Interesting Transportation and Structures in Australia and New Zealand
Hi all. My dear friend and lead singer in one of my bands, Adrienne, snapped a number of images of much interest to me while on her two-month journey through Australia and New Zealand.
She travelled with her partner, Bill, an all round amazing fellow. I would like to thank them both for sharing their trip stories with their friends via Facebook.
It's fun to create a posting like this as it keeps our blog active throughout the garden railroad off-season in such a creative way. Adrienne granted me the permission to showcase her images. Thank you so much, Adrienne!
Adrienne is standing beside me with our OVGRS friend, Gerry Berrigan, on bass standing on her other side. Our other OVGRS friend, Pete Conroy, is the lad playing saxophone. My daughter, Alison, is snapping a different picture to the right of the image.
Enlarge images by clicking on them and shrink them by clicking outside the picture.
The goal of this blog entry is to cover all forms of transportation as photographed by Adrienne. A variety of interesting structures will be covered as well. We see Singapore Harbour as lensed from the window of the aircraft.
The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway is a heritage line in the Peel region of Western Australia which operates over a 32 km section of the original Pinjarra to Narrogin Railway line.
Dwellingup is now the primary centre of the railway's operations. It is staffed exclusively by volunteers and runs both steam and diesel excursions.
Thanks so much, Adrienne, for thinking of my railroad interests!
And we thought our redwood forests in BC were impressive! Bill is standing by the felled tree at Whittakers Sawmillers Concession.
The sign tells it all!
That is one impressive tree. These forests are managed under contract by the state government through the Forest Products Commission with many restrictions in place for preservation of the amazing jarrah trees as well as karri and marri wood.
Adrienne tells me she saw many of these "Road Trains" as they are called along the Great Northern Highway. The trucks could be comprised of up to five trailers, tankers or shipping container loads. Quite lengthy indeed. This example Adrienne and Bill lensed with their camera seems to contain 60 wheels!
While this sign is dated 1906, it reminds me of the trespassing laws that came into effect for railfans following 9/11. My further research tells me that the railway did not prosper as in 1915, the Western Australian Government Railways opened a parallel and longer route some 50 kms further east.
A lovely shot from under the canopy overhang of the station.
The Bennett Brook Railway is a 2-ft narrow gauge tourist attraction operated by the West Australian Light Railway Preservation Association. It is located within the boundaries of Whiteman Park some 19 kms distant from Perth.
Little Ashley hauls tourists along the line. She is a friend of Thomas the Tank engine. The railway operates these passenger services primarily on weekends and school and public holidays. They occasionally offer midweek services to school groups who wish to visit and learn more about transportation.
Speaking of transportation, tram car number 891 looks gorgeous, resplendent in its green and cream livery outside the station. Train #8 has just arrived!
Thanks again to Adrienne and Bill for thinking of my railroad interests while on their trip.
Someday I hope to visit the Whiteman Park Transport Museum!
In our garden railroad group we have members who have served for our military be it army, air force or navy. I thought you would be interested in this lovely photo my dear friends snapped of this beautiful commemoration piece.
Adrienne and Bill snapped this shot of the 64-seat Captain Hussey train which takes visitors out to Rottnest Island.
I love lighthouses and have modelled a couple in my time.
This is the light at Fish Hook Bay in Rottnest.
Adrienne and Bill now journey east from Perth aboard the Indian Pacific Train which could be considered the "sister" train to the Ghan. Adrienne tells me it is known (un)affectionately as the "Geriatric Express" due to the average age of the travellers.
One final note about Perth. Adrienne informed me that public transit is free in the downtown area of the city. Gee, wouldn't it be nice if Ottawa adopted such a policy!
Sisters!
Their train trip arrives at Kalgoorlie, home to what had been the world's largest open pit mine until it was surpassed in size in 2016. Check out the size of these trucks. It'd be fun to play with them in a sandbox wouldn't it! The lovely lady is in the image to help provide scale size for Adrienne.
We are modelers so it is always nice to see models of "other things" than trains sometimes! Big grin!
Wow, that is one huge depression in the landscape!
The information on the pit. It is known colloquially as the "Super Pit". It had been Australia's largest open cut gold mine until 2016 at which time it was surpassed by the Newmont Boddington Gold Mine also located in Western Australia. The pit is oblong in shape and is approximately 3,5 kms long, 1.5 kms wide and over 600 metre deep!
Nice modeling.
Most interesting.
A cool informative display.
An interesting "time warp" occurred for Adrienne and Bill while on this magical and mystical train journey. At some point in their journey, they passed through a time zone but the time changed not by one hour...but by three and a half hours! Adrienne and Bill checked their watches and as the train sped along the rails, the time morphed from 9:32 AM Western Australia Time to 1:02 PM South Australian Time "in an instant"! That sure is "one huge collapse of time" as Adrienne so well put it! This resulted with the passengers only being able to enjoy two meals on this day rather than the normal three! Yikes!
Adrienne tells me that at an outback location known simply as Cook, the train stops for a crew change and a change of refreshments for the kitchen.
The sign matches the cutout in the oil drum from the previous image.
Passengers are encouraged to detrain for a walkabout.
Looks to me like the accommodations for the train crews.
While I am not a beer drinker, the internet tells me that James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale is a clean-finishing, Australian-style cloudy pale ale for cracking refreshment. Malted wheat adds to its refreshing character and a concoction of hops creates fruity aromas with hints of passionfruit, grapefruit and citrus.
I also learned that James Squire, aka James Squires with an "s" at the end of his surname was a First Fleet convict transported to Australia. He is said to be credited with the first successful cultivation of hops in Australia around the start of the 19th Century...but that's not the entire story.
Rather than face execution, James Squire was fined five pounds and sentences to receive 300 lashes; one hundred fifty now...and the remainder when able to bear it - according to the order of 14 November, 1789. Interesting accounts for sure!
Seeing as I enjoy all forms of transportation, here is an image Adrienne or Bill took of the highway in Adelaide.
And...what's not to like about this vehicle!
Arriving in Sydney much later, I'm glad the pair snapped this photograph of Sydney's Airport Train known as AirportLink. Fabulous!
We have our Canada Day on July 1st each year. Adrienne informs me that Australia has its own "birthday" as well...and it is in the summertime too! January 26th - Aussie summer that is! Two hundred years earlier ships from England arrived around this time.
Wow! Speaking of cool modeling! These next two images were snapped in the Customs House in Sydney.
That's a model of the city below the tourists' feet!
I love modeling marine vessels...and looking at them too! Happy Australia Day to our folks "down under"!
I also enjoy modeling structures and this famous one would make for a fascinating model!
Or...how about the Sydney Harbour Bridge! This gorgeous span is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design. It is a great example of a steel "through arch bridge". Along with the Sydney Opera House from the previous image, the two structures combine to form an iconic image of both Sydney itself and the country of Australia.
What tourist would neglect to snap a photo of these interesting sign posts?
Yet another pale ale found in Australia but I think it is found in America as well.
Adrienne and Bill reached New Zealand where this photograph which interests me greatly was taken. I have modeled a number of marine vessels as mentioned earlier and I have one similar to that which is shown in the upper black and white image still sitting in a box on my shelf waiting to be modeled.
My friends flew in to Queensland where they flew over "The Remarkables" a chain of snowcapped mountains that really impressed them.
Speaking of snow-capped mountains, they stand guard in this image taken at the side of the highway. Adrienne tells me that the speed limit of 100 can be scary at times when the roads twist and turn on the edges of the mountains. Note how the driver is seated in "our passenger side" and the traffic is left lane running.
Hey Fred...this structure would look great "trackside" on our large scale outdoor railroad here in Ottawa.
The structure guides Adrienne and Bill to their next stop, a lovely bed & breakfast getaway...one of many in which they stayed throughout their two-month journey to the southern hemisphere.
Aha...wouldn't it be nice to indulge in this bag 'o chips during our post-train operations BBQ!
Or...how about a morcel or two of these!
Live music! That's to Adrienne's and my liking!
Any unusual equipment like what is found in this image immediately draws my attention! This is part of an abandoned water wheel which provided power for a "long ago" sawmill.
I will be undertaking a huge modeling project along with Doug Matheson creating a sawmill in O-scale.
At Lake Gunn, this Bure (aka Gall) was spotted by our intrepid duo. Looks like a fist to me!
Now...I bet you were anticipating a photograph similar to this! You knew it would come eventually. Adrienne told me that the herder mentioned to her to "keep on driving and they will avoid your car" - much slower on the gas pedal I presume! Big grin!
I do love bridges!
Great shot Adrienne and Bill!
Indeed, a suspension bridge she be's!
Aha...another lighthouse!
This is the Nugget Point Lighthouse.
We are viewing an image taken in the Otego region of the South Island. The tower for the light was built from locally quarried stone and it was built between 1869 and 1870.
Aha...some more locomotive wheels! Love it! They are carved from wood. This shot was taken at a location known as Kaka Point.
Adrienne shared this "brochure" shot of the Dunedin Railway Station.
And...this shot from a booklet.
"Why?" you ask. Well the photo above answers the question. Most of the structure is "wrapped" due to recent renovations. Nice wrapping, I must add!
Over on the other side of the station Bill manages to find the original structure.
Let's head inside, shall we! Now "that" is one impressive foyer!
Love this shot - thanks a ton Adrienne and Bill!
The upper floor.
Hey Fred, wouldn't this stained glass look great in a window at your place!
From Dunedin we spot a train in at the station. It is the Taieri Gorge Railway, one of the world's great train trips. It departs daily from downtown Dunedin into the Taieri Gorge travelling through some of New Zealand's most beautiful and ever-changing scenery. There is an on board cafe and the train offers outside viewing platform for a perfect "all weather" experience.
Their website has indicated that the tours are "in hibernation" still due to the pandemic.
Another cool looking passenger car on the train!
Lovely gardens outside.
We find Adrienne at Holmes Wharf in Oamaru, the location of the famed "Blue Penguin" colony. Love this shot with the outdoor frame allowing visitors to share in being the "subject" of the image.
Cool van!
And another one. Might have to model something like this someday!
Hey, a Penny Farthing model in very large scale!
And...a gentleman riding a real Penny Farthing!
Engineer Bill waves hello!
Now in Christchurch, our illustrious travelers visit the Arts Centre.
This had to be one of my favourite photos from their entire trip! Indeed, it appears the structure is hanging by itself suspended in the sky. Well...it is suspended...on "hard to see" cables. Definitely eye-popping!
The Bridge of Remembrance.
I have been to Gallipoli on my trip to Turkey many years ago but not the other two locations noted here.
Lovely.
I recall seeing many of these shipping containers painted in all sorts of colours and designs following the huge earthquake which damaged so much of this wonderful city.
Check out the rails in the pedestrian mall!
Now...that's a "whale" of a building. It certainly is! Why...it is a whale!
Ottawa has its tulips, Vancouver has its bears, New York City has its cows...and Christchurch has its...hmmm...sheep!
Yes they do!
Whenever I travel I love snapping pictures of awesome looking murals and it appears Adrienne and Bill do as well!
Hmmm...now this one is certainly different! Adrienne tells me that the wall on the men's side of the building was actually quite boring. Photo taken in Cheviot, NZ.
More live music to suit this blogger's musical tastes!
Yet another wall mural. I photographed many on Vancouver Island that showcased the logging railroad interests. These ones in New Zealand showcase a totally different subject!
I bet this weather forecasting "device" is more accurate than most meteorologists!
And...here are the rocks you must observe for the forecast! Location - Motueka, NZ.
Low tide at Abel Tasman.
Love boats...I do!
My daughter, Alison, went sky diving in Abel Tasman, NZ. She jumped out of the plane at 16 500 feet, the highest allowable altitude. Her pics and videos of this experience are still exhilarating but terribly frightening to "this dad"!
Adrienne shared this around and I love it - being a musician!
Time to head from the South Island to the North Island.
The marina in Picton on the South Island.
Another commemorative bridge.
Commercial break...here is Adrienne singing and me playing guitar with other bandmates at the senior's home where Adrienne's mom used to live. The audience is out of the picture to the left as we are set up in the entrance foyer in front of a huge aquarium. We had a blast that day as Adrienne regaled the audience with a ton of songs they would remember from years back!
On the ferry.
I found this an interesting photo of Bill as the path offers up a form of transportation.
But the only difference is...pedestrians must "yield" to bikers! This oasis is located in Wellington, now on the North Island.
Looks to me like the head of an upright bass that you would see being played in the NAC orchestra!
A brochure shot of the ferry.
Adrienne captured a shot of this rarest of birds. This Takahe is one of the few flightless bird species found on the planet.
Another preserved relic of mining days.
I really appreciate the appearance of tunnels on a model railroad, but that is not their sole purpose. Indeed, tunnels exist for roadways as well. This photo of the Mount Victoria Tunnel was snapped in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington. It is 623 metres long.
Breaking news as photographed by Adrienne and Bill.
Adrienne spoke of being blessed that she and Bill chose to land on the South Island to begin the New Zealand leg of their journey. Had the situation been reversed, Cyclone Gabrielle would have wreaked havoc on their itinerary. As it turned out, they had to make some amendments to their travel plans on the North Island but they were much less impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Taihape is the "Gumboot Capital" of New Zealand.
Yes, they hold an annual Gumboot Throwing Competition!
The human records for tossed distances.
We have a few structures on our outdoor railroad here in Ottawa but none like this one hiding in this most interesting looking tree!
Say Fred...maybe we could create something like this along the route of the Ironwood & Peter's Pond Western...or perhaps something of this nature would suit the crazies who operate the Rat Portage & Mattawa! Hehehe!
Now...this is history!
Love the mural of this expedition! Hello James Cook!
A cross-sectional view of the vessel.
"Where are the sleeping quarters?" Adrienne wonders.
"Aha! Perhaps those hammocks!" Bill responds.
Hey...this looks like a map for a narrow gauge railway!
Indeed it is! As the lower left sign indicates that "Trains Go This Way!"
Yes, Adrienne and Bill have found themselves at the Coromandel Driving Creel Railway! This is another great example of a narrow gauge line. This one is a bush and mountain railway on the outskirts of the town of Coromandel.
Love this tunnel shot of the two gents! Hopefully they seeked permission from the establishment! The railway is located on the northwestern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula.
The tracks lead up the mountain to a viewing platform with its building located 165 metres high above the surrounding scenery. Adrienne mentioned the "Eyefull Tower"! I want to visit there some day!
We had an earlier photo of Bill as engineer and now we have one of Adrienne!
Love the equipment so elegantly decked out! The Driving Creek Railway, with its tortuous route, is located on 22 HA of scenic and historic reserve land and was designed and built by a gentleman by the name of Barry Brickell. He started the project in 1973 and completed it in 1990. Adrienne mentioned that the railway saw its one millionth visitor a couple of years back.
Way to go, Mr. Brickell. It's great to see your dream realized!
That sure is "narrow gauge"!
Our explorers are now in Waitangi, a locality on the north side of the Waitangi River in the Bay of Islands. Waitangi is a Maori-language word meaning "noisy waters" or "weeping waters". This is most likely in reference to the Haruru Falls found along the Waitangi River.
I am so happy that Adrienne and Bill thought to snap images of these gorgeous boats known as Waka. They are the world's largest ceremonial carved boats some 35 metres long. The figurehead at the front of each vessel has been worn down with folks giving it the traditional Maori greeting of "forehead and nose touch". Truly fascinating!
This was yet another travel advisory.
Time to leave New Zealand!
Not only are Adrienne and Bill fearless travelers...the are smart ones too! They contacted their booking agent to see the best way they could both use up their "five plus years" of accumulated travel points. Their agent was most creative and had them fly first class all the way...with one caveat...that being that they would not fly the "conventional" westerly route through Vancouver to Australia. No...they would take what we call in railroad parlance...the milk run!
Here is a listing of their travels; Take VIA Rail train trip from Ottawa to Montreal. Fly from Montreal to Istanbul. Take a new flight from Istanbul to Singapore. From Singapore travel to Perth. Then take the train to Sydney. Fly to Queensland on New Zealand's South Island. Ferry to the North Island. Return home via Aukland, NZ back to Singapore. From Singapore return to Istanbul. From Istanbul head northwest to Warsaw, Poland. Direct flight from Warsaw to Toronto. Fly from Toronto home to Ottawa. Their agent managed to use up only 20% of their points - now that is thrift in my books...and to think, first class flying all the way.
Final note - the only airline delay was in their home flight from Toronto to Ottawa! Go figure!
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Adrienne posted images from inside the Singapore Airport which contains this breathtaking scene of the world's largest indoor waterfall.
I had recently seen a documentary on the creation of this airport while watching the Smithsonian Channel on television.
Indeed a commuter line pierces the structure and rides above the surrounding interior landscape.
Inside one of their many airplane flights.
The woman's bathroom in the airport.
Another one of the many aircraft they took.
The interior of the plane.
"Fancy-dancy"!!!
Again, a great big note of thanks to both Adrienne (pictured here) and her beau, Bill, for allowing me to share this interesting blog posting with you.
Adrienne is the proud owner of "The Dickens Carollers" and she participates in many of their concerts. She has a contingent of singers who dress in period costumes for performances.
The Dickens Carollers have appeared in television movies and can be found serenading the public in the weeks leading up to Christmas time in business foyers, shopping malls, for office parties to name a few of the many appearances they make each December. Because Adrienne has a number of singers and costumes, a number of her quartets can be singing simultaneously in different locations around the city. This flexibility is important seeing as the carollers have such a shortened season in which to perform.
Adrienne and Mike "in studio" a year or so ago!
Thanks for checking in and taking interest in the many great experiences Adrienne and Bill encountered on the recent vacation "down under"! I knew that it would be of tremendous interest to our "railroad" community here in Ottawa
Thanks again, Ad!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
