H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

[Shawn]

John your layout is amazing looking. You have a lot of scenic spots on the RR for pictures. Truely an amazing layout. I really like how you have everything spread out.

 

[jameshilton]

More wonderful pictures!

 

[yb281]

So nice to see some photos taken in nice weather too. :admire::admire:

 

[JRinTawa]

Been doing a bit more running, but as I don't do normal a couple of sessions have been from dusk into the darkness, so no photos from those sessions, but me and my imagination had fun

But this evening snuck in a bit of running before tea, and the simple to use battery power Simplex was prefect for the short run.

Crossing over the truss bridge ....

...or is that through the bridge?

 

[JRinTawa]

And back down the hill, across the cattle stop...

and looking back up hill from under the bridge....

The sky was a nice light overcast (& warm) Simplexly perfect for photos, lots of photos
Even got a few sneeky bits of sun for highlights.

Sorry there was only the Simplex running tonight, but I was called inside, had to stop playing and have tea - don't you hate that:thinking:

 

[Steve]

Brilliant pictures as always John

 

[beavercreek]

Sumptuous, plain sumptuous

 

[mike]

sorry john, but the one on the catlle grid at the crossing.. ive died and gone to heven

 

[bobg]

............................, but I was called inside, had to stop playing and have tea - don't you hate that:thinking:

Yeah John, mostly; but it does depend on what's for tea!

P.S Piccys? say no more!

 

[Cyclone]

............................, but I was called inside, had to stop playing and have tea - don't you hate that:thinking:

Yeah John, mostly; but it does depend on what's for tea!

Bit like when the missus gives the you the wink but the footie is on....bah bad timing.

Fab pics of a lovely line.

 

[stockers]

Thats not bad timing - its planned that way!

 

[JRinTawa]

Got the timing a little better this evening; had Jonny running while I was cooking tea on the barbque

My kind of multitasking

Took a few in this location, none quite how it felt to my imagination, but close :brokeheart:

And for a sort of overall view, running down hill, the truss bridge just in bottom frame, train just coming off Nina's Trestle with Jonny about to pass the Bridge Gangers Hut. You can see the cattle stop to the right of frame on the up hill run to Punga Cliffs. And dappled sun everywhere, just love running trains in the warm summer evenings :love:

 

[jameshilton]

It's lovely to see your line in the summer sunshine John, whilst ours a hibernating. Wonderfully composed pictures as usual - thank you for sharing them again

 

[JRinTawa]

Something a bit different this evening, okay running trains through dusk into dark is usual for me, but steaming Manawanui through the fading light into the thin edge of darkness was definitely different.
I tried using the token flash on the camera which sort of captured to feel in a limited way....

...and with a little editing you can almost see the steam rising into the darkness in the second.

Well I bags it is there The steam plume was great at times, as was the chuff as Manawanui breathed heavily working uphill. I think our battery powered stock will still be the main stay of evening runs, but it was great fun.

 

[jameshilton]

John it sounds very relaxing.
Have you considered using spot lights / torches etc or even a slave flash for night-time photography? Your recent photos aren't bad, but not up to the quality of your daytime shots - and I think because the light source is in the same place as the camera (i.e. the flash)?

 

[stockers]

Great shots John.
Summer :impatient: ,looks great.

 

[JRinTawa]

John it sounds very relaxing.
Have you considered using spot lights / torches etc or even a slave flash for night-time photography? Your recent photos aren't bad, but not up to the quality of your daytime shots - and I think because the light source is in the same place as the camera (i.e. the flash)?

Hi James, essentially yes to all the above, it was really a bit of a play/experiment just to see what happened. The inbuilt flash is (to me) the only down side of the Canon camera I use, a decent flash setup like I have for my good old 35mm would cost as much again as the camera. Might try using my builders portable lighting, though they would need some defusing, hmm I wonder....

 

[JRinTawa]

But meanwhile, back in the late afternoon sun the new bridge gangers have stopped for a chat...

...they seem to do little else than chat to be honest

 

[JRinTawa]

And another little detail added along the country road, well it's really a slightly gravel lane. A railway iron post and twin wire rope fence to secure the railway ROW.

Neither the rail traffic nor road traffic travel fast, so this should do the job.

Idea inspired by Mike's railways, and some others on GSC.
Rails are 150mm lengths of Code 250 aluminium rail with two holes drill in them just pile driven (hammered) into the ground leaving about 40mm sticking out the some brass braided picture hanging wire threaded through. The wire was darkened with some brass chemical blackening but need nature to tarnish it some more.

Hope you like them

 

[jameshilton]

That looks very effective John - well worth the effort. In the last photo it appears to just stop though, and plans to tie it into a scenic feature?