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West Coast Railway Relay Gang. ca.1970s.
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DescriptionBack row:J.McKinley, Doug Sowman, Hec Tainui, Vince Tibbles, Wayne Skelton, Dave Uren, Rosie Jarvis, Barry Janison, Joe De Goldi.
Front row :John Frederickson, Ivan Manley, Richard "Dick" Smith, Stu Barnes, Bill Balderstone, Pat Little, Russel Bain.
The bloke in middle of the 2 rows with the striped hat is Gavin Hinton.Date of Photoca 1970sMap[1] ContributorRichard "Dick" Smith
Front row :John Frederickson, Ivan Manley, Richard "Dick" Smith, Stu Barnes, Bill Balderstone, Pat Little, Russel Bain.
The bloke in middle of the 2 rows with the striped hat is Gavin Hinton.Date of Photoca 1970sMap[1] ContributorRichard "Dick" Smith
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)West CoastPersonJ. McKinleyGavin HintonRussel BainPat LittleBill BalderstoneStu BarnesRichard "Dick" SmithIvan ManleyJohn FredericksonJoe De GoldiBarry JanisonRosie JarvisDave UrenWayne SkeltonVince TibblesHector TainuiDoug SowmanOrganisation (eg business)NZ RailwaysWest Coast Railway Relay Gang
From Facebook
Date Created26th September 2018CommentsBob Broadhurst - I recognise a heap of them
Many of them relieved over in Kaikoura for a long time in the aftermath of Cyclone Allison in about 1977ish putting the track back together.
Maria Auld - Ohhh this brought a tear to my eyes. My Poua is Hec Tainui.
Melanie Galbraith - I heard about someone pooing in the bosses sandwiches. lol
Heather Newby - yum yum.
Russell Campbell - Slim is a lot slimmer now.(Wayne)
Manage
Sue Lucas - Dave Uren rings a big beĺl. Dobson?
Phil Hall - Bet there were not too many red head jokes told on this bus......
Arthur Bass - Remember them at Otira.
Miriama Lance Johnsen - I remember Poua going to Otira and he’d bring Taua back presents. Alan Smith
I used to work with some of the men in the ngahere gang
Robin Spillane
you would have known Betty and Alan Donaldson who were our best friends.
Thomas Peter Mulligan
Dick Smith looks young there some of these guys arent with us now
Kelly Gillan
Classic.
John Bennett
uncle Pat ...Nancye Mahuika Noel Bennett Heather Bennett
Garry Wick
I knew Dave Uren from Dobson .
Grant Thornley
Lived 2 doors down from Dave in Dobby.
Frank ODonnell
Thay were a good gang of men worked with them back then
Heather Bennett
Looks young there
James Codyre
Were called The Amalgamation Gang but had the unkind nick name of The Imagination Gang.
Alan Sheehan
Lots of familiar faces, sadly some no longer with us.
Des Kennedy
Steph Dowdall, Hey Steph is that your Hec in the photo.
Tex Morgan
Alot of those guys worked from Waipara to the Ure bridge on the main north line
Frank ODonnell
The good old days worked with them all back then
Debbie Hughes
I think it's John Frederick's not fredrickson. Was grade 1 in dunedin in the 80s
Kevin Oregan
The A team Kevin O'Regan
Linda Chandler
Russell Bain. That's my dad.
Gloria Harrison
Linda Chandler I remember him well,
Ken Meadowcroft
Linda Chandler Your dad I were mates played League together new him when I worked in Reefton. There's a photo of him in Blackball team on the Blackball line if your interested. Cheers and give him my regards.
Linda Chandler
Hi Ken. Dad passed away nearly 27 years ago.
Jodi Scrivens
Tammy Skelton Adam Case ,
Lyn N Moe
Anyone know where Slim Skelton got to.
Jeffsplace Granity
Lyn N Moe Granity,,, 30 odd years now.
Sharon Arohanui Marsh
I tagged his daughter Tammy Skelton
Shane Tibbotts
No hi vizz how did they survive
Jill Foster
Jan Sowman is this your Doug?
Peter Sheryle Aynsley
Here is an oldie John Tainui
Matthew Tainui Steph Dowdell
Colin McKinney
Dick and Horse, where were you Ray Harris?
Missy Campbell
Ursula Tauwhare Tainu
Awesome hey Miss xxoo
Ursula Tauwhare Tainui
My Dad Hector Hector Tainui worked in the Railways majority of his life
Cherylee Clayworth
Graham Uren our Dad Dave
Debz Muston
Uncle Stu Barnes. My mum's brother
Karen Kellaway
How lovely to see Uncle Pat and Slim Skelton!
DebGreg Hay
Wow awesome pic
Mike Hughes
I remember the relay gang when I lived in otira
Miriama Johnsen
Our Poua Hec Tainui
Blair Culling
Uncle Russ
Married to Dads sister Nellie
vJames Codyre
The NZR Amalgamation Gang often reckoned to be the NZR Imagination Gang well known for the billy boiling?
Caroline Jane Barnes
Lovely photo Debz Muston
John Bennett
Uncle Pat Nancye Mahuika Noel Bennett
Heather Bennett
Nancye Mahuika
John Bennett always a smile x
Denise Hassall
That is Bill Mckinley not j Mckinley standing by Slim Skelton Bill McKinlay is my dad
Vern Pattinson
Dave great Dobson man
Rob Lunn
Dead right there Vern he done very well on Railways and used his away from home allowance to his advantage he also had the transport agency on his tail a couple of times for selling more than 13vehicles a year without a dealers license
Ta Whangawhanga
Great job worked in the Greymouth relay gang all through the eighties, had a lot of fun, never worked when it rained, played foo all day long
Annette Rosanowski
There’s a few Reefton names in that gang. Some really good people.
Alan Mitchell
The very hard workers
John Simmons
So good to see a work group in work clobber of their own choice - no hi Viz blue and orange - just good ole swandri, cords, bush shirts etcKirstin Lewis
Neice Whiu show this to ur Nan I think it's her uncle ?
John Flattery-donohoe
which one is spud.?
Tawhanga Whanga
Good times worked with most of these guys
John Tainui
Awesome photo my Poua( grandfather) Hec Tainui
Edited
Frank ODonnell
Worked with them back then great blokes
Steph Dowdell
John Tainui oh
Sue Hampton
Linda Chandler your dad??
Wendy Rodden
Caroline Jane Barnes
Grant Freer
Work with stu Barnes in the Ngahere gang Potter was our ganger Custy drove the works bus what happened to to stu Barnes
Kay Hewer McArthur
Graham Uren is that your Dad.
Sue Brown
Anyone know of any photos of the Middlemarch gang please 1978 to 1979
Diane Craig
Jan Sowman
James Codyre
Proper name was Amalgamation Gang but some called them the "Imagination Gang" based in Ngahere.
Miriama Johnsen
Our Poua
Peter Lintern
i remeber gavin hinton beder miner $2 cap a tea in reefton wayen skelton nick name slim he had some cool cars
John Flattery-donohoe
hec bottom left
Ken Meadowcroft
I thought Russell Bain was from Reefton.
Kelvin Henham
Lot of good Ngahere faces there
John Bennett
Uncle Pat Little
Raymond Skelton
Tammy Skelton Adam Case
Grant Jamieson
Back row Barry Jamieson not janison good photo, the gang
Phillip Murphy
worked with all these guys when I was at Arthurs pass and they were relaying the tunnel
Clarry Lewis
great bunch of guys
Hector Tainui
Handsome fulla my poua.awesome name as well
Cherylee Clayworth
Graham Uren look at Dad, Mum has this photo too
Miriama Johnsen
Our Poua. He used to buy beautiful Bone China for our Taua from the travellers that used to stop at Otira
Ray Harris
Ray Harris worked with them in 1970 to the 1990
Frank ODonnell
Worked with all of them in the 70s great bunch of men
Ema Hine TeWhakarau Moore
My darling dad Hector Tainui
Ray Harris
Ray Harris worked with them in 1970 to the 1990
Murry McKendry
The picnic bus
Matt Vavasour
We live in New Zealand Railways Track Relay Gang No.4 bus. 1957 SB3 Bedford.
Ken Meadowcroft
Remember these guys well.
Tex Morgan
Worked with these fine men on the Kaikoura section l was on a hiab for Gills
Many of them relieved over in Kaikoura for a long time in the aftermath of Cyclone Allison in about 1977ish putting the track back together.
Maria Auld - Ohhh this brought a tear to my eyes. My Poua is Hec Tainui.
Melanie Galbraith - I heard about someone pooing in the bosses sandwiches. lol
Heather Newby - yum yum.
Russell Campbell - Slim is a lot slimmer now.(Wayne)
Manage
Sue Lucas - Dave Uren rings a big beĺl. Dobson?
Phil Hall - Bet there were not too many red head jokes told on this bus......
Arthur Bass - Remember them at Otira.
Miriama Lance Johnsen - I remember Poua going to Otira and he’d bring Taua back presents. Alan Smith
I used to work with some of the men in the ngahere gang
Robin Spillane
you would have known Betty and Alan Donaldson who were our best friends.
Thomas Peter Mulligan
Dick Smith looks young there some of these guys arent with us now
Kelly Gillan
Classic.
John Bennett
uncle Pat ...Nancye Mahuika Noel Bennett Heather Bennett
Garry Wick
I knew Dave Uren from Dobson .
Grant Thornley
Lived 2 doors down from Dave in Dobby.
Frank ODonnell
Thay were a good gang of men worked with them back then
Heather Bennett
Looks young there
James Codyre
Were called The Amalgamation Gang but had the unkind nick name of The Imagination Gang.
Alan Sheehan
Lots of familiar faces, sadly some no longer with us.
Des Kennedy
Steph Dowdall, Hey Steph is that your Hec in the photo.
Tex Morgan
Alot of those guys worked from Waipara to the Ure bridge on the main north line
Frank ODonnell
The good old days worked with them all back then
Debbie Hughes
I think it's John Frederick's not fredrickson. Was grade 1 in dunedin in the 80s
Kevin Oregan
The A team Kevin O'Regan
Linda Chandler
Russell Bain. That's my dad.
Gloria Harrison
Linda Chandler I remember him well,
Ken Meadowcroft
Linda Chandler Your dad I were mates played League together new him when I worked in Reefton. There's a photo of him in Blackball team on the Blackball line if your interested. Cheers and give him my regards.
Linda Chandler
Hi Ken. Dad passed away nearly 27 years ago.
Jodi Scrivens
Tammy Skelton Adam Case ,
Lyn N Moe
Anyone know where Slim Skelton got to.
Jeffsplace Granity
Lyn N Moe Granity,,, 30 odd years now.
Sharon Arohanui Marsh
I tagged his daughter Tammy Skelton
Shane Tibbotts
No hi vizz how did they survive
Jill Foster
Jan Sowman is this your Doug?
Peter Sheryle Aynsley
Here is an oldie John Tainui
Matthew Tainui Steph Dowdell
Colin McKinney
Dick and Horse, where were you Ray Harris?
Missy Campbell
Ursula Tauwhare Tainu
Awesome hey Miss xxoo
Ursula Tauwhare Tainui
My Dad Hector Hector Tainui worked in the Railways majority of his life
Cherylee Clayworth
Graham Uren our Dad Dave
Debz Muston
Uncle Stu Barnes. My mum's brother
Karen Kellaway
How lovely to see Uncle Pat and Slim Skelton!
DebGreg Hay
Wow awesome pic
Mike Hughes
I remember the relay gang when I lived in otira
Miriama Johnsen
Our Poua Hec Tainui
Blair Culling
Uncle Russ
Married to Dads sister Nellie
vJames Codyre
The NZR Amalgamation Gang often reckoned to be the NZR Imagination Gang well known for the billy boiling?
Caroline Jane Barnes
Lovely photo Debz Muston
John Bennett
Uncle Pat Nancye Mahuika Noel Bennett
Heather Bennett
Nancye Mahuika
John Bennett always a smile x
Denise Hassall
That is Bill Mckinley not j Mckinley standing by Slim Skelton Bill McKinlay is my dad
Vern Pattinson
Dave great Dobson man
Rob Lunn
Dead right there Vern he done very well on Railways and used his away from home allowance to his advantage he also had the transport agency on his tail a couple of times for selling more than 13vehicles a year without a dealers license
Ta Whangawhanga
Great job worked in the Greymouth relay gang all through the eighties, had a lot of fun, never worked when it rained, played foo all day long
Annette Rosanowski
There’s a few Reefton names in that gang. Some really good people.
Alan Mitchell
The very hard workers
John Simmons
So good to see a work group in work clobber of their own choice - no hi Viz blue and orange - just good ole swandri, cords, bush shirts etcKirstin Lewis
Neice Whiu show this to ur Nan I think it's her uncle ?
John Flattery-donohoe
which one is spud.?
Tawhanga Whanga
Good times worked with most of these guys
John Tainui
Awesome photo my Poua( grandfather) Hec Tainui
Edited
Frank ODonnell
Worked with them back then great blokes
Steph Dowdell
John Tainui oh
Sue Hampton
Linda Chandler your dad??
Wendy Rodden
Caroline Jane Barnes
Grant Freer
Work with stu Barnes in the Ngahere gang Potter was our ganger Custy drove the works bus what happened to to stu Barnes
Kay Hewer McArthur
Graham Uren is that your Dad.
Sue Brown
Anyone know of any photos of the Middlemarch gang please 1978 to 1979
Diane Craig
Jan Sowman
James Codyre
Proper name was Amalgamation Gang but some called them the "Imagination Gang" based in Ngahere.
Miriama Johnsen
Our Poua
Peter Lintern
i remeber gavin hinton beder miner $2 cap a tea in reefton wayen skelton nick name slim he had some cool cars
John Flattery-donohoe
hec bottom left
Ken Meadowcroft
I thought Russell Bain was from Reefton.
Kelvin Henham
Lot of good Ngahere faces there
John Bennett
Uncle Pat Little
Raymond Skelton
Tammy Skelton Adam Case
Grant Jamieson
Back row Barry Jamieson not janison good photo, the gang
Phillip Murphy
worked with all these guys when I was at Arthurs pass and they were relaying the tunnel
Clarry Lewis
great bunch of guys
Hector Tainui
Handsome fulla my poua.awesome name as well
Cherylee Clayworth
Graham Uren look at Dad, Mum has this photo too
Miriama Johnsen
Our Poua. He used to buy beautiful Bone China for our Taua from the travellers that used to stop at Otira
Ray Harris
Ray Harris worked with them in 1970 to the 1990
Frank ODonnell
Worked with all of them in the 70s great bunch of men
Ema Hine TeWhakarau Moore
My darling dad Hector Tainui
Ray Harris
Ray Harris worked with them in 1970 to the 1990
Murry McKendry
The picnic bus
Matt Vavasour
We live in New Zealand Railways Track Relay Gang No.4 bus. 1957 SB3 Bedford.
Ken Meadowcroft
Remember these guys well.
Tex Morgan
Worked with these fine men on the Kaikoura section l was on a hiab for Gills
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West Coast New Zealand History (20th Oct 2024). West Coast Railway Relay Gang. ca.1970s.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 18:33, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24023