H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

[JRinTawa]

Spring is now taking hold on the H&MGR

Takes a wee while to clear the dropped flower petals, but with today being the first day under daylight saving it was worth it to make the most of the extra daylight

The Dubs A was the appropriate loco for such a Day!

 

[JRinTawa]

While I am now deeply in love with live steam the Dubs A (battery powered) will always hold a special place in our loco roster.

The log hauler catches the relaxed late afternoon sun at this time of the year.

I'm hoping for more of this relaxing sun this summer, and time to enjoy trains in it

 

[owlpool]

I agree about the Dubs, John. It will always be synonymous with your line. But then I am a traditionalist.
Lovely light btw

 

[AustrianNG]

Wonderful pics John. Keep them coming.

 

[Martino]

Magic, John.

 

[ge_rik]

Do you get better sunlight in NZ, or do you wait until late afternoon (or maybe early morning)? Whatever, your photos are always a delight.

Rik
PS Really liked your article on the sawmill in this month's GR mag

 

[stockers]

Wonderful. love the tatty old log hauler - very 'outback'.

and i agree - great sawmill.

 

[JRinTawa]

Do you get better sunlight in NZ, or do you wait until late afternoon (or maybe early morning)? Whatever, your photos are always a delight.

Rik
PS Really liked your article on the sawmill in this month's GR mag

Hi Rik and thanks . Better light? I don't know, but yes generally most photos are taken late in the day, often just before the sun goes down. Hmm that isn't intentional there just always seem to be other things getting in the way of train running in the middle of the day. Probably another thing that affects the light is being mostly under a canopy of trees! I do though use the light balance type settings on the camera, setting it to either sunny or shade rather that auto and comparing what the camera screen shows to how it looks to the eye. The auto setting in the garden often appears colder than it does to the eye.

By comparison I grabbed a couple of shots just using my iPhone rather than my proper camera (a Canon).

But it was a quick run before cooking tea just to check some ballasting down with Rowlands mix in this section of elevated "baseboard"

And thanks as always everyone, I really appreciate your comments Encourages me no end

 

[AustrianNG]

It's not about the camera I find.
Cracking pictures again John.

 

[PhilP]

Dappled light.. Natural looking surroundings..
possibly that hole in the ozone layer??

 

[ge_rik]

Might be my imagination but the photos with your Canon look warmer than those two on the iPhone somehow - unless it just happens to be the time of day you took them.

Rik

 

[JRinTawa]

Your correct Rik, colder on the iphone and not as warm as it appears to the eye. iPhone camera is handy but these camera phones will never replace a "proper" camera. If I get time tomorrow I'll do some comparative photos and see what you all think.

 

[Madman]

More great photos from a fantastic railway. If I ever get to visit my friend, Bernie Williams in OZ, I would like to see your railway in person.

 

[JRinTawa]

And you both would be most welcome Dan.

As would any visiting Centralities in fact - never need to much of an excuse to run a train

 

[JRinTawa]

Golly I'm slipping about 6 weeks since I last did and update

Don't worry trains have been running! Hannah has had a session preparing, driving and servicing Manawanui.

Meant it was easier for me to get some action shots!

She drove pretty well, and we both ended up being late in for tea

Down hill between cattle stops approaching the junction.

 

[JRinTawa]

I got lots of photos that day!
Passing the Bridge Ganger's Hut (which you'll see later has had a bit of a make over)

On the reverse loop

Gingerbread the cat got in on the act too.

View from the new kitchen window so I can at least look at the railway while I do the dishes

 

[JRinTawa]

The Climax has been out for a run too

On a ballast run this day.

One day I won't mind a live steam Climax but for now still enjoy my good old battery powered Bachmann Climax. here passing through the steam up bay sidings come station area.

Catching the sun on the reverse curve.

 

[JRinTawa]

There has been a bit of work to in getting the surrounds for the sawmill properly detailed.

A bit of dual gauge train and cosmetic only turnouts.

A water vat to serve the mill is taking shape too.

 

[JRinTawa]

Right we've caught up to the weekend just past and Kaitaki steamed on Saturday.

I increased the train length it had been usually been hauling and Kaitaki handled it with easy, running even better I think with a decent load on the drawbar.

Skipping on to Sunday and the area around the Bridge Gangers Hut was redone including redoing much of the sleeper crib walling and refreshing some of the planting.

Not sure how well the new plants will take having been fairly roughly transplanted from elsewhere in the garden. SWMBO's LGB O&K testing out the new look.

 

[JRinTawa]

Ngahere steamed to end Sunday and also checkout the redone area.

On the embankment between bridges.

And a final shot on the reverse curve. The day was quite warm so not as much visible steam today - need Hannah to drive again I think!