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SEPTEMBER
2019
August
been solely a month to finish off the {70ft
Turntable} and I am
pleased to say it is finished!! I now hope to get into some other
projects that are half way through with rolling stock & a new
NZR loco being started, I'll give you a clue!

This
will be a long term project as I have quite a few other ideas on
the drawing board. Just to finish off for the month is an update
to the {Picture
Gallery} & {From
the Workshop}, Till next
month keep Modelling!!

AUGUST
2019
This
update is a catch up month with a couple of projects that are well
on the way if not finished, firstly it is the {C16-No268},
this loco is a joint effort between three of us with the project
starting in Auckland and finishing here at the AFR. Also more on
the {70ft
Turntable} with work
progressing at a steady rate. All the best in Modelling......


JULY
2019
Has
been a busy month, trouble is not on the railway (only if we
didn't have to work). So we will continue on the {70ft
Turntable} updates. I
also hope to bring to the updates an American build of a C16 Class
No268 which does not fit in anywhere of what I am modelling but
still a very nice Locomotive, so will hopefully start updating
that next month. Until then keep up the training!!

JUNE
2019
We
have been there, done that and booked into do it again next
year!!! The open day was
a great success and we wish to thank everybody who visited {Shows
& Events}. New
project (which is completed) {70ft
Turntable}, This is
what every loco depot needs & was a very interesting build
which I take you through in stages. Lastly for the month, Below;
The latest battery conversion
done by the workshop a Painted Bachmann Anniversary, I had the
White Pass lettering cut at my local sign writter here in Tinwald
along with some to do the coaches, & the old MDC Roundhouse
hoppers I converted (next months update). Until then keep
training!!!


MAY
2019
Welcome
to Mays update, we are still playing catch up on the web updates
but the main focus is us gearing up for our open day on the 11th
& 12 of this month, the shed has been cleaned out from top to
bottom (I've never seen it so clean).
We
start this update with {From
the Workshop} with F72
receiving a new form of motive power, also once again things have
been altered in the shed to allow for more storage for longer
trains by moving the display cabinets in {Inside
Layout Construction}. Below;
One of the new arrivals to the Railway this loco was carried by me
all the way back from Melbourne, Australia. More pictures can be
seen here in the {Picture
Gallery} of a running
day held shortly after arriving home.
Until
Junes update where we will have pics of the open day enjoy the
hobby & keep building!

APRIL
2019
During
the break AFR has been through a few changes with projects both
started & finishing.
First
off work had continued on the {Water
Vats} with all
3 being finished and painted but once again when you get into a
project you seem to forget to pick up the camera as often as you
should. The {Coaling
Stage} structure
has also been painted, now it only needs the crane, buckets &
coal to be added for completion. Something else require at a
loco depot is light up wood {From
the Workshop},
last but not least for this month is the restoration/rebuild of
the oldest bridge on the railway No1 {Wooden
Truss Bridge}.

Above;
Ja1268 being prepared for a days work where Ab730 looks to be
heading for a well derserved rest!

MARCH
2019
We
are back!! After a 5 year break I am having to re-learn the
process of web site building so please be patient. Quite a bit has
changed on the AFR and over the next few months hopefully the site
will be up to date as items have come & alot has gone to make
room for the new.
As
mentioned in Decembers update AFR has gone in a new direction and
this will be showen in the next few upates White Pass has a strong
foot hold with kit-bashing taking place and happy to say NZR 1/24
is still being made even though not as quick as it should be!
So
sit back and enjoy the ride.....


DECEMBER
2014
Hot
Off The Press!!!! Ashburton Forks Railway is heading in a new
direction!! A decision has been made that AFR is reducing its
fleet to focus on Narrow Gauge. We will still hold the NZR 1/24
& Philippine 1/24 but the new-bee on the block is USA White
Pass Railroad! To do this all standard 1/29 USA models have gone
or going along with all the European models. We were finding that
only certain trains were being run & new interests were being
formed so changes had to take place.

Above
Left; New arrival to the Railway LGB 2-8-2 hauling new White
Pass rolling stock. Above Right; The same train heading
toward the Shed!
Work
has been continuing on the {Water
Vats}, {Coaling
Stage} & the last piece added to
the {Engine
Shed}.
Merry
Christmas to you all!!!

NOVEMBER
2014
Not
much of the year left now!!! The weather is starting to settle
& are getting some lovely days to get in the garden. The big
news is that the {Engine
Shed} is finished & ready for
painting, this won't be happening until after the Convention.

Above;
The railway farewells its Southern Pacific GP38, it was decided
that it just wasn't getting used enough so it has found a new home
at I.D.K RAIL.
New
on the work bench are three NZR {Water
Vats}, 2 are round, one parallel
& the other tapered & the 3rd is a rectangle vat. These
will be placed in the loco depot when finished which is really
starting to take shape.

OCTOBER
2014
It's
only 5 months to the convention so if you haven't expressed
interest to recieve the free NEWS updates then do so by emailing
the above address to the Convention Convenor.

Above;
The start of the side wall of the coaling stage.
Here
at the AFR I have realised there is not long to go til the
convention so a few smaller projects have been planned to get the
loco depot more like a steam depot!! 1st is a {Coaling
Stage} this is currently being
built, it will also have a coaling crane with buckets when
finished. There are a couple of other projects in the planning
stage more on this next month. Until then keep on training!!!

SEPTEMBER
2014
It's
taking a bit to get out of the Holiday mode but there is nothing
like the 1st week back at work to do it!! Since being back I have
found a suitable product for the spouting for the Engine Shed it
should be here for next months update. In the mean time the doors
have been made & mounted the finish line is in site for the {Engine
Shed}, I am already scouting around
for material for the next project. Until October keep on
training!!!!

AUGUST
2014
Better
late then never!! Have just got back from Holiday with the family
to the Philippines so am catching up on a few things. There will
be another Update in the next couple of days when I get the camera
up & going again!!! We were lucky to have a visit from the
Rocky Creek Railway for a all NZR running day pics can be seen
here {Picture
Gallery}. AFR put on a static
display at the local train show followed by a visit by all the
exhibitors on the Saturday evening to see the railway in
operation!

By
all the comments I think they all went away with a different
outlook on Large Scale Modelling seeing such a variety of of
rolling stock & of course seeing NZR being represented!!!
Thats it at the moment & will post the September update
soon!!! Keep on Training!

JULY
2014
Trains
on the Plains
Train
Show
{Click
for details}
The
{Engine
Shed} has been
getting all the attention this month with weather boards completed
& windows being made & fitted!! A bit of a blurb on how I
did the windows can be seen here at {From
the Workshop} they have come up not
to bad if I say so myself.
So
all that needs to be done now on the shed are the doors, spouting,
down-pipes & the last row of nails on the roofing iron. The
shed won't be painted until after the 9th National Garden Railway
Convention. There was also a new arrival at the {Thomas
& Friends} page,
we are looking forward to see what Bachmann will bring out next.
So until next month keep on
scratch-building!

JUNE
2014
Half
way through the year, where has it gone. This month hasn't been as
busy as have been busy at work with extra hours so not much has
been done but there might be some new arrivals for next month!!!
Fingers crossed. We had the Tinwald Schools Wheels Week {Shows
& Events} which
was well received & are talking about making it 2 days next
year. The {Engine
Shed} is still being worked
on with the weather boarding nearing completion. Now this month I
would like to add to the Hobby Shop link!

I
have been dealing with Robbie for 12yrs now & have had no
problems at all. He stocks a great range from narrow to standard
gauge at reasonable prices. Next month should bring the completion
of the weather boards & the starting of the windows with jigs
already being made. So until then Keep on Training!!!

MAY
2014
What
a month!!!! The Railway has been under water in places with a week
& a half of rain so have had workshop time on the {Engine
Shed}. I am affraid that is
the main update done! I don't usually do any advertising but I
think there is a couple of outlets that I deal with that need a
mention, this month the link below deserves a look, as they are
one of the most helpful & obliging shops I have come across in
a long time. By the amount of there product range & brands
they stock they will be around for a long time!!!! I highly
recommend them!!

Now
we have some news on a display that we are putting on for
Ashburton Wheels Week, on the 17th of May at the Tinwald School
Hall 10am to 3pm we will be displaying & running trains on a
floor layout. American, European & of course some NZR will be
there along with other displays of models that have wheels!! See
you there, until next month keep modelling.

APRIL
2014
The
{Engine
Shed} has had most of the
attention this month with the roof going on & the flues being
made. The big thing was deciding what to make the corrugated iron
out of the result can be seen here,
{From
the Workshop}.
The
Railway had a special visitor from America, it was a LGB 4 wheeled
van doing a world tour running on different railways so we were
lucky enough to take our turn with a Kiwi Loco at the front!!! Below;
Ja1268 at the head of the local goods train with the visiting
wagon 2nd wagon in, as you can see the wagon has been signed by
other railway owners. Here is a link to follow the wagons progress
(LINK)

Over
the next few months I will be updating the {Links}
as some of the sites haven't been updated for some time & will
be adding a few new ones of places I deal with & sites of
interest. So in the mean time I hope to get a few more running
days in before winter!!! Until next month keep on Training!!!

MARCH
2014
The
weather is cooling down, I think we have had the best of our
summer, a good reason to move indoors to do some modelling &
this month I have been busy (for a change). The workshop has been
in wagon mode with 2 {Ub}
wagons being made. Below;
The 2 new Ub wagons are seen bringing in a load of timber &
trusses for the new Engine Shed.

The
Engine Shed has also seen alot of work done to it with walls,
trusses & purlins being added to it, this can be seen here {Structures}!
Below; 2 of the main work-horses of the railway have
already made themselves at home in the new structure!!

Also
a new picture has been added to the Christchurch Garden Railway
Group's page of a members railway!!
A
good start to the year all in all for the Railway, I hope it
continues on to next month but you never no what is just around
the corner with work & jobs around the home!! Until next
month, keep those trains rolling!

FEBRUARY
2014
This
month has been one of the most enjoyable in the history of the AFR
with a 3 day running weekend with a close few friends taking part
with trains of all kinds being run, pictures & discription of
the run can be seen here {Picture
Gallery}.
Of course {Ja1268}
featured, this was her main
running in, after adding up the circuits she had down 1268 had
travelled 2.8 actual kilometres with-out a problem. So was very
pleased!!!

Above;
1268 passing over No3 bridge with a light goods train.
I
have decided to add a page to promote our local group, this can be
accessed by clicking on the groups logo to the left of the page
once in there are a few pictures of railways that host our get
togethers & of course the AFR takes its turn too!
Below;
AFRs White Pass rolling stock has an outing on a late afternoons
freight, since this picture we have just taken delivery of 2 x LGB
2 bay White Pass hoppers so this will make a nice train.
Now
I have to decide what is next on the work bench, I think that I
have to build a couple more NZR wagons to increase the stock as
locos are starting to take over!!! So will have some direction for
you all next month, Until then Happy Modelling!!!!

JANUARY
2014
Happy
New Year to you all & I hope 2014 will be a safe one for you
all. Well it is amazing what you get done when a new year is
bearing down on you!! {Ja1268}
has had the final spell in
the work shop & now wears a lovely coat of Black. The railway
had a visit from a fellow modeller from Auckland & of coarse
we had to have a run, & he bought a Train!

Above;
The visiting Train was an Accucraft Baugley Drewery Diesel with
two Accucraft Lynton and Barnstaple Railway open wagons. The other
wagon is a scratchbuilt one very loosely based on a L&BR
wagon, and the small one is running on the Woodford Railway
(Durandur Railway) north of Brisbane. This wagon is built of
styrene on a LBG “feldbahn” chassis. The guards van is a
Welshpool & Llanfair Railway one that I repainted as Southern
Railways to run on the L&BR. I have used the premise that the
L&B carried on and has acquired stock from other railways as
they succumbed to the cutters torch.

Above;
AFRs Garratt ventured North to a railway opening in Rolleston.
To
finish off is a bit of a taste of things to come for next month Below;
Ja1268 in its finished state this is the only pic I have taken but
next month there will be more, as I will be spending time running
it in. Until then Happy Modelling!!


DECEMBER
2013
December
is here, not long now to get your last orders in to Santa!!!
On
the depot front all turnouts have been completed & are
operational, this includes all the wiring etc. I have also been
busy helping fellow Garden Railway Modellers get there Railways up
& going so not alot has really happened on the AFR this month.
the little that has been done can be seen here at {Inside
Layout Construction}
& {Structures}.
Until next month keep modelling!!!

NOVEMBER
2013
Well,
it will soon be the end of the year the way the days are flying
by! This month Ja1268 goes for a run outside for the first time,
pictures of this can be seen here at {Picture
Gallery}. There is
one down side though, looks like she won't be painted before
Christmas as time is against us.
We
have a new priority the 'Loco Depot', I have to get all the track
laid & wired up before Christmas. This months progress can be
seen here at {Inside
Layout Construction}.

Above;
My first attempt at hand laying track!!

OCTOBER
2013
This
month we have been busy on the Loco Depot with all the base boards
being done, it has made a pleasant change doing something
different on the Railway instead of modelling. (Still have been
thinking of future projects) progress can be seen in the {Inside
Layout Construction}.
Ja1268
will be dismantled ready for painting after the last week of
October, it is hoped to have it all back together for our December
club meeting!!! The presure has been applied.

SEPTEMBER
2013
Busy,
busy month this month for the Railway, inside the shed any way!
First off {Ja1268}
is finally ready for the
paint shop (Seen Below), the plan is to paint her when the weather
warms up in a month or so.

Construction
has started inside on the yard & the new loco depot, this is
comming along in great leaps & bounds, progress can be seen
here at {Inside
Layout Construction}. The
plan is to make the 2 loco depot modules lift out of a permanent
frame for taking to shows & events where space is limited, I
have a funny feeling this could be quite a long project with track
being hand laid & turnouts being constructed!!
Just
to finish off is a great video of us 'G-Scalers'
at the Timaru Train Show! This was taken by one of our younger
members, I think he got a good over all coverage of our display.
Until next time keep those trains running.

AUGUST
2013
Welcome
to the new month, well alot to report but did not find the time to
get it done with one thing or another!! Any way I can tell you the
Ja is finally ready for the paint shop, more on this next month.
Ja1268 also attended her first train show at Timaru along with all
the Thomas friends, thay were all received very well. One comment
that got back to me about the Ja was "where could I buy the
kitset of that", she's one of a kind! A few pictures can be
seen here {Shows
& Events},
also things have been changing in the shed with the yard being
ripped up, lengthened & relaid getting ready for the new loco
depot up the centre. Next month I will have pictures of this &
of course the Ja!! Until then enjoy the Hobby.

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