Sorry there have been no updates for awhile. Been busy with work, and you know what they say about all work and no play!

Stay tuned.

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Had a few days off work and spent it all standing in front of my lathe making axles, bearings and bushes for my six axle locomotive project. Lots still to do to each part, but get a sense of progress putting them all together like this. There are about 25 parts per axle to make before final assembly, and those shown here still require several more maching steps before they will be ready for the paint department.

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Steve held the video camera just above the cab of his 5" guage Sandy River No 24 for a trip around the line last Saturday. You can watch it here on You Tube

The trip starts at the apex of the bottom loop beside the signal box and does a complete circuit. Watch for glimspes of Grant Alexanders 7.25" No 24 as he waits for access to the single line running section

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Here's a photo taken by Tony Howker of Noel and I enjoying his Black Five at Campbelltown Miniature Railway near Melbourne recently. The track is impressive, the locomotive ran sweetly - what more could you ask for!

Tony will be visiting the Winter Creek in November and I hope he has half as much fun as I did this day.

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Here's a selection of the photo's taken on the drivers experience day at Vistoria Goldfields Railway. Highlighly recommended!

View of the J's backhead mounted controls

J being brought into steam

Coming to life

It was a cold and foggy morning which just added to the atmosphere

Westinghouse cross-compound air pump. Westinghouse is the company I work for, now named Invensys Rail

Myself and two work colleagues - Stan on the left and William in the middle.

The Westinghouse patented Brake stand. Labelled as made in Australia, with patents for Oz and NZ listed on the plate.

Running around our train

Castlemaine mainline to the left, VGR branch to the right on a shared platform

Inside the old Castlemaine A signalbox, now used to control VGR trackage in the station area

View from the drivers window (on the left in Australia)

View from the fireman's side

Leaving Castlemaine for the return run.

Me receiving last minute instruction, and I'm in control!

At the controls at last

VGR runs through some nice scenery

Looking back along our train

Applying the brakes correctly took some mastering

Halfway along the branch I gave up the drivers seat.

Noel took over for the run home

Tags: Australian Steam

Spent some time in Australia for work last week and stayed on for the weekend. Saturday had a wonderful day of Driver experience at the Victorian Goldfields Railway, a preserved branchline driving a broad guage J class steam locomotive.

WONDERFUL 

Sunday I was lucky to be a guest of Colin & Nancy Campbell at the Campbelltown Miniature Railway and was invited to drive Tony Howker's lovely LMS Black Five.

Here's a recent picture of Colin & Nancy I found on the web - My pictures to follow as soon as I am settled back in NZ and can unload the camera.

Tags: Australia