Getting AB699 Prepared

Helped at The Railway today catering for an Australian Bus Tour. Always enjoyable down there with all the willing helpers. The Aussies were full of praise about everything New Zealand, had been here for three weeks.
This pic is of the men getting the engine fired up and loaded up with wood and water. It takes them 3 hours to get it fired up to the required heat.
Tomorrow I am working down there all day in the ticket office. A holiday weekend here celebrating Labour Day and the beginning of the 40 hour week all those years ago. A big craft day at the big shed with lots of stalls takes place tomorrow and Monday
My rats seem to really have gone west so what a relief, but where are they lying dead??????????????????