Wettington and Mahawatu Rwy

The Wettington and Mahawatu Railway Company

rob — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:41:35 -0700

A G-scale narrow-gauge garden railroad, vaguely based on a New Zealand prototype The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company that ran within a mile of here, was new Zealand's only major private railroad, built on 3'6", and was based on mostly US equipment.

Last Run

rob — Sun, 09 May 2010 04:42:26 -0600

The Pukerua Bay wind stayed away, the mist and drizzle washed the tracks, then the watery autumn sun warmed the railroad for the Grand Opening and the Last Run.

Grand Opening and Final Run

rob — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:08:14 -0600

We're moving, just as the W&MR nears completion. Sad but true, house already sold, and the new owner doesn't want the railroad. So up it all comes.

The realism of garden railroading

rob — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:06:53 -0600

Part of the joy of outdoor model railroading is that so many elements are similar to the prototype. I level my right of way with a spade. I lay track in gravel ballast.

More summer running on the outdoor Wettington and Mahawatu Railway

rob — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:50:07 -0700

Running in the reverse direction from the previous video.

Running trains!

rob — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:22:59 -0700

The dual-track loop is completed, the first train ran a full circuit in early November, and a dozen friends from a local model railway club assembled on a chilly evening to watch trains run with no major problems!!

8A DC transistor throttle for garden railway

rob — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:34:18 -0600

project in progress, info comeing soon

labelling outdoor wiring using cable ties

rob — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:49:16 -0600

Cable ties are dirt cheap and colourful. Tie them round wiring to create colour bands.

Wiring the W&MR

rob — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:37:01 -0600

The W&MR has separate cab-control panel, near the seats and drinks, and block-control panel, near the complex junction. Power supplies are indoors with a cable out the window, with an automotive 6-way connector.

Mahawatu outdoor G scale block-control panel

rob — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 04:27:28 -0600

The block control panel is at Mahawatu so that the nearby junction turnouts can be manually set and the corresponding cabs connected, and blocks disabled to hold trains.