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 …
Continue reading "Progress Report 53: Shed Construction Finally Under Way — After Delays"
Pete’s Hobby Railway joins, with other rail enthusiast groups and the rest of Australia, in mourning the passing, last Wednesday evening (August 21, 2019) at the age of 73, of former Deputy Prime Minister and long-time railway “tragic” The Hon. Tim Fischer AC from acute myeloid leukaemia.
Continue reading "Vale The Hon. Tim Fischer AC"
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. …
Continue reading "Progress Report 52: Highlights Update"
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 …
Continue reading "Progress Report 51: Hunslet steam locomotive out of service for a while"
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 …
Continue reading "Progress Report 50: Engine Shed Construction Commences – Finally!"
Since going live in mid-2016, this, the Pete’s Hobby Web Page has received almost 30,000 hits. Search Engines place Pete’s Hobby Railway at the top of the Enquiry Page. Through the marvels of WordPress, the web page programme that PHR uses, the Administrators are able to determine the country of origin of each of these …
Continue reading "Web Statistics for Pete’s Hobby Railway"
— First Division Introduction: Welcome to Pete’s Hobby Railway Calendar for 2019. This is the first of my annual calendars to be specifically devoted to my “Pete’s Hobby Railway”. Hopefully, it won’t be the last! The calendar is produced by a commercial photo camera laboratory (for the second year, through Harvey Norman in Wagga, as …
Continue reading "Pete’s Hobby Railway 2019 Calendar"
…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 …
Continue reading "Progress Report No 49 — “All work and no play”"
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 …
Continue reading "Progress Report 48: Restoring the Fowler"
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) …
Continue reading "Progress Report 47: The Mysteries of Fowler 8766 — Assistance sought!"