Stories from the Archives
Occasional stories of objects from our display
Blue Eye Bath
Beautiful blue glass
I remember the cool, smooth feel of the blue eye bath that was kept in the bathroom cupboard. It's probably still one of the most efficient eye wash devices but now they make plastic versions of course - just not the same.
Blue glass is special - the most royal of all glass. My cousin and I used to collect glass pieces, worn smooth in the tide, on Lyall Bay. Blue was best but hardest to find.
Tea Set
Presented to Mr & Mrs B Blackburn
As a mark of esteem from the Settlers of Paikakariki, April 24th, 1903
Mr. Barnabas Blackburn,
Stationmaster at Paikakariki, and post-master and telephonist, joined the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, in the Wellington Goods Office, in February, 1893. He was promoted to the position of stationmaster at Paikakariki in September, 1895. Mr. Blackburn was married in 1888 to a daughter of Mr. Francis Lewis, of Tinwald, Canterbury.
NZR's Chime Whistle
Notes on its introduction - Bill Cowan
By 1927 the use of a chime-type whistle was being considered by NZR, perhaps inspired by the whistle tones that had been heard on the WMR.
By May 1928 an Auckland AB had been fitted with a chime whistle having a sound 'which carries well without being disagreeable'. It was considered slightly superior on carrying power to the standard whistle, and would not be found so "unpleasant by people living near the railway line'.
