H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

<p>Been a few pleasant evenings lately and on Sunday managed a few piccies, Michelle's England Engine on duty with my GSM coaches :D </p><p><img width="640" height="480" border="0" title="Michelle's England Engine" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SwnhmZfuKzI/AAAAAAAADjI/aGPFtvFBD7s/s640/IMG_2632.JPG" /></p><p>I'll make believe it could almost be a train somewhere in Wales :) </p><p><img width="640" height="480" border="0" alt="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/Swnhnwbv7LI/AAAAAAAADjM/l8i-U7cECuI/s640/IMG_2633.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/Swnhnwbv7LI/AAAAAAAADjM/l8i-U7cECuI/s640/IMG_2633.JPG" /></p><p> </p><p>Or it could be the eccentric owner presented his Daughter and one of the railway's directors with an imported loco to remind him of travels in his youth :bighug: </p><p><img width="640" height="480" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/Swnhp7qW2JI/AAAAAAAADjQ/wCHCiwsd-t4/s640/IMG_2635.JPG" /> </p>
 
<p>Or in simple terms...Rule 8 applies :D </p><p>Trains ran on into the evening...</p><p><img width="640" height="480" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SwnhrcGt06I/AAAAAAAADjU/_GQBisjbkWg/s640/IMG_2636.JPG" /></p><p>Till it got quite dark...very dark :rolf: </p><p><img width="640" height="480" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/Swnhsi8QmOI/AAAAAAAADjc/IqlGM2Ck_-0/s640/IMG_2640.JPG" />
</p>
 
Wonderful shots John. Spring is looking good and your railway too. :D .

How are you powering the lights on the front of your locos these days?
 
tac - 25/11/2009 3:21 AM

Mr JR - are you a fan of Marcus Lush? If so, have you seen his double DVD set 'Off the rails'?

I commend it to ANYBODY who loves trains.

tac
www.ovgrs.org
Click to expand...

:applause: That series was OK, until he got to the episode featuring railfans :wits: Yes, it was all staged...but it showed railfans as a bunch of idiots. :thumbdown:
 
Hi Guys - some answers

Graham - the lights are LED, bit of a foe-par there, fitted white so they have been painted with yellow "stain glass" paint to dull them down. Should have used yellow ones.

tac - yes enjoyed Marcus Lush's "Off the Rails". He's a different sort of commentator, in a nice Rule 8 sort of way.

Gav - true maybe but then knowing some of the railfans around (some of whom are good friends) best I not comment further :rolf: :rolf: :rolf:

George - yeah I like the way nature has helped with the moss too :thumbup:

Pleased you all enjoy the pictures, all very encouraging indeed, thank you :)
 
<p>Last night, unlike tonight was ideal train running weather...so</p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/Sw-IMK1jjAI/AAAAAAAADko/u_wRkqqvaM0/s720/IMG_2641.JPG" /></p><p>run trains I did, bliss :D </p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/Sw-INs5mM2I/AAAAAAAADks/vt9ALTDw_io/s720/IMG_2647.JPG" /></p><p> </p><p>Just the two pics tonight, was to busy away in my daydreams :)
</p>
 
<p> </p><p>Sunday was time for the Directors to run there trains (along with scooter rides, catch and other assorted family stuff :) )</p><p>M in charge :thumbup: </p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SxTjNDyMgEI/AAAAAAAADlM/df8N3vQbG6U/s720/IMG_2648.JPG" /></p><p>H's Stainz on the sawmill siding and her England Engine on the loop. M's train double heading on the main.
</p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SxTjPP7gHQI/AAAAAAAADlQ/XbrgOUcP9nk/s720/IMG_2650.JPG" /></p><p> And I may just have carried on running their trains once I tucked them into bed :sleep: </p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SxTjQ0fxTkI/AAAAAAAADlU/pJOXOzeNbGc/s720/IMG_2655.JPG" />
</p><p> </p><p> </p>
 
<p>Bingo stingo it was a warm calm evening, better run some trains then :D </p><p>Standard issue Dubs A mostly... ;) </p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SxzGvOIE7rI/AAAAAAAADmA/YdZw5OdDk3s/s720/IMG_2684.JPG" /></p><p>Was great to have a train circulating while I did some weeding around the line...</p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SxzGxTWfQ4I/AAAAAAAADmE/MAKJ6AsaEKs/s720/IMG_2685.JPG" /></p><p>The live stock don't seem to eat the weeds :thumbdown: </p><p>Only a few logs to shift tonight so Jonny did the honours :sick: Was quite busy at Kakariki at times, just like it should be on a summers evening :applause: </p><p><img width="720" height="540" border="0" alt=" " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_L6hhgdwZxd0/SxzGzV3L-II/AAAAAAAADmI/NBd61UCkGLI/s720/IMG_2687.JPG" />
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L.N.R. said:
Sorry John,
I have a question, you obviously value good trackwork, can I ask, is it laid on a foundation, or straight on the ground?
Grant.
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Both JR, and myself, follow prototype practice in building permanent way. The formation is prepared, and a layer of compacted base course is laid, and levelled, then the track is placed in position, then ballasted with crushed (not pebbles) stone. JR uses for ballast, a crushed aggregate called GAP 5, which means Grade All Passed 5 i.e. maximum size 5mm. I've had track down using this method now for 10 years....worth the effort.
 
[UL][*]The only pic I could open on this thread was Hanna and Michelle, and that is bexcause it was the only pic which was labeled 'attached image'. [/UL] I am sure they are superb John.
 
L.N.R. said:
Sorry John,
I have a question, you obviously value good trackwork, can I ask, is it laid on a foundation, or straight on the ground?
Grant.
Click to expand...

Hi Grant, sorry for taking ages to answer your query, thanks Gavin for giving the info in the meantime, it's now Boxing Day and I have posted a topic in the track laying section which gives a full answer http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=27429&high= < Link To http://www.gscalecentral...?m=27429&high=
Also while our track is all "set track" 4', 5' & 8' radius, where 4' & 5' radii are used at least one length of 8' radius is used first to act as a form of transition curve. Fussy old me used to design roads and I work in civil engineering!

Meanwhile Christmas Day was ideal for a spot of train running. Lets sneek in for a look...
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Their a dedicated bunch on the H&MGR...
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They'll work 24hrs a day 365 days a year if they had the chance.:bigsmile:
 
Or is that the daft operator I wonder just wanting to play trains :rolf:
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Punga cliffs was a busy place...
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Passengers got to ride behind the Tram Engine...
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Free travel on Christmas Day in these parts...
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Passing through the summer pastures in dappled sun.
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You can see from this general view why there is so much dappled light, Punga Cliffs to the left and Kakariki hiding on the right...
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We run under a fare few trees. This view looking back the other way, Kakaiki, the main station on the right, Jonny is on the sawmill siding waiting for me to build the sawmill. You can see the Punga's of Punga Cliffs on the left of frame.

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Merry Christmas everyone.
 
Now that I can open them, they are absolutely magnificent pics John. Your railway is a credit to you.
 
Very nice pictures.

Now lets hope the weather over there will be better over summer. I heard spring was
not so good. For 2010. Lots of beautiful days to make lots and lots of more pictures for
us.
 
The first run of 2010 was had this afternoon. Over new year our Bush Jigger and Jonny have been away at the Culcreuch Fold Garden Railway workshop having Revolution Train Engineer chips fitted and batteries too.

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Plenty of room for the batteries under the canopy on the Bush Jigger...
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Railway quicker to get to operation condition with battery power:thumbup:
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