Gavin Sowry
Garden Railroader and Raconteur

8) 8) 8) Two days of 'tropical weather' (the wet kind) and the usual postponement was again on the cards. But, being the Lord's day, he decided to bless us with a gloriously fine day.
As I had advertised track power available, visitors strangely found something from their collections to run. (Try this, it hasn't run in years). First to arrive was Lloyd, from Masterton, closely followed by Phil, so first runs of the day were Lloyd's LGB diesel, and Phil's new Pennsylvania FA.

That's not Lloyd's loco behind the FA, by the way. It was in the dock, visible on photo 2.
Ian turned up to enjoy the day

A moment of group contemplation...

then JR got cracking with his (wife's) O&K

I got a going away shot

... it was going away, all right. I had (deliberately) set the road for it to 'disappear' out the back return loop, but JR was on to it. First rule of garden railway visiting, always keep sight of your train.
Paul's turn.... 'I've brought my Shay along, it hasn't run in 10 years'. Bench test, no go. JR and myself attacked it with pliers, and a choice 'Have you turned it on' comment. Put it on the track, nudge nudge, and away we go.

Ben is new'ish' to garden railways (but he has one of the finest tinplate collections locally) , and has started a garden line in 7/8th scale, here is his first loco, on its maiden run.

Paul, the keen logging railwayman that he is (actually, NZ's foremost authority on the subject) whistfully asked if my Climax was going to run.... :-\

... and a round of thanks to Mrs S for the superb catering.
As I had advertised track power available, visitors strangely found something from their collections to run. (Try this, it hasn't run in years). First to arrive was Lloyd, from Masterton, closely followed by Phil, so first runs of the day were Lloyd's LGB diesel, and Phil's new Pennsylvania FA.

That's not Lloyd's loco behind the FA, by the way. It was in the dock, visible on photo 2.
Ian turned up to enjoy the day

A moment of group contemplation...

then JR got cracking with his (wife's) O&K

I got a going away shot

... it was going away, all right. I had (deliberately) set the road for it to 'disappear' out the back return loop, but JR was on to it. First rule of garden railway visiting, always keep sight of your train.
Paul's turn.... 'I've brought my Shay along, it hasn't run in 10 years'. Bench test, no go. JR and myself attacked it with pliers, and a choice 'Have you turned it on' comment. Put it on the track, nudge nudge, and away we go.

Ben is new'ish' to garden railways (but he has one of the finest tinplate collections locally) , and has started a garden line in 7/8th scale, here is his first loco, on its maiden run.

Paul, the keen logging railwayman that he is (actually, NZ's foremost authority on the subject) whistfully asked if my Climax was going to run.... :-\

... and a round of thanks to Mrs S for the superb catering.