Hereford & Gorge Railway Visited by the WGRG

[JRinTawa]

Sunday 13th of January and the Wellington Garden Railway Group's first running afternoon was hosted by Murray and Janice Bold at their Hereford and Gorge Railway. The railway is not quite 18 months old but is already nestling very comfortable into the garden.

A benefit of building your railway within an existing mature garden rather than dominating the garden.

So lets start our visit at the main station, at the house end of the garden.

Chris D's FA3 is now on the main line climbing the stiff climb over the modern concrete bridge heading to Hydrangea Halt.

 

[JRinTawa]

Chris D's Lady Anne had no trouble up the climb as it continues to the old NZR style truss bridge

Murray's Mack (battery powered with Revolution sound Receiver) has crested the summit and heading down to Hydrangea halt.

The FA3, also battery powered with Revolution sound receiver plus smoke/exhaust unit, powering through Hydrangea Halt.

And Murray's Mack through Hydrangea Halt

 

[JRinTawa]

FA3 about to cross under the truss bridge to head back to the house end of the garden.

Mack under the truss bridge, a rather nicely detailed bridge.

Snaking away from under the truss bridge, soon to pass behind the garden pergola (a very pleasant spot to watch the trains).

Lady Anne about to hit the junction with the house end loop and the garage branch line.

 

[JRinTawa]

Brian C's "Pennsy" has crossed the junction. This end of the railway is track powered.

Branch line to the garage centre, "Pennsy" on the mainline section of the house end loop right, and at top Mack on the joining section of the house loop.

Looking back to the pergola from where the garage branch line enters the garage.

FA3 about to plunge into the tunnel under the branch line.

 

[JRinTawa]

Brian's "Pennsy" emerging from the tunnel

Passing the steaming bay

An overview of the main station and some of the gathered WGRG members. Lady Anne had just run out of steam, trains are banking up "We could be in trouble!" (We had laid the warehouse building down due to some occasional gusts.)

Michelle's IP Engineering Mandie railcar, awaiting Dad (me) to install glazing, crossing the loop/mainline juntion. The mainline to Hydrangea Halt is straight ahead, and battery or steam powered only from here.

"Pennsy" on the closing arm of the track powered house end loop.
Brianna is at the control box for the turnouts. She's a very competent signaler

 

[JRinTawa]

Meanwhile having done a full circuit of the battery powered section of the main line Hannah's IP Eng Daisy railcar follows Michelle's past the junction to the garage branch line which is running through the center of the picture.

Murray's Mack heading up the branch line towards the garage.

Removal bridge into the garage, permenant track at the left end well wired to the abutment, a recycled house pile!

Home made latch bolt arrangement which securely fixes and aligns the removable bridge.

Storage sidings inside the garage. "Rails" are aluminimum angle.

 

[JRinTawa]

Among the quirky detail is the Sunblest Feed & Grain mill. Well the fine scratch built structure is not quirky but....

.... Homer Simpson explaining to Mage that a grain mill really is a good place for a wedding photo shot is quirky!

Control panel for turnouts and lights at Hydrangea Halt is cleverly 12v battery power!
The siding to Homer's photo shoot is in the foreground.

The rock backdrop to Hydrangea Halt is not rock at all, it is an intriguing piece of drift wood. That's Hannah's railcar and carriage in very girlie colours

 

[JRinTawa]

My Leader raising steam in the steaming bay. Brian's "Pennsy" is taking a break while other track powered stock ran.

Leader slowly working up the climb, slower than the breeze is blowing steam ahead of her. (Photo by Michelle)

Later Lady Anne with plenty of steam attacking the grade from under the pergola.

Lady Anne up over the modern concrete bridge amongst waving tussock grasses.

 

[JRinTawa]

The train Chris's Lady Anne is hauling are kitbashed from "Train" brand German style rolling stock to generic British outline. And very convincing they are.

Darren gave his Shay it's first run under his ownership. Well once a few clearance issues with a tunnel mouth were sorted that is!

And no the blacksmith isn't doing urgent repairs to either Chris's Lady Anne or my Dubs A!

Dubs A at one of my favoured photo spots, the truss bridge.

 

[JRinTawa]

Dubs A about to pass behind the pergola.

Phil's Mogal

Phil's Mogal over the concrete bridge, one of the last trains to run, as a most enjoyable afternoon drew to a close.

Brianna laughs as Grandad (Murray) tries to hide the tummy buldge that many WGRG shirts seem to have

Thanks Murray and Janice, it was a great day throughly enjoyed by all.

 

[Shawn]

Great looking layout and photos. Glad everyone had a good time. I really like the way the tunnel was built.
I can feel that nice warm summer air. Send some of that summer weather out this way.

 

[Bredebahn]

Some summer weather would be nice here too - looks like fun there John.

(Mutter - must get on with my new railway...)