Pleasant Point Railway images -- 1969 to 1971

It has been a while since I've posted images from Bryan Blanchard, of the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway. Here are some photos he has very kindly given permission to reproduce here -- captions his.

A brief history, from when the branch line Washdyke Junction to Fairlie was closed on 2 March 1968, to the setting up of the museum and railway from 1970, can be found here.

(Above) 1969.  A work recovery train had just arrived in Pleasant Point from Fairlie and was collecting " things " from here.

 (Above & below) 1969. Work recovery train at Pleasant Point. Dj & Dsc's were used in recovery "things" by them.

(Above) 1970. Just after Ab699 had arrived at Pleasant Point. At this stage we only had a short piece of line in front of the station which we had to buy of NZ Railways at so much a foot.

(Above) 1971. The Roof we put over the platform, workers included, Gordon King, Stan McBain, Bryan Blanchard, Doug Posa, Russell Paul, etc

(Above) September 1970. Ab699 being painted at the Timaru Loco depot with Ab608 behind it - My job was to get it looking nice before it went out to Pleasant Point - It was very dirty looking when it arrived in Timaru after being towed on a goods train from Ashburton. Stan McBain & Doug Posa were the main helpers, nightly after work and at weekends = Saturday & Sunday, with help from Pat Small's sand blasting company.