Category: Progress Reports

The Short Version! Pete’s Hobby Railway now has its own engine and storage shed, 10 metres wide and 14 metres long, complete with two internal rail tracks, one of which includes a lengthy inspection pit. Yes, there is still much to be done before it can be fully commissioned -– a permanent electricity supply installed …

December 3, 2019 This Progress Report catches up on some of the other happenings of recent months on Pete’s Hobby Railway. The Short Version Delivery has been taken of a specifically constructed turntable along with a pallet load of new recycled plastic sleepers. Progress on the overhaul of the Fowler steam locomotive has slowed dramatically …

The short version Progress Report 50 of 1st March this year discussed the background story to the selection of the final design for the engine shed and storage facility for Pete’s Hobby Railway. Following initial site clearing, there was some delay until work commenced in earnest in mid-June. As early July, the servicing pit itself …

On behalf of Train Control, I apologise for the lengthy gap in my Progress Reports. As an explanation, during this six month period, I have been in and out of hospital three times — including one, through the Emergency Department resulting in a 10-days stop-over. I am still on “light duties” following a bowel operation. …

Pete’s Hobby Railway Hunslet steam locomotive out of service for a while and this Progress Report explains why — first with a short version, followed by a far longer and more detailed explanation… The short version A trial steaming of PHR’s operating steam locomotive, Hunslet 1187/1915 “Torpedo”, on Thursday, 21st February, following the fitting of …

The short version Wonderful News! At long last, work has commenced on the construction of the engine shed and storage facility for Pete’s Hobby Railway. Following the levelling of the depot site and the approval by Council of structural plans, initial construction of the 14m long by 10m wide concrete floor commenced on Friday 8th …

…PHR’s volunteers let their hair down It’s the festive season, and unlike in the Northern Hemisphere with its freezing temperatures, Pete’s Hobby Railway is located in Junee, the Riverina in NSW, Australia, and it is mid-summer… and at times, HOT! And that is with a capital “H”. While I prepare these notes, the outside temperature …

This Report covers recent progress with the overhaul and restoration back to operational condition of 2-ft gauge John Fowler 0-6-0TT B/n 8766 of 1900, one of the collection of Pete’s Hobby Railway. As covered in my previous Progress Report 47 (dated 12/09/2018), I had decided to prepare a second steam locomotive in the Pete’s Hobby …

Previous Progress Report No. 46 posted on 1/9/2018 covered the works undertaken to prepare Fowler 0-6-0 TT locomotive 8766 of 1900 to allow a detailed boiler inspection to be undertaken, with the idea of restoring the engine to operational condition for occasional use on Pete’s Hobby Railway. Inspection of the boiler (out of the frame) …

Apart from the currently working Hunslet 0-4-2T (B/n 1187 of 1915), Pete’s Hobby Railway possesses two other steam locomotives, both non-operational and on static display at the front of the property behind Loftus station. These are a Fowler 0-6-0TT (B/n 8766 of 1900) and an 0-6-2T, built by Perry Engineering in South Australia in 1938, …