H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

After many hours of thinking and postulating there finally is a plan falling into place to renovate part of the garden alongside the railway and win some land for a steaming bay which will be a the end of a small branchline, well siding really. :) So today down came a mature silver birch tree.
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The area to the left of the tree stump (digging out is the next job :( ) will be for the railway. The gardens to the right are being renovated to give the area a lift.
In the photo below the steaming bay, and maybe a village street behind will be parallel to the top of the wall. Oh yes and the netball hoop is being moved ;)
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So after a hard days graft trains ran to celebrate. :)
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Battery powered trains are good when your tired at the end of the day.
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Well actually any sort of trains at the end of the day are good :D
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Okay, yes any trains any time of the day are good ;D
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

The little LGB steam loco in those last pics? Just the way things should be - if you don´t want to run live steam at the end of the day. :D
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Some days one is not sure if the will be a train along soon :) or maybe we've just missed the only train for the day :(
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But this evening there was time for some Simplex running before picking up H&M form girls group. :D
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Shame about the roof in the above photo, so change angle a bit but then the sun star is lost, oh well ::)
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Lads waiting for knock off time at the log hauler ;)
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They barely notice the Simplex chugging past. :o
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A picture of concentration is the Simplex driver ???
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Or perhaps he was just day dreaming like me :-\
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Not quite a month since an update but steam is still being raised ;)
Yesterday it was time for our latest steamie, a Regner Otto to have it's first full run.
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It performed faultlessly, climbing the 1:50 grades and curves with easy...
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...and thanks to it's gearing there was little increase in speed down hill ;D
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45 minutes of run time, only stopping every 8 minutes or so to top up the water.
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Now to firm up the plans as to just what I will turn it into; it's not staying in ex factory conditions...I have plans, cunning plans :D

Oh and a video of the run is here www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2avxGYpLKY
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

I really like the look of that. Very realistic speed too! Would make a very nice Wikinson (Patent) street tramway engine - now i know what should be on my Christmas list!
 
This sunday for most of the day the weather was custard (and I don`t like custard) but then the sun won out and it was time for some smiles.  Was a bit rushed and Otto was on the work bench without it`s body on, but then it`s going to get a much reduced body so might as well give it a steam anyway.  So it your offended by loco`s with no body on, please look away  ???
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A very simple bush look ;)
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Quite a different look.
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Imagine a body a bit like this
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I think it will work  :D
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

This is an iconic railway with bags of NZ character – I just love John's stuff....
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Some great shots, John. Just looking back over some of the past pictures, I wondered about the origins of the Simplex. Presumably it's battery powered - if so, are the batteries mounted on the loco or in a trail truck?

Rik
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

I always look forward to your posts, John. Your photos are inspiring.
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

ge_rik said:
Some great shots, John. Just looking back over some of the past pictures, I wondered about the origins of the Simplex. Presumably it's battery powered - if so, are the batteries mounted on the loco or in a trail truck?

Rik
Click to expand...

Hi Rik, the Simplex is an IP Engineering one with a bush roof added. Two AAA rechargeable batteries fitted on board and with a full charge it give an amazing two hours or so run on a full charge. Oh and in the PM I forgot to say fitting a charging socket ;) Here it is up side down just before I fitted the last pieced of very thin stryene to finish the cover plate. It doesn't come with a cover plate but is needed on the H&MGR due to all the moss and plant life in between the tracks. :)
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:) And thanks for the wonderful comments all, you've made my Monday morning :)
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Thanks John and for the additional info on the build in the PM. I've always fancied making a Simplex or a Lister to potter around in the copper mine sidings and might even consider adding a 32mm gauge feeder (instead of the Gn15 spur). This would then give me something to run on any 32mm railways I might visit in the future. Who knows, I might even have a go at building some mixed gauge track as well....

Thanks again, John. Looks like I've now got something to add to my Christmas List

Rik
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

beautifully done as usale john
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Brilliant. A loco with out its top on - Real train porn!
 
Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

You're all getting to excited, better calm things down with a Dubs A run :P
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Photos are from a run last Friday, been such a busy week only just getting them here tonight.
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A nice time of year in the evening for getting some sun into the log loading siding area at Punga Cliffs :)
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Peaking through the top tunnel
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

Because I was a good boy I got time to raise some steam this afternoon :) Ngahere's turn today ;)
Coming up the embankment between Nina's Trestle and the Fluffy Bridge and behind the school.
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At the downhill abutment of the Fluffy Bridge 8)
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Leaving Kakariki station. It was only a short session so I didn't have the sawmill out, maybe tomorrow :D
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Last one for today.
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Re: H&MGR, a family railway in NZ

There´s lovely for you :)
 
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