H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

[JRinTawa]

Yes there is a cunning plan James for another set of cattle stops and level crossing to take the road under the bridge, though there has been the hint of a branch line junction in the general area but that is likely to be some years away unfortunately. So now I come this far with the fence I should get on with the level crossing idea in the meantime

 

[mike]

as usale, a real pleasure to see , and learn from.. thanks john

 

[beavercreek]

Hi John
You may have posted it before, so apologies for asking if you have already done so, do you have a plan diagram with dimensions for you line? Your photos and atmosphere are terrific as always and it would be good to 'place' them around the layout.

 

[JRinTawa]

Here you go, a track plan. More or less up to date, though the main station at the bottom is now know as Kakariki.
The railway is about 12m long by 7m wide, (for now ) North is to the left of plan.

And looking into the railway in this afternoons sun.

 

[JRinTawa]

And today pictorial offering starts with Manawanui rounding the curve by the Playhouse deck...

...uphill past the bridge gangers hut....

....and coming off Nina's Trestle on to the embankment leading to the truss bridge...

...and backdown the hill having passed over the level crossing/cattle stops about to pass under the truss bridge.

So ends Monday's service

 

[beavercreek]

Thanks for the plan John, it is great to be able to place your excellent photos.
We have had a fun trying to run trains in slightly different conditions to you!

 

[JRinTawa]

A quick steam up this evening, cool for summer but great for steam effects.

steaming hard as the climb starts under the lemon bush and a tight curve to boot under the trestle bridge - Steamed lemons anyone

And look what I found in the archives

Perhaps there has been steam in Tawa longer than I remember :thinking:

 

[jameshilton]

Great to see a scaled track plan - any chance of annotations with vertical heights? You know your layout was a huge inspiration for my own John - and these new photos are absolutely lovely

 

[JRinTawa]

Thanks Paul & James. I'll see what I can do about some levels James, with the layout having been designed with my civil engineering hat on I do have my calculations on record, but I'm sure you don't really what to see things quite that detailed!:-

Meanwhile with the blessing of a true summers day today, and having got the lawns mown it there was still time to run the Bush Jigger and attempt an arty picture:-

Perhaps I should stick to normal ones Here exiting the bottom tunnel...

And through Church Cutting....

Under the lemon ....

Cheers

 

[jameshilton]

That last one is a gem! Lovely to see a railway in the sun whilst it's grey, damp and overcast here in the UK's winter.

 

[Martino]

Great as always John. I approve of combining railways and drinking. Seems right somehow.....

 

[JRinTawa]

Last Sunday the Beckside Works (PBMM) inspired tram engine got a run with our rake of GSM coaches. Sunday picnic train

At Punga Cliffs.

 

[JRinTawa]

And this evening it was Climax time. If I may be slightly self indulgent, if you read Garden Rail, this is the Climax written about in the current issue. World famous in it's own lunchtime

Punga Cliffs again...

And in same spot but from low down across the railway lawn.

Drat - then it was time for tea:crying:

 

[beavercreek]

Nice......pure nice.......

 

[Don Gilham]

^ what he said ^

...with a few more "nices" thrown in

 

[JRinTawa]

Thanks guys. Come the 28th the H&MGR is 6 years old. I hope we'll have a wee celebration this weekend. We come a long way in 6 years. And still a long way to go

 

[Shawn]

John, sweet as always. Your line is amazing.

 

[JRinTawa]

Thanks Shawn, but the railway really isn't as good in the flesh, I just try and capture angles that filter out the bland bits. I need some more fine structures like you line amongst other things.

But in the mean time we'll run in the dark so you can't see the bland bits :-

Hehe, well the last few running session have been mostly in the dark, the summer nights are rapidly running out :brokeheart: From last night....

Light growing out of the top tunnel onto Punga Cliffs yard entry...

 

[JRinTawa]

Easing out of the other end of Punga Cliffs, log loading siding on the left, main line on the right...

Illuminated Punga cliffs

And last one from last night in my attempt to share with you the fun of my imagination in night time running. There is something about the play of the headlight around the garden.

 

[mbiff]

keep up the good work john - always a pleasure to see ur line and stock