To the Letter etc..

Posted 3 days ago by Railpage System User

As you would be aware, my narrow gauge layout has been based on a fictional railway on the far South Coast of New South Wales. Its location was carried on from my previous HO style layout, why change a good thing?

14th Australian Narrow Gauge Convention

Posted last month by Railpage System User

Held every two years in Australia the recent Easter convention held at Erina on the central Coast north of Sydney was my first one I attended.

Campbelltown Council elected members vote against miniature railway in Thorndon Park

Posted 2 months ago by bevans

Hopes by a group of hobbyists to put a miniature railway into a popular park have been derailed by councillors.

Isis Mill to build $14.3m cane railway extension

Posted 2 months ago by bevans

THE Isis Central Sugar Mill will spend $14.3 million to build a 36km extension to its cane railway network.

Map of London’s miniature steam train rides

Posted 2 months ago by Railpage System User

We all love a steam train, and while the big beasts make occasional weekend trips though the city, there are a surprisingly large number of miniature steam trains chugging along little railways around parts of London as well.

Race to the Finish Line

Posted 2 months ago by Railpage System User

It has been some time since we have had time to update you, and there has been a lot of action on our South African Garratt since last time, so without further ado, here’s the latest progress.

SAVE OUR TRAINS: Railway is looking for new home

Posted 2 months ago by bevans

THE Tweed Valley Miniature Railway has been a popular attraction on the Tweed for three decades but is now in danger of being derailed.

Another A1 steam locomotive visits Doncaster works

Posted 2 months ago by Railpage System User

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced that the roundabout Tornado has visited Doncaster Works recently.

Brookside Miniature Railway reopening set to benefit ill children

Posted 3 months ago by Railpage System User

The sound of miniature trains is set to be a familiar scene in Poynton soon thanks to local enthusiasts who didn’t want to lose a local attraction.

Matthews Park miniature trains to roll back years on Historical Society day

Posted 8 months ago by newsbot

The miniature railway in Matthews Park will be reliving the grand old days of the railways on Saturday.

Miniature rail raises $2000 for R U Aware, We Care drought appeal

Posted 9 months ago by newsbot

THE model engineers of Tamworth have pulled their weight to help with the drought.

Largs resident celebrates 103rd birthday with Walka Miniature Railway ride

Posted 9 months ago by bevans

Walka Miniature Railway might have had its oldest passenger on Sunday.

One Careful Owner

Posted 9 months ago by Railpage System User

I've had a go at distressing the model of the Ford Puma to try to make it look like it's had an argument with a Garratt.

Harold The Second

Posted 10 months ago by Railpage System User

We have a number of duplicates in our fleet, mostly this is because we've made an improved version as our techniques have improved, or because a better kit has come onto the market.

80-year-old Washington Twp. man still a kid at Carillon’s Rail Fest

Posted last year by bevans

Each June, the sounds of trains and family fun emanate from Carillon Park’s Rail Festival.

The NG/G16 Countdown Begins!

Posted last year by Railpage System User

With a projected completion date of mid-2019, the race is on to get our re-gauged South African NG/G16 class Garratt assembled and tested. A lot has been happening, so here's a snapshot of progress to date.

Heidi the steam train in big need of donations

Posted last year by bevans

Katanning Miniature Railway Club’s steam locomotive Heidi is in need of a new boiler, and the club is calling on the community to help put Heidi back together again.

NG/G News For Febuary

Posted last year by Railpage System User

Over the past few months, we have been progressing a lot of different tasks, in order to keep the project moving along at a good pace:

• Installation of the sanding gear on the engine units (above and below) has reached the stage where the engine needs to be assembled before it can progress further.

• Cowcatchers and stabilisers have been completed and fitted.

• Exhaust piping on both engine units is complete (above), as are the steam ball joints.

• Work has been carried out on the fire hole door surround casting, doors and linkages, ready for test fitting.

• Overhaul of the Westinghouse air compressor is progressing.

• The rocking grate steam cylinder and operating levers have been completed (above) and attached to the boiler cradle.

• Brake pipework is being manufactured for both the engine units (above) and the boiler cradle, including the train pipe and piping up of the brake cylinders and main reservoirs.

• Turbo generator bracket has been fabricated and fitted to the cradle.

• Hand brake bracket is complete and has been fitted to the boiler cradle (above).

• Components for the screw reverser have been refurbished or manufactured (above), the stand has been modified to suit the revised cradle frame geometry, and the whole assembly fitted to the cradle.

• Work continues on the valvegear, with nearly all components overhauled and fitted, including the new die-blocks and lifting links.

• Triple valve mounting bracket has been manufactured and installed on the boiler cradle (above).

• The custom designed lifting bracket for the rear of the boiler (above) has been delivered following testing, and has already been used to lift the boiler from the cradle ready to be insulated and clad.

• Mechanical lubricators have been fitted following overhaul (above), along with atomisers and much of the pipework, and work has commenced on the lubricator drive components.

• Design work for the cab is complete, and the drawings and being checked prior to placing an order for fabrication.

• Drawings for the chimney and the fill-in ring that goes inside the cap have been issued, and the machining work is currently underway (above).

• The ring seals which surround the pivots, preventing the ingress of dust, dirt and moisture, have been manufactured and delivered. Pivot covers and associated parts are being refurbished or manufactured as required.

Rising From The Mud

Posted last year by Railpage System User

The more eagle-eyed reader of Puffing Billy's in-house magazine, 'Narrow Gauge', might have noticed a dramatically photo-shopped representation of Belgrave yard plateau lurking in the centre spread of last September's edition. The photo gave the impression of a clean, dry and level yard!

Sadly, at the time, this didn't reflect reality; the mud, the dirt, the hastily dug drainage channels to empty the puddles of oily water.

It's All backwards, What's With That?

Posted last year by Railpage System User

The discovery of a broken side control spring on G42's hind engine unit was soon followed by the dawning realisation that with the engine facing the 'Down' direction - towards Gembrook, as all our engines do - the workshop wasn't long enough to get the pony truck in question over the drop-pit in the workshop.

This necessitated a stopover at Emerald whilst the loco was  carefully placed on the turntable and turned to face the 'Up' direction. Luckily, at that time, the 2.30 departure from Belgrave terminated at Emerald, giving plenty of time and some added interest from the passengers.

Carriage Project Part I - Calculations & Concepts

Posted 2 years ago by Railpage System User

I think it’s safe to say we can skip the why’s and wherefores’! Anyone familiar with Puffing Billy will know that passenger numbers are through the roof and our little trains are struggling to cope with the ever-increasing demand. At the same time, as much as we try and dissuade them, our marketing department insist on jetting off to the next growing overseas market, building relationships with tour operators who send us yet more passengers!

Two years ago, the Rolling Stock Branch, looking ahead as always, published a paper which identifies the current capacity constraints, and when they occur. The report, put together by Rob Reed, a Puffing Billy fireman and engineering student on work experience, details the times when all rolling stock is utilised, and during those times, how often we reach full capacity, as well as various operational ideas to increase capacity without the availability of more carriages.

Garratt Happenings: The NG/G16 129 August Update

Posted 2 years ago by Railpage System User

Work moves on apace with NG/G16 129, including the following tasks:

• Removal of boiler from the cradle to enable final installation of all the steam, exhaust and water pipework, as well as insulating and cladding the boiler.

Ambulance called after miniature steam train derailments

Posted 2 years ago by bevans

A NUMBER of people were taken to hospital after two miniature steam train derailments in Kearneys Spring on Sunday.

Train enthusiasts needed for special project

Posted 2 years ago by bevans

A PLAN to build a 450-metre miniature train track in Hervey Bay could come to fruition if members of the Hervey Bay Men's Shed can get the backing of local train enthusiasts.

Dangerous behaviour has potential for 'catastrophic outcomes'

Posted 2 years ago by bevans

As school holidays get into full swing, MSF Sugar has seen an alarming spike in dangerous behaviours such as cane train surfing around its cane rail network and is calling on parents to be more vigilant.