Taita Gorge Railway

[Gavin Sowry]

Last days of Summer, the last Summer in the old New Zealand that was.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

First day of Spring (according to the calender).



Sunshine.



... and a bit of shade, getting some practice for the summer ahead.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Evening arrives on the Taita Gorge. Very harsh shade in the original, so that called for the shadowbuster button on the computer.
Newly weathered stock shown to advantage.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Nice

 

[David1226]

When the shadows too dark to see in the park, who you gonna call.... Shadowbusters.

David

 

[Gavin Sowry]

When the shadows too dark to see in the park, who you gonna call.... Shadowbusters.

David

Of course, down under we just turn on the lights, and continue to play.

 

[PhilP]

When the shadows too dark to see in the park, who you gonna call.... Shadowbusters.

David

Now I will have that tune in my head all night!

Of course, down under we just turn on the lights, and continue to play.

So that's you have a hole in the Ozone Layer?

 

[Gavin Sowry]

This year's Taita Gorge Christmas pic. Seasons Greetings.

 

[Paul M]

View attachment 259979

This year's Taita Gorge Christmas pic. Seasons Greetings.

And to you and all yours

 

[Gavin Sowry]

End of the year, end of the decade, and tomorrow is the 20th birthday of the Taita Gorge Railway.

Today's activity has been the addition of a handbrake wheel on the 7/8ths loco. It came from a Bachmann flat wagon, as I don't use the American type brakes when I NZise these wagons. I knew I had one somewhere, and I found it within a few minutes.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Latest update



My adventure into the realm of 7/8ths has reached a milestone..... a completed train, ready for the road. Throttle lever, with ivory knob, added, and the driver tidied up.

Other news, is that while repairing a DPDT switch that I use for one of my return loops, I had to clear away some growth (weeds), and lo and behold, one missing Big Hauler smokebox stay bar (missing for two years) was found.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Other news, is that while repairing a DPDT switch that I use for one of my return loops, I had to clear away some growth (weeds), and lo and behold, one missing Big Hauler smokebox stay bar (missing for two years) was found.

 

[Sean.]

Did you find any lump hammers ????

 

[PhilP]

IT's Mine!!!

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Did I say 'finished'? Well, that statement lasted all of 24 hours. There were bits of paintwork that need spot touch ups. While waiting for that to dry, I rumaged around in my 'bits' collection, and found a suitable, if smallish, seat for the driver, and another bit that could pass for a control of some sort (as luck would have it, this was already a natural matt black.

Back to the day job tomorrow..... looking forward to the evening running sessions that our summer brings. Next step in the 7/8ths adventure, is for a few structures, just to put the stock into context.

Taita Gorge Railway is now a true 'Scale Convertable' railway. By that, I mean it can be any of 1:29, G (1:24-1:22.5), or 7/8ths, depending on which structure are put out. All my buildings are only placed temporarily for operating sessions, and come inside (if I remember) at night. The big no no, is mixing scales. Note the empty concrete pad, that has my 1:24 scale station shelter when running G, or my Aristo American station when 1:29 is flavour of the day. Either of which, frankly, are going to look damned silly with this 7/8ths in front of them, so, no building (until I make one).

 

[PhilP]

so, no building (until I make one).

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it.."

 

[Gavin Sowry]

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it.."

This message will self destruct in 10 seconds.

 

[ge_rik]

Some great photos, Gavin. Great to see your railway still thriving.

Rik

 

[Gavin Sowry]

That's better... a bit more padding around the edges, and a lower frontplate.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Well, that's the Summer over, and life as we knew it. First day of Autumn/Fall over here on the Taita Gorge, best stock up on the winter heating supplies (for others, that is. We use hydro generated electricity).