Here is a grab-bag of photos mostly taken by Peter of activity in the last month or so.

Jan Steam up: Peter avoids the steam for a photo stop near the signal box.

Peter Crossing Bridge No 1 as seen from the Signal Box

Grant heading down the hill on his new Phantom locomotive

Grant looking rightly pleased with his new locomotive. It performed well on our steep grades.

Bill taking his brand new locomotive Speedy for its very first trip on the line. The level of detail he has put on this loco is impressive.

Steve arrived a little later and seems eager to get steamed up and go join the fun

No - its not a rude gesture from the bushes. Peter is indicating he has completed Four laps without refilling the water (about 4km). Alice is running in nicely.

Steams up and Steve is off for a warm-up lap

Amazingly George and Bill seem to prefer Diesel power today!

This was my view of the day - stuck with my foot in the air. Peter seems to be doing the chicken dance?

George, James and Jim putting some signalling ducting in the ground under future track.

James with the spade is our newest regular. Keen as mustard, mum said to work him hard so we did! Jim, (the one looking like he is doing the haka), is an annual regular from the UK every Jan.

Ductline from the other end. Trackage here is due to be altered to lengthen the existing siding and add an additional loop to the right of the visible tracks.

George watches on as Steve cooks one of his famous South African delicacies.

Bill and Darrel have a natter at lunch

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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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Here is a series of photos showing construction methods for the tunnel. It was built by myself in 2005 for the original 7.25" only line, and marks the spot where the new dual guage line meets the original alignment through the tunnel, around horseshoe curve known as South Bend and across bridge 4.

Digging the Tunnel March 2005

Getting the grade right was tricky - on a curve down 1 in 40

Frames are installed Christmas 2005. 100mm square timber 1m x 1.5m square frames with the top and bottom plates rebated to help hold the side pressures.

Box built. Portals to come.

Railhead advances toward the tunnel

Five inch guage makes it to the tunnel

Steve and son Owen extending 5 inch into the tunnel

Peter and Steve try out the newly laid track

Tags: Tunnel

A selection of photographs of construction in the big cutting on the lower mainline loop.

(Click on any photo to see a larger version with caption.)

The big cutting had been dug a few years before. It needed lowering to match final track level in 2009

April 2010 Tracklaying finally entered the big cutting

Tags: Big Cutting