Whitts Hill Light Railway Running Afternoon

[JRinTawa]

The Wellington Garden Railway Group's November running day was hosted by Ian W on his wonderfull Whitts Hill Light Railway.
As usual a mix of Ian's own trains and guest equipment ran. So lets get started with my pictures firstly with a piccie of Rodney's battery powered loco about to cross Neas Creek bridge

And rounding the curve off the bridge

Having crossed at the mid way passing sidings Ian's wonderful scratch built Hudswell Clarke loco.

and passing through Neas Creek yards.

 

[JRinTawa]

Having past through the Neas Creek reverse loop Ian's Hudswell Clarke passes back through Neas Creek.

The other station is Whitts End

Between the two Fushia Tunnels

About to pass onto the bridge after Whitts End before that ends revers curve.

 

[JRinTawa]

Sorry I'm jumping about a bit, so hope I don't lose you.
Rodney's loco about to enter the Neas Creek end reverse curve.

Ian's superb Hudswell Clarke in the steam-up sidings at Neas Creek

Restful time in front of the yard office at Neas Creek

Ian steaming up his Accucraft NG16, Manawanui (my Regner Lumber Jack) in the foreground.

 

[JRinTawa]

Steaming through Neas Creek

Brian C was flying the flag for bigger diesel outline power

Overview of the Whitts End side of the railway

Brian's train passing through Whitts End

Last of my photos, an overview of Neas Creek end.

 

[chris m01]

Great photos

 

[JRinTawa]

Now for pictures taken by Rodney.
Ian doing some last minute fettling (all the turnouts are hand built and the track hand laid)

Rodney's own train at Whitts End

And coming the other way.

Coal depot at Neas Creek

 

[JRinTawa]

More of Rodney's photos.
Rodney's train at Neas Creek

Raising steam

There are a couple of handy foldout benches for preparing locos at Neas Creek for steaming up. (Yes that is me sadly - I look much younger and more handsome in my mind.)

A study of Ian's scratch built Hudswell Clarke

 

[mike]

a truly beautifull garden railway joihn..

 

[JRinTawa]

More of Rodney's photos.
Crossing trains at Neas Creek.

Brian's train on the Whitts End reverse loop

Manawanui about to enter the Whitts End reverse curve.

Ian's Lady Anne steaming through Whitts End

 

[JRinTawa]

Last few of Rodney's photos (if you hung in with us)
Phil's railtruck in the bay at Whitts End.

Hudswell Clarke on Neas Creek bridge

Phil's rail truck between the Fushia Tunnels.

So ended a classic running day.
One should comment that Christine's fruit cake was an equal first with the trains

 

[Gizzy]

Nice pix JR!

And I do like that 'Creeky' scissors crossover....

 

[Miamigo259]

The Hudswell diesel looks a superb piece of work.

Are the green carriages scratchbuilt or a major kitbashing job?

 

[trammayo]

A great set of photos John - and a lovely line.

 

[owlpool]

good sesh John
regarding "younger and more handsome in my mind" - not on your own with that one, I think there's a lot of us of a similar vintage in this hobby

 

[stockers]

Brilliant. absolute magic.

 

[AustrianNG]

A cracking railway empire.

 

[Ian Webb]

The Hudswell diesel looks a superb piece of work.

Are the green carriages scratchbuilt or a major kitbashing job?

The carriages are turn of the century NZ railway stock, scratch built using marine ply and jarrah and kauri strip wood, from plans published in the NZ Model Railway Journal. The guards coach is freelance. Wheels, bogies, couplings brake hoses and torpedo vents are commercial castings.

The Hudswell Clarke, I am embarrassed to say, is built from plasticard. I took a more or less side view of D2511 off the internet and blew it up to the same dimensions as the Roundhouse centre cab diesels. I used Slaters wheels and a 30:1 geared Buhler motor powered by 10 AA NMh batteries.
Ian

 

[The Tinker]

Superb Outstanding. Getting a lot of inspiration from your photos. Thank you for posting them

 

[Riograndad]

Great railway and excellent pics,thanks for posting

 

[beavercreek]

Very nice indeed, well done John and well done to Ian as well for a pleasant railway.