Model Trains and Things

Over on the AusNarrowGauge group on Yahoo they’re discussing the possibility of producing a model of the Tasmanian H Class - a Krause 0-4-0 locomotive that was used on the 2′6″ 2 foot gauge line heading into the rough country behind Zeehan on the west coast.

Some are wondering if there would be enough interest in the locomotive to produce both a 7mm and a 1:48 kit and but there does seem to be enough interest to produce it in at least one of the scales.

This photo is used with the permission of the National Archives

A kit of this locomotive would definitely be hard to resist

No, they’re not coming from me … as a photographer I’m at the bottom level  of Average … you’ll find some great tips on how to reduce camera shake by following the link.

And are you a right or left eye photographer? I never thought about it before … I just presumed that everyone looked through the viewfinder with their left eye

Here is some more great video on YouTube of NSW steam in action. The entire video is great but the night scene is outstanding. Just click the image to get the video.

It’s been a while since I actually posted a photo of a locomotive or train here so I thought I’d do something about that today and this is the photo that literally fell out of the photo album that I picked up.

The loco is 7344 and it’s shunting at Pippita but I’m afraid I have no idea of date the photo was taken. I’m not even sure how it came into my collection but I seem to recall that someone I met in Lithgow in the late 1970s gave it to me.

7344 was one of 50 diesel hydraulic shunters built by Walkers in Queensland for the New South Wales Government Railways between October 1970 and March 1973. 7344 entered service in November 1972 and undoubtedly saw service at major yards throughout the state. When this photo was taken 7344 was working on the Abbatoirs line near Homebush.

While some of the locos from this class have been scrapped and others converted for use on various cane lines in Queensland a number of these sturdy little shunters continue in service and this particular loco is now in the hands of 3801 Limited.

Oh and if you’re looking for Pippita on a modern map I don’t think you’re likely to find it because most of that area was redeveloped as part of the Sydney Olympic venue … a far cry from the brickworks, abbatoirs and other industries that used to be serviced by the 73 Class.

Here is a link to a Flickr photostream that features some great historical railway photos taken in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. You’ll also find a few from the Philippines, South Africa and parts of Europe too.

The Australian photos show a time that I remember well

Perhaps the most remote railway line in Australia is the Comalco line at Weipa on Cape York Pennisula. The line is only 19.5km in length but it’s used to haul some heavy loads of bauxite … and other things too.

Unfortunately photos of the line are a little rare but here are two photos taken earlier this year  around 2000 - 2001 (see comments below) that I came across on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krustymokester/2243709798/in/set-72157594378293048/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/krustymokester/2243710628/in/set-72157594378293048/

that you might find interesting

If you take the time to wander through this blog you’re going to see some fairly ordinary examples of my photographic skills so I’m definitely not setting myself up as some kind of guru when it comes to railway photography.

However, I’ve got to say that I’m rather disappointed in what many of today’s self-termed “gunzels” are doing with their cameras. You won’t see much variation in angles or settings. Few people seem to be prepared to venture out when the weather is cold or wet … or even when it’s dark for that matter.

But every now and then I stumble across a real gem as I take a break from work online and meander around the various photo sharing sites looking at photos of trains … and here, on Flickr is one of the best photos I’ve seen in a long time.

There are no plumes of smoke from a hard-working steam engine, no signs of a rare diesel. The lighting is bad because the sun is only just beginning to peek over the horizon and there’s a typical early morning mist that you’ll find at this time of year in country New South Wales.

The photographer isn’t up close and personal to the train, the locos are common branchline units and the photo isn’t even in colour but this photo of 48 Class at Harden in my humble opinion captures the essence and the mystery that’s part of the attraction that trains have for many people.