you need a new set of speaker stands, you will find a wide variety of options available online. There are literally hundreds of different types, makes and models, but how do you know if you are getting the best value for your money? You need to make sure that you buy high-quality stands that will last for many years. Speakers can be used in any room of the home including the living room, music room or family room. However, there are specific types of speaker stands that should not be used in these areas:

A home theater speaker stand is specially designed to improve your listening enjoyment, regardless of what the application, optimally balancing sound quality against the walls and flooring that may cause unnecessary distortion. However, how do you determine which speaker stands are best for you? The first step is to ensure that they are designed for use with speakers that are compatible with your home theater system. In addition, you will need to determine the optimum size and shape of the speaker stands to match the speakers you have. You will also need to consider any room size restrictions.

Standing speakers are designed to be viewed from a comfortable distance and in any room, regardless of its size. They are also designed to take the entire weight of the speakers on their center pole, so all the speakers will be equally supported. A standing speaker set consists of a single center pole speaker and at least one surround speaker. The design of most stands is to allow the front speakers to hang down and be viewed while you are listening. For these speakers, the stand should be designed so that the woofer is mounted to the back of the stand.

When shopping for speaker stands, you will discover there are two main types – the free standing speaker stand and the professional speaker stand. Each type has advantages and disadvantages. As you look at the different stands, you can decide what will work best for your specific needs. For larger rooms, where you plan to place many speakers, the free standing speaker stand will be the most effective. However, if you plan to move the speakers around frequently, a professional designed stand may be better.

Free standing stands are designed to hold just about any style or brand of speaker that you can imagine. You can choose from small compact models, to large, strong models designed for specific amounts of sound. A stand can be designed to suit your particular need, so it is best to shop around before making your final decision. You should try out several stands until you find the perfect one. The prices vary widely.

Professional designed stands are available in a wide price range. They are made to withstand heavy use, including storage during transport and assembly. The stand will also need to be designed to fit the specifications of all the speakers that will be placed on it. The stands come with different features designed to hold different types of speakers. They are designed so that the proper positioning of each speaker is ensured in a way that does not damage the speaker’s components.

If cost is an option, you can always design your own stand. This is possible with the help of a few DIY’ers. The materials that you will need to purchase will depend upon how elaborate you want your stand to be. A basic model will typically consist of four main pieces – a front panel, the base, arms, and brackets.

Where do I buy my stands? There are many places that sell stand units designed for specific uses. They include home improvement stores, audio retailers, sound system retailers, and online distributors. If you cannot find what you need, you can have a stand custom-made.

 

There are many things to consider before moving forward with your Auckland home renovations. While the process may seem daunting, it really does not have to be that way. You will find that a great deal of information is available for you to review to ensure that you get it right the first time. With a little careful planning, and knowledge of what needs to be accomplished, you too can embark on the process of home renovation in Auckland.

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Many a times, you may not know what part of your house needs to be renovated. A good place to start looking at this is by visiting a home renovation gallery. Here, you can view different styles and designs which will allow you to develop an understanding of what part of your house would best suit a certain style of renovation. You can then make a decision regarding the different areas of your house, which need to be renovated.

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