Thought I would post a few pics of the BOP/ECMT line and surrounding areas - some old, some new.

First up - Geotech bore hole tests being taken at the northern end of the Apata loop. There was to be a 1.2km crossing loop planned for Omokoroa until the locals got restless and complained about increased rail traffic. The loop will now be at Apata. I took these pics about 3 weeks ago so I'll add pics as they progress.

The same bridge, taken about May 2007.

A font that was designed for wagon lettering/numbering. Ideally use this font to print out at 6 or 8 point, but can be printed out at 4 point on a bog standard ink-jet and is still legible. Also included is a document detailing the special font charcters.

I had the chance recently to get to the Weka Pass Railway. The benefits of not travelling with your wife !

The star of the show - A 428 sitting at Glenmark station steamed up and rearing to go.

A photo run by for the punters.

A 428 ready to uncouple at Waikari Station.

The main attraction, for me at least. Few people there probably recognised the Class 30 Wickham from the recent National bank tv ad. A subject for an upcoming workbench project methinks.

A 428 going for a spin.

One of my favourite rail preservation sites is Ferrymead in Christchurch. The day after the recent modelling gathering, I managed to spend a couple of hours wandering around the rail collection and got some useful shots. Feel free to add any shots you have of Ferrymead items.

D140 with heritage carriages.

2 foot gauge Planet loco ex Lake Grassmere salt works.

Lake Grassmere stock. The carriage was built on a tipper chassis.

Interesting 2 foot gauge crane and coal tub.

An article written by Andrew Wells on colours for NZR loco's, rolling stock, and buildings.

I have developed an interest in Oamaru and Hokitika railway stations and yards and would like some info with the view to modelling one of them. I've visited both recently (should have take more photos!), but really would like a plan (preferably) of Oamaru during the 1980s, or Hokitika when it still had its infrastructure in place (the loop that stands on the site now is just tragic).

Does anyone have a plan of either of the yards in the 80s, or a good set of photos that they're willing to share from which the plan can be deduced? Or, does anybody know if either station has featured in NZ Railfan or NZMRJ with a plan, and can you point me in the right direction to a particular issue? (Or any other publication).

Any help with this would be much appreciated :-)

G-J

First, some new tools:

Temperature controlled soldering iron from Dick Smith: $12 (normally $16)

Weldwell Flux 100ml bottle from the soldering section of the Tool Shop at Bunnings: $15

These have made a huge difference to assembling TG kits recently. I am using an H&M Clipper as the power source for the soldering iron. I thought that some of you may be interested in these items given the number of Dick Smith stores around, and Bunnings' presence in larger centres.

.........................................

Anyway,

This is one of the projects that I've been chipping away at for a while now:

This is a fairly simple question that I have been pondering for a week or so now:

I have seen photos of Da's and Db's (and EE Df's, too, I think...) - North Island locomotives - in Dunedin for overhaul at Hillside. I'm guessing that they ran south from Picton down the SIMT. So What I'm wondering is, did any Dx locomotives ever run in the South Island before they were transferred south after the NIMT electrification, either to Hillside for overhaul, or for other reasons?

Cheers,

G-J