waimarie paddle steamer side slipped

after what seems like months of cancelled dates for various reasons, local paddle steamer the waimarie was slipped from the local river for 5-year checks and repainting. it was pulled from the river by two steam traction engines from a nearby town... approx 40min by car, 7 hours by traction engine.

it has taken much preperation to level the riverbank enough to lay railway tracks that would take the cradle on which the boat now sits. the checks were meant to be done last year, but the massive floods put paid to that, so they were able to get it delayed a year.

good history here: http://waimarie.co.nz/about/waimarie-paddle-steamer/ i dont know much about her. as is the way with many local attractions, its just "there" until something like this comes along to pique interest.

more pics here, as always. http://sunsthomasandfriends.weebly.com/w...-2016.html

some piccys from last saturday, where they measured the winch cables and tested the cradle by winching up and down a few times.



a smaller steam boat in the background, called the wairua.


the lower limit of the track length


and the upper limit, above the normal high tide level


and some of todays photos.

a third engine was used to pack the silt and dirt firmly behind the stop blocks the engines were backed up against.


the jig is well under water


she was towed upriver by the coast guard, along with an entourage of other watercraft. the wairua was out again, filled with steam enthusiasts.


being nudged into position


high and dry for at least 3 weeks


ground level view.