H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
- Thread starter JRinTawa
- Start date
Nodrog1826
Professional Idiot
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Inspiring pictures John.
Inspiring pictures John.
Gavin Sowry
Garden Railroader and Raconteur
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
I spy 'one missing station building'.... 'tis the season for missing buildings, our local Community Hall got bowled on Friday, on Saturday, I went to the last game at Fraser Park before the grandstand gets knocked down today, and yesterday, the pub caught fire. ???
I spy 'one missing station building'.... 'tis the season for missing buildings, our local Community Hall got bowled on Friday, on Saturday, I went to the last game at Fraser Park before the grandstand gets knocked down today, and yesterday, the pub caught fire. ???
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Yep Gav, the station only comes out for special occasions - it's position is to close to the ball zone to live outside permanently. Another reason why the sawmill will/is living inside. Not complaining, it's much better having H&M playing outside than inside.
Yep Gav, the station only comes out for special occasions - it's position is to close to the ball zone to live outside permanently. Another reason why the sawmill will/is living inside. Not complaining, it's much better having H&M playing outside than inside.
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Thanks as always guys for inspiring me with your comments.
Been a while since an update but there has been much happening in the workshops (and other things) but today was a day out on the railway.
First objective was to get the sawmill office in place. This wee building will live outside where as the sawmill gets to spend most of it's time inside.
Next up was to test the Summerlands FX Chuffer that has been fitted to Manawanui
The conventional chuffer, while improving the sound level from Regners exhaust, was certainly still quieter than my two Accucraft locos. The down side was the conventional chuffer also cut do the steam effect on a loco that already gave less visible steam than again comparing to the Accucraft locos. But not anymore, well steam wise
There isn't much difference in the sound level but much more testing is needed to be sure Funny thing though is I feel I ran Manawanui slower today, perhaps I ran it faster before wanting more visible steam? :
A good day on the H&MGR
Thanks as always guys for inspiring me with your comments.
Been a while since an update but there has been much happening in the workshops (and other things) but today was a day out on the railway.
First objective was to get the sawmill office in place. This wee building will live outside where as the sawmill gets to spend most of it's time inside.
Next up was to test the Summerlands FX Chuffer that has been fitted to Manawanui
The conventional chuffer, while improving the sound level from Regners exhaust, was certainly still quieter than my two Accucraft locos. The down side was the conventional chuffer also cut do the steam effect on a loco that already gave less visible steam than again comparing to the Accucraft locos. But not anymore, well steam wise
There isn't much difference in the sound level but much more testing is needed to be sure
Funny thing though is I feel I ran Manawanui slower today, perhaps I ran it faster before wanting more visible steam? :
A good day on the H&MGR
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Terrific photos as usual John.
The saw mill and office look just dandy..the saw mill is superb.
My saw mill is at ground level so all of the detail inside (working saws etc), never gets seen unless folk duck right down, but yours is at a great viewing height...nice one.
The office will get 'weathered' being outside all the time, but the sawmill will always look pristine, you could place it outside in a protected spot, ball-wise, and let it weather a bit but take it in when the weather is going to be consistently nasty.
Terrific photos as usual John.
The saw mill and office look just dandy..the saw mill is superb.
My saw mill is at ground level so all of the detail inside (working saws etc), never gets seen unless folk duck right down, but yours is at a great viewing height...nice one.
The office will get 'weathered' being outside all the time, but the sawmill will always look pristine, you could place it outside in a protected spot, ball-wise, and let it weather a bit but take it in when the weather is going to be consistently nasty.
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Very true Mike, I had been thinking about leaving the mill out when the weather is suitable. It does need some weathering I agree and I would prefer to have nature do it if I can. Of course it may mean having to run trains more often so I can keep my eye on the mill ???
Very true Mike, I had been thinking about leaving the mill out when the weather is suitable. It does need some weathering I agree and I would prefer to have nature do it if I can. Of course it may mean having to run trains more often so I can keep my eye on the mill ???
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Oh dear.....no change there then. : 
JRinTawa said:
Oh dear.....no change there then. :
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Hehe.
With the roof painted today (still ridge capping to do) I had to try the sawmill for size.
Definitely passed the smile test
So while no trains ran today it was still very rewarding
Still much to do in regards to the supporting detail and a few other small structures. But that can happen while trains are running I'd expect :-\
Hehe.
With the roof painted today (still ridge capping to do) I had to try the sawmill for size.
Definitely passed the smile test
So while no trains ran today it was still very rewarding
Still much to do in regards to the supporting detail and a few other small structures. But that can happen while trains are running I'd expect :-\
beavercreek
Travel, Art, Theatre, Music, Photography, Trains
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Absolutely cracking John.
Absolutely cracking John.
Gavin Sowry
Garden Railroader and Raconteur
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
:-\ Today would have been ideal. The day started with strongish Northerly (that's the warm one in this part of the world), gusting to 100 m/h locally, and 201 km/h over the hill on the coast. Lunchtime was calm, and warm... I didn't even have a sweater on when I did my lunchtime walkies. Then the Southerly blast hit, temperature dropped 10°C in less than 10 minutes, coupled with rain, and a 5.1 magnitude earthquake thrown in for good measure. Come knock off time, a tree had brought down the 3.3kV signals power lines, so they isolated the traction wires..... no trains (but, thank goodness for company cars, got a lift home).
Oh, tomorrow. That will, as usually be brilliantly fine and calm.
JRinTawa said:
:-\ Today would have been ideal. The day started with strongish Northerly (that's the warm one in this part of the world), gusting to 100 m/h locally, and 201 km/h over the hill on the coast. Lunchtime was calm, and warm... I didn't even have a sweater on when I did my lunchtime walkies. Then the Southerly blast hit, temperature dropped 10°C in less than 10 minutes, coupled with rain, and a 5.1 magnitude earthquake thrown in for good measure. Come knock off time, a tree had brought down the 3.3kV signals power lines, so they isolated the traction wires..... no trains (but, thank goodness for company cars, got a lift home).
Oh, tomorrow. That will, as usually be brilliantly fine and calm.
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Gav - Nearly did, had a few hours off around lunchtime and thought about getting the mill out. Lucky I didn't, got wet enough putting the gardening tools away when the southerly hit. All in good time.
Paul - A little bit of dual gauge on the sawmill siding. The trolleys in the mill are 2'6" gauge more or less, which is near enough 32mm at 1:24 scale. So I decided that they would use the same gauge trolleys to move sawn timber from the mill out to the drying stacks, this gave me theexcuse reason I needed to lay some dual gauge
Gav - Nearly did, had a few hours off around lunchtime and thought about getting the mill out. Lucky I didn't, got wet enough putting the gardening tools away when the southerly hit. All in good time.
Paul - A little bit of dual gauge on the sawmill siding. The trolleys in the mill are 2'6" gauge more or less, which is near enough 32mm at 1:24 scale. So I decided that they would use the same gauge trolleys to move sawn timber from the mill out to the drying stacks, this gave me the
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Thanks everyone you're all making me very pleased I've put in all the effort over the mill.
Work on the surrounds is now the priority, starting first with sorting bits of prunnings to use for the log skids alongside the breaking down saw.
And just to put the position of the sawmill in context with how close viewers are SWMBO is caught admiring my handywork either that or she's nodded off again :-\
But back to the trains, lets light up Kaitaki.
Thanks everyone you're all making me very pleased I've put in all the effort over the mill.
Work on the surrounds is now the priority, starting first with sorting bits of prunnings to use for the log skids alongside the breaking down saw.
And just to put the position of the sawmill in context with how close viewers are SWMBO is caught admiring my handywork
either that or she's nodded off again :-\
But back to the trains, lets light up Kaitaki.
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Kaitaki is not fitted with a Summerlands FX Chuffer replacing the standard Summerlands Chuffer it's been running with.
Bursting out of Sawmill Tunnel (possible new place name) with FX Chuffer in full open setting. (Lots of steam, little chuff)
And on a seperate occasion FX in mid setting (good steam, nice moderate chuff)
Drifting downhill, FX mid setting if I remember right. At this point in the downhill run the regulator is almost fully closed.
Starting to open up again as the grade eases a bit over the Church Lane level crossing/
Kaitaki is not fitted with a Summerlands FX Chuffer replacing the standard Summerlands Chuffer it's been running with.
Bursting out of Sawmill Tunnel (possible new place name) with FX Chuffer in full open setting. (Lots of steam, little chuff)
And on a seperate occasion FX in mid setting (good steam, nice moderate chuff)
Drifting downhill, FX mid setting if I remember right. At this point in the downhill run the regulator is almost fully closed.
Starting to open up again as the grade eases a bit over the Church Lane level crossing/
JRinTawa
Member of the Wellington Garden Railway Group
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ
Level through Punga Cliffs (favourite picture from today)
Approaching the log loading siding and....
...the log hauler.
As with the FX Chuffer fitted to Manawanui I'm very happy with the adjustable control, set to the mid setting their is a good balance in visible steam and chuff volume.
Level through Punga Cliffs (favourite picture from today)
Approaching the log loading siding and....
...the log hauler.
As with the FX Chuffer fitted to Manawanui I'm very happy with the adjustable control, set to the mid setting their is a good balance in visible steam and chuff volume.