Garden Whistle Apr 2012 - Sandman.org.nz

- G scale news from around New Zealand - 

April 2012 

Wayne Haste’s train running on Murray Bold’s new garden railway at Ashurst (near Palmerston North). 

An access bridge to store trains in the shed can be seen at the top of the photo. Photo: John Robinson.

The Garden Whistle - April 2012 

From the (retiring) Editor 

This issue completes eight full years since I 

took on the job as editor. 

Looking back over the last eight years, it has 

grown in size from 4 to 6 pages in A5 format to 

now be 12 to 24 pages in A4 format. 

It has also transformed from just being Christchurch 

club newsletter to slowly becoming the 

de-facto national newsletter for all G scale clubs 

in New Zealand. 

Of course a newsletter is only as good as the 

content in it, so I want to thank a number of people 

who have provided contributions on a regular 

basis. At the risk of forgetting someone, I am 

going to name them - because they deserve the 

thanks: John Robinson and Wayne Haste from 

Wellington, Michael Hilliar and Robert Graham 

from Auckland, Lloyd Dickens and Lee Collet 

from the Wairarapa, Grant Alexander and Raynor 

Johnston from Hamilton and Ian Galbraith 

for doing the proof reading. To the many others 

from around the country (and even further 

afield) who have provided occasional contributions, 

thank you one and all. 

I believe voluntary clubs that have people 

squatting in the same position for long periods 

often end up going stale. With that in mind, I 

have been doing this job quite long enough. At 

the AGM of the Christchurch Garden Railway 

Society (this month) I will be standing aside to 

let someone else take over and inject some new 

ideas and enthusiasm. 

To whoever you maybe, I wish you good luck. 

Just remember that I made some changes, and 

you shouldn’t be afraid to make some changes 

too. 

Glen Anthony, 

(Retiring) Editor 

Rocky Creek Railway 

Text & photos by Glen Anthony (Christchurch) 

Fresh on the back of the Garden Railway 

Convention, the February meeting in Christchurch 

was held at Glen and Brenda Anthony’s 

Rocky Creek railway. 

There wasn’t anything new to be seen that 

hadn’t been seen the month before. In fact there 

was less, because due to the threat of rain I didn’t 

put out many of my buildings as they are not 

weather proof. 

But the idea of hosting a meeting is not about 

putting your trains and stuff out on display. Its 

actually the opposite, the trains stay in the shed, 

to keep the tracks free for everyone else to run 

theirs. 

The first job in preparation for the day 

was to find the track cleaner. I’ve been 

slowly converting some of my engines to 

budget battery power. By budget, I mean 

using the right number of batteries to 

achieve a good speed when wired directly 

to the motor, so there is no need for expensive 

controllers. 

Ken Henderson’s railcar part way through repainting 

But having to clean the track gave me the 

opportunity to get ’up close and personal’ 

with the track for the first time in ages. It 

Page 2


was during this 

time that I discovered 

lots of 

new earthquake 

damage that I 

hadn’t noticed 

before. Bridges 

where the piles 

were cemented 

in the ground 

and the top attached 

to the 

track have been 

ripped apart in 

the middle, 

when somehow 

the ground had 

dropped but the 

track hadn’t. 

Strange things 

happen in and 

earthquake and you don’t try to understand 

them. 

Kerry’s DG crossing one of the earthquake damaged bridges. The top has lifted off the legs. 

Anyway on to the meeting. In spite of the 

drizzly start to the day there was a good turn 

out. 

Kabita turned up with a proposed track plan 

for her new railway. I’m not sure if asking for 

some advise helped or hindered her as I think 

she got as many different opinions as there were 

people at the meeting. 

Another person contemplating a new railway 

is new member 

Ken Henderson. 

Ken has purchased 

some 

equipment from 

Ian Sandford and 

arrived with a 

railcar originally 

built by Robin 

Knight. Ken was 

in the process of 

repainting it and 

the wet paint got 

some assistance 

to dry as it did a 

few laps of the 

railway. 

Dennis Lindsay turned up with the latest hand 

made point for his railway, built on a compound 

curve. Kerry Paterson arrived with his big NZR 

recabbed DG was had its first run on the railway. 

There were also numerous other trains run 

during the afternoon. Last to run was Karl 

Arnesen who was given some grief about having 

two locos with the same name and number on 

them (it seems rivet counters are still alive and 

well). He is now looking for a transfer to fix that 

problem. Anyone who can help out should contact 

Karl. 

Some discussion took place asking why both locos had the same number on them! 

Page 3


A Bold new railway in the Manawatu 

A view of the railway. Behind the umbrella you can just see the gazebo, which is also a good place to watch trains from 

Text & photos by John Robinson (Wellington) 

Long-time Wellington Garden Railway Group 

member Murray Bold, and his dearly beloved 

Janice, relocated from their home in central 

Palmerston North, a home with a small easy care 

garden to a comfortable ¼ acre semi rural home 

in the Manawatu hinterland. Unlike most of us, 

Murray is upsizing in preparation to retirement. 

A happy coincidence is that it is a perfect garden 

for a large railway, or is it? 

The experience Murray has gained in building 

his previous railways has been put rapidly into 

practice with his new railway built over the recent 

spring and summer. It was built so fast that 

the new railway doesn’t have a name yet. The 

railway was constructed through an existing 

slightly raised garden which contains a number 

of mature shrubs. Some were given a long overdue 

prune by Grant Alexander who was visiting 

over the preceding week. The garden also contained 

a couple of significant features; a large 

tree at one end and a handy gazebo towards the 

other, which the railway needed to navigate 

around. 

The transpiring track plan is a long figure of 8 

with a cut off track through the gazebo end of 

the 8 that can then be used to run as a smaller 

loop, we’ll call it the gazebo loop. The gazebo 

loop is track powered and the rest of the main 

line is unpowered. 

There are 

stations at 

each end of 

the 8. The 

station on 

the gazebo 

loop is the 

main station 

and 

includes a 

steam up 

bay. From 

the gazebo 

loop a 

branch is 

being laid 

to storage 

tracks in 

Murray’s 

workshop. 

Wayne’s Stainz is on the powered loop. The unpowered loop is in the foreground passing the gazebo 

Page 4


The track is all 

laid on the 

ground in a 

sand ballast 

bed. Track is a 

mix of the usual 

commercial 

brands, and 

some aluminium 

salvaged 

from Murray’s 

former railway. 

It has been recycled 

using 

Ian Galbraith’s 

double rail 

bender. 

Many of the 

buildings have 

come from 

Murray’s previous railway and some from Chris 

Rogers’s regrettably defunct railway. The bridges 

on the unpowered loop were supplied by 

Grant Alexander, with the truss bridge believed 

to have originate from Michael Hilliar and the 

other from the late John Dunne (Havelock 

North). The bridge to the workshop came from 

the old Palmerston North railway. There is naturally 

a lot to be done as the railway matures into 

its surrounds, and as Janice correctly says, it is a 

railway through 

the garden not a 

model railway 

garden. 

Waynes Murray’s Staniz scratch is on built the NZR powered D class loop. loco The and unpowered battery wagon loop is crossing the foreground a viaduct by passing the gazebo the gazebo 

yummy afternoon tea. The turnout was acceptable 

but I do feel sorry for those who couldn’t 

make the day, you really did miss a fun day. 

We ran track powered, battery powered and live 

steam locos. Mostly as is usual visiting stock 

put drivers to the test on the challenging grades 

and ensuring proper train control was used, especially 

on the cut of track forming the gazebo 

loops. You are free to assume there may have 

been the usual humoured panic when train con 

So that brings 

us to the 

WGRG March 

running afternoon 

hosted at 

Murray and 

Janice’s on a 

glorious sunny 

calm warm late 

summer day. 

The sort of day 

that you just 

want to be out 

there running 

trains with your 

mates, and eating 

Janice’s Waynes is in the foreground passing the gazebo 

Chris Drowley’s train approaching a tunnel. The route of the incline to the garage can be seen. 

Page 5


Grant Alexander’s live steam arrives at the main station 

Chris Drowley’s loco arriving at Hydrangea Halt 

trol was not up to standard. 

The person who travelled the furthest to get 

there was Grant Alexander all the way from 

Cambridge, and it was great to catch up with 

him again after GROW hosted the 2011 Garden 

Railway Convention. I’ll let the pictures tell the 

story of the types of trains we ran. Conversation 

covered many helpful topics on garden railways 

and some less helpful offerings. Boys will be 

boys. All up a classic running day, I do hope we 

get invited back, this is a great drivers railway. 

Thanks for the hospitality Murray and Janice. 

David A’s critter with Murray’s train on the lower track 

The control stand at right controls the powered circuit and points. This can be unplugged and removed when not in use. 

Page 6


Jan & Feb Wairarapa Running 

Ian Galbraith’s work train. 

Lloyd Dickens’s train pulling into the siding. 

Our running day on 25 February was hosted 

by Warren Stringer. 

The layout was set up on Warren’s front lawn 

with temporary track supplied by Warren and 

Lee Collett. (photo below). 

Warren is waiting for more track and hopefully 

his permanent layout will be up and running 

when he hosts his next club day. 

Ian Galbraith’s C16 pulling a freight train. 

Photos by Lee Collett (Carterton) 

Here are some photos from the Club running 

day at Jim McIntyre’s place on 15th January. 

(Top three photos and bottom photo). 

This was Ian and Ann Galbraith’s last running 

day with our club before moving to the South 

Island. All our club members wish them all the 

best. 

Warren’s Shay with Murray’s diesel in back ground. 

Jim McIntyre’s Dash 9 pulling a rake of box cars at the January running day. 

Page 7


Lloyd Dickens Running Day 

The Standard railcar built by the late Beauchamp Dickens can be seen in the wharf siding on Lloyd’s railway 

Text & photos by Lloyd Dickens (Masterton) 

My running day in mid March for the 

Wairarapa Garden Railway Group was a fine, 

very warm day. 

I had spent some days previously preparing 

the railway. It had been allowed to get into disrepair 

as I had been spending my time keeping 

my brothers Maples Railway going and visiting 

him. Beauchamp died in late February but I am 

pleased to report that his railway will survive. 

It’s the case of selling the railway and throwing 

in the farm and a house. Joan, his widow, is 

moving to a new house in Masterton. 

My railway up to now had been intended to 

have a logging theme, but after my visit last 

year to the Isle of Man I have decided to convert 

Murray Clarke’s U60 German Shunter. The Isle of Man 

Laxey Wheel can be seen in the background 

it to an Isle of Man railway. I already have one 

Isle of Man Locomotive “Caledonia” and have 

another on order. Now I have Beauchamp’s 

Laxey Wheel so the new theme is starting take 

shape. I am also blessed with a wharf Beauchamp 

built for me some years ago. Also I have 

in my garage on the layout his 1/24 th scale 5 ton 

Bedford truck built from a plastic kit from 

Emhar. 

The logging railway theme was to the fore on 

my running day. I ran two of Beauchamp’s 

geared Locomotives, the Heisler and the Climax. 

Warren Stringer brought along his Shay so 

the main geared locomotives where present. Later 

in the afternoon I ran my live steam Shay. 

Joan brought along Beauchamp’s Standard railcar 

he built from scratch and Murray had is Mallet 

pulling two tank wagons built by Wayne 

Haste of Wellington. 

I am trying out a new grass on my railway, No 

Mow. It comes from a Nelson outfit. It grows 

only 2-3cm in height and is a rich green. To 

weed it you water it with salty water. It is a 

New Zealand Native and lives on the coast so is 

used to salt. It is planted in small blocks about 

30cm apart. Within one year it will cover the 

whole area. I will keep you informed on its progress. 

Like watching grass grow. The web site is 

http://www.nomow.co.nz/ and I am using Fine 

Tide Turf - Selleria Microphylla Native 

Page 8


Wayne Haste’s Wagon Builds 

Photos & info from Wayne Haste (Wellington): Wayne is now building his own bogies from scratch. Here are 

the detailed parts being cut out. To the right is the finished body of OBB high side wagon 00d, which is just waiting for 

the bogies (above left) to be completed. 

00d now finished. Construction shown in the top photos. 

The prototype was built in 1890’s and used for general 

and seasonal timber traffic on the 750mm gauge OBB. 

Ow 282. One of two wagons that ran on a private company 

(Sudharzeisenbahn) line in East Germany. When Germany 

was cut into East and West, the railway was literally 

cut in half. It has since been rebuilt by the HSB and run 

tourist and local trains. 

These are Chinese produced copies of Saxon cars. I have 

removed the old decals (no such railway) then repainted 

and correct decals applied. 12 have been done for a client. 

Gwd 10200. Some of this wagon still exists today on the 

750mm OBB lines in Austria. 

Page 9


The Fraser Line 

Three loops at the main station allowed slower trains to pull in to allow faster trains to over take. 

Text & photos by Glen Anthony (Christchurch) 

In complete contrast to what we experienced 

when we last visited on the garden railway convention, 

the weather at Ross and Gwyn’s this 

time was very pleasant; no wind, sunny and hot! 

Rather than hiding behind the garage to get out 

of the wind, we were hiding under the trees to 

get out of the sun! A brief last glimpse of summer 

on a stunning 27deg day. 

As you will see elsewhere in this issue, the 

railway was measured at 136 metres long at the 

recent garden railway convention, and it is the 

longest one in the Canterbury area. The long run 

was fully utilised with three or four trains running 

at any one time during most of the afternoon. 

(One on track power and three on various 

battery powered systems). 

First to start running trains was the Paterson 

family who bought some of their Thomas the 

Tank Engine trains. Kelly (age 4) was in control 

of James, followed by Lorraine (age 5) who 

drove Percy. 

The line quickly became very busy as more 

and more trains rolled out of the indoor set-up 

yard and down the incline to the ground level 

track. Having many trains on the line was much 

more interesting than just watching one. Luckily 

the line has two places for passing. One is the 

main yard which has a number of loops. Slower 

trains occasionally pulled in to let faster trains 

Engine & driver swap. Kerry, Kelly & Lorraine Paterson 

Ian Galbraith’s railcar passing some of Ross’ signals 

Page 10


over take them. But just as in 

the story “The Hare and the 

Tortoise ”, its not always 

about speed. The fastest train 

on the line soon drained its 

battery and limped into the 

yard, meanwhile the slower 

trains passed it and carried 

on running for another hour 

or more. 

Ross has built a computer 

controlled signalling system 

using various components 

and scratch built signals. It is 

designed for track powered 

trains, and detects which 

section is drawing power. 

The computer logic then displays 

red and yellow signals 

behind the train and works 

out which way the points are 

set to display green on the 

correct signals ahead. Of 

course this works fine for 

Ross’ track powered trains 

but the visiting battery powered 

trains became ‘ghost’ 

trains on the system and so 

the usual rule of watching 

what is ahead of you prevailed. 

Dean Farrow’s railcar passes through at afternoon tea time 

Don Ellis’ Santa Fe passenger. The fastest train on the line....but only for an hour. 

We were privileged 

to have two 

new members arrive, 

Ian and Ann 

Galbraith who 

have recently 

moved down from 

Masterton. They 

have settled in 

Rangiora, (and Ian 

is busy planning 

where the garden 

railway will go). 

We look forward 

to more on that 

later. 

Thanks Ross & 

Gwyn for a great 

day! 

Graeme Moar’s train leaving the train shed with Glen and Don’s train waiting at the signal. 

Page 11


MacDiarmid Ken & Liz’s Meeting Railway 

Trains running in opposite directions pass at one of the stations on the line 

Text by Ken MacDiarmid (Auckland) 

Photos by Greg Booth (Auckland) 

Well, our week started with about six inches 

of flood water in our basement/garage/train storage 

area, and after three days of frantic carpet 

airing, ended still slightly smelly!! 

None of our 35 (about) society members attending 

were unkind enough to mention it. 

Ken’s layout which incorporates many of Henrik’s 

suggestions, is run completely on Digital 

command control using the very sophisticated 

ESU Ecommand Operating System, with NCE 5 

and 10 amp boosters, LGB handheld cabs, and a 

variety of decoders, from Loksound 1 and 3amp 

to Digitrax 5 amp with relays, and Lenz for the 

smaller Ford railtruck. In addition we have 

been busy exploring the iPod...... 

An iPod (or iPhone) sports a vast number of 

“apps”, and one of these we discovered turns 

these iGadgets into a sophisticated handheld 

model railway controller, with - to date - only 

one fault - it operates only on Lenz or Ecos central 

stations. This iPod does very well, with a 

colour graphic interface and a Wi-Fi reliable 

range greater than any other radio control systems 

we have used. [Look it up! Its in Appstore/ 

Utilities and named Touchcab.] 

Herein lies the great virtue of the Loksound system, 

that it can be mixed with any NMRA compatible 

segment. Inexpensive American high 

current decoders and boosters can be paired with 

clever German electronic architecture. Even 

LGB! 

In spite of Murphy’s law the double track layout 

functioned well on it’s first real test, needing 

two “Loco Engineers” for running trains in opposing 

directions, (see the layout diagram) 

through the long loop, with diverging single and 

double track sections. The additional bottom 

horseshoe gives us a height difference of 5 feet 

from the lowest yard to the spiral, with an average 

gradient of 3.5% and a total track length of 

170 meters plus storage sidings 

Here we were very indebted to Jenny Keal 

who gave Hugh permission to come and help us 

Page 12


run the layout. Thanks Jenny. 

The layout control system has an “if only I’d 

known” history. We tried an automatic signalled 

train control system which hinged on tracing 

locomotives on and off the sections of single 

track, to avoid head-on smashes. We could not 

buy dependable reed switches in NZ, and as they 

failed, so did the whole system. So we chopped 

the heart out of it and ended with a simple but 

not prototypical signal system which indicated 

when a single track section was occupied. That 

meant that the engine driver had to wait at the 

junction until he sighted the opposing train moving 

through the turnout. Thereafter, as he inched 

forward he switched the turnout before him 

AND the signal turned to green. 

Pretty sneaky! 

But it looks good, and it works - after a fashion. 

We will have to find big fat reed switches somewhere. 

The track plan does not show indoor storage sidings 

The very relaxed 'pot luck dinner' captured 

twenty members who stayed on to share and 

keep us entertained until after 9pm that night 

with a great deal of discussion about the Christchurch 

convention with its different structure. 

Though people seemed to see value in it Brenda 

and Glen set it up only because a hall was so 

difficult to find in shattered Christchurch. 

An enjoyable day. 

The indoor storage yard. 

Brian scratch built this Mid West Quarry building. 

Left Top: Michael Hilliar & John Reinecke 

Left Bottom: Crossing the diamond crossing under the house 

Page 13


Murray’s Measuring Machine 

Text by Murray Bold (Palmerston North) 

Photos by Don Ellis (Christchurch) 

In August 2009, I decided to try and build a 

wagon that would measure the length of a G 

scale track. I started with a Hartland 3 plank 

open wagon and added 2 more planks to make it 

about 5 cm high. 

At the Christchurch Convention this year, 

Lloyd Dickens had a Revolution controlled battery 

powered camera car loco. I hooked on behind 

his loco and measured the 9 track lengths 

±1.5%. 

I enjoy using Picaxe microcontrollers and 

decided to use an 18X. I changed the wheels to a 

pair that were as near to 100mm circumference 

as possible. This made the calculations much 

easier. I also added a slotted disc on the axle and 

infrared interrupter on the chassis to trigger the 

Picaxe input. The rest was mainly software. 

I took the wagon to the Wairarapa Convention 

and measured the tracks there in 2010. 

Lengths of the garden railways visited during the convention in Christchurch (in order of visit) 

Owner Railway Actual 

length 

Scale 

1:24 

Glen & Brenda Anthony Rocky Creek Railway 39.8m 0.95km 

Kevin & Michelle Leigh Somerset & Willard 38.0m 0.91km 

Scale 

1:29 

Andrew & Bindy Hamers 58.9m 1.7km 

Dean & Lois Farrow The Fenceline Railway 35.1m 0.84km 

Kerry & Crisma Paterson Ashburton Forks Railway 110.6m 2.6km 

Karl & Alison Arnesen Jessie Falls & Mt Catt Railroad 83.2m 2.4km 

Brian Allison Blackridge Lines 50.0m 1.45km 

Ross & Gwyn Fraser The Fraser Line 136.7m 3.96km 

Neil & Denise Wiggins 

Tuahiwi Valley Lumber & Mining 

Company 

90.2m 2.6km 

To work out the scale length multiply the actual length by your scale i.e. x 24 for 1/24 scale or 29 for 1/29 scale 

Page 14


Rosebrook Tunnel Rebuild 

Text & photos by Lee Collett (Carterton) 

Attached are photos of a major reconstruction 

of the Rosebrook tunnel lining. The photo below 

show the tunnel lining on a lean due to the 

weight of earth and rocks on top. Wagons 

were scraping one side of the tunnel. We 

found that 

the tunnel 

was leaning 

to the 

left. 

A new 

square tunnel 

liner 

was built. 

The following photos shows the construction 

work. It took about 4 hours to replace the old 

with the new lining. After it was finished the 

line was open and up and running. The second 

to last photo shows the first train through the 

tunnel pulling 

Christine’s 

new 

Swiss dairy 

container 

wagon. 

Digging out the old tunnel liner 

The new square one fitted 

First train through to test the clearance. 

The finished hill ready for plants to grow again 

Page 15


Chris Drowley’s Wagon ‘bashes 

The shortened carriage on the Tree Hutt Railway at Hutt Hospital 

By Chris Drowley (Wellington). 

Here are a couple of the “Train” wagons I have 

modified for a bit of fun. 

The shorty passenger car was a special for the 

Hutt Hospital “Tree Hutt Railway”. Two windows 

were removed from a Green Passenger 

Car. This was the maximum length that would 

navigate the track without touching the protective 

polycarb sides. 

Made from two tanks and a flat wagon 

The Tank Wagon was a 

play for myself. It was 

made using two red tank 

cars and a flat wagon. It 

only took a couple of hours 

to “bash” including painting. 

I used 3M Plastic primer 

and satin black spray 

paints purchased from SuperCheap. 

They gave an 

ultra quick dry and really 

good colour cover. The 

best part was you can glue 

this plastic with plumbers 

PVC guttering glue. 

Editor’s Note: “Train” is a 

new brand imported by 

Mack's Track (Wellington). 

Page 16

Beauchamp was my brother. Born 

15 years before me he was a much older 

brother who I had little to do with in 

the early years because of the age difference 

and living so far apart. Those 

who attended the Wairarapa Convention 

will have visited his Garden railway. 

Beauchamp was a farmer and a 

craftsman. When he semi retired to 

Masterton he started on OO gauge and 

built a large English theme layout. I 

recently relocated it and while it was 

never intended to be shifted, in the end 

it moving a lot easier than I expected. 

He also built three model boats including 

the Endeavour and the Bounty 

from scratch. 


Beauchamp Charles Dickens 

1930 - 2012 

In 2000 after I saw a TV program on 

Garden Railways I suggested he built 

one. I purchased a live steam locomotive 

and Beauchamp an LGB locomotive. 

He used some brass rail and 

welded together steel strips to make up 

a large section of the railway. He made 

all the turnouts and semaphore signals 

which where operated from the turnout controls. 

Beauchamp started casting concrete slabs from 

plastic sheet used as moulds and so many buildings 

and a castle were constructed. He later built 

a Mill and church from wood. The railway is the 

same length as a tennis court and 5 metres wide. 

It consists of a double loop. He also added a 

gondola and a model of the Laxey Water wheel 

from the Isle of Man. 

He started building his own wagons but soon 

was purchasing them. His locomotive and wagon 

collection soon expanded, mainly in the 

American outline style. He built many different 

box cars mainly to carry 12 volt batteries which 

powered most of his locomotives. 

When he tired of a particular type of locomotive 

he changed direction so going from steam 

outline to diesel. In steam he got Moguls, all 

Beauchamp Dickens on his Maples Garden Railway 

three main geared locomotives, a large 2-8-8-2 

Mallet and a K27 2-8-2 down to a LGB Tram 

and LINZ locomotive. He got both the Dash 9 

and Class 66 Diesel’s and then setup container 

trains representing USA and UK modern container 

trains. He also built a small bush tram and 

some box cars to go with the diesel locomotives. 

His most impressive build was the 4 truck Shay, 

Limas Class 150 Shay. This consisted of a 

standard 2 truck Shay with the extra Tender carrying 

the extra trucks. He was helped by this 

from a release of individual trucks by Bachmann. 

We used to visit each other alternatively each 

week and run our trains on each others layout. 

This encouraged us too keep everything up to 

scratch. I will greatly miss these running days 

with my brother. 

Lloyd Dickens 

Page 17

By Kevin Leigh (Christchurch) 

The Garden Whistle - November 2011 


NZR Chopper couplers 1/24 

( fabricated in brass ) 

This article will briefly explain how I fabricated NZR style buffers for use on 1/24 scale or 

‘G’ gauge loco’s and rolling stock. They are not 100% accurate to the prototype ,but they work 

well and are convincing enough. They're inexpensive to build, using, readily available brass 

stock from the K&S stand. 

A 

1 

2 

K&S Brass Shapes 

1. 3/8” x 3/16” -hollow rectangle 

2. 5/32” x 5/32” -hollow square 

3. 1/8” x 1/8” -hollow/solid square 

4. 3/32” x 1/32” -strip 

5. 1/2” x 1/16” -strip,( to cut disc from) or . 

5b. 1/2” -round bar, (cut discs 

on lathe, or, by hand ) 

6. 0.8mm -brass wire or equivalent 

7. 1/16” -brass rod / wire 

The buffer face, shown here was cut from a piece 

of 1/2 inch bar stock, with a 3.5mm hole bored 

into it. It can alternatively be made using 1/2” x 

1/16” flat strip and scribing 11.64mm circles and 

drilling out the 3.5mm hole, cutting out the disc 

with a piercing saw ,then filing the outer edge 

smooth. The curve on the buffer face can be 

formed once the whole buffer has been fabricated. 

For now we only need a disc with a hole in it. 

A 

slot 

3 

B 

4 

The buffer head was formed by taking the length 

of (3/8 x 3/16) hollow rectangle and drilling a series 

of 3.5mm through holes about 20mm apart. 

The hole on one side was then filed square to allow 

the (5/32 ) hollow square to fit in. 

A slot was made in the (5/32) hollow square only 

big enough to allow space to get a file into the gap 

later. 

Don’t file the slot smooth yet. The remaining side 

walls will be used to guide the 1/8 bar, and keep it 

square while on the soldering jig. 

A 

slot 

B 

The hollow (5/32) square was then inserted into the 

square hole in the (3/8 x 3/16) rectangle hollow 

and pushed right in. 

Once firmly seated the hollow square was trimmed 

off . 

Page 18


A 

5 

Soldering it all together 

A jig was made by taking a small block of wood. 

Into this was drilled a 1/8 hole into which was inserted 

a short length of 1/8 dowel . 

The buffer face is placed over the dowel to rest on the 

block of wood. 

Then place over this ,the hollow rectangle with the 

partly cut away and trimmed off square, check that all 

is arranged okay. Solder it all together with a hot iron. 

The wood will burn , avoid using MDF for the jig 

A 

Once soldered the buffer head was roughly trimmed 

off, then filed to give it some shape . 

The 1/8 square bar had a slot cut into it, once again to 

allow space to get a file in. 

6 

To ease the soldering ,and stop the assembly falling apart 

when heated, small balls of wet tissue paper can be placed 

around delicate parts to act as a heat sink, and keep parts 

in place 

A 

B 

The peg was changed in the 

jig to a much shorter one. 

The formed head was then 

placed back on the jig. The 

slotted 1/8 bar was the fed 

into the head 

A 

B 

C 

7 

8 

and pushed in to the face. The assembly was then 

checked for squareness . All was soldered in place 

with a hot iron .This forms the shank. 

To replicate mid production buffers ,a gusset was required. 

(Choose which is to be the top) 

For this the 3/32 x 1/32 strip was used. One end is 

filed square to fit then soldered in place ,the step is 

then repeated for the gusset on the other side. 

These were trimmed and filed to shape later when 

satisfied they were in the correct place. 

( this part of the exercise can be frustrating as parts 

may want to let go ,use of a heat sink and patience 

was required ,it all works out in the end) 

A strip op 3/32 x 1/32 strip was soldered to the bottom 

of the buffer head, two holes of 1mm were then 

drilled in it to provide a location for the bridle to fit. 

The ‘U’ was then cut out of the face and shaped. 

Page 19


9 10 11 

C 

1/16” 

12 

1/16” holes were made in the head for the coupling pin using the 

plan as a guide for their location. Then enlarged slightly. 

The bridle hoop was formed from a piece of 0.8mm wire bent over 

a 3/16” drill bit. This was made longer than it needed to be. The 

strip on the bottom of the bridle was made from 3/32 x 1/32 strip 

using the bottom bracket to mark the location for the o.8mm holes. 

It was then slid onto the bridle hoop and soldered in place. The 

hook will need to be made before the bridle can be fine tuned. 

13 

C 

. 

0.9mm hole 

For an early style buffer no gussets were 

fitted. 1/16 coupling holes were made in the 

same way. A 0.9mm hole was made through 

the back bottom corner of the head. The bridle 

was made from 0.8mm square brass 

which was made into a hoop in the same 

way over a 3/16” drill bit. The ends were 

folded over, soldered and shaped to form 

eyes with a 0.8mm hole made in both eyes. 

A 0.8mm piece of brass wire was then 

passed through a bridle eye through the 

buffer and out through the other 

eye ,soldered and trimmed. The bridle 

should move freely. 

14 

15 

1/16” 

collar 

0.5mm 

0.5mm 

. 

The coupling pins were made from 1/16” hollow tube. 

1/16 solid would have worked just as well. 

A slot was formed on the end and tidied up. Using some 1/16 aluminium 

hollow rod one end was crimped and filed flea and shaped 

until it fitted into the slot of the previous piece. When all fitted 

well a 0.5mm hole was made through the brass rod ,across the slot 

through the aluminium rod and out the other side. A 0.5mm brass 

wire was passed through the hole and soldered in place, trimmed 

and tidied up . 

A collar was made for the other end. After making sure that the 

pin was long enough to fit through the head a collar was soldered 

in place. A small chain was then soldered to this end which will 

later be attached to the head. 

Page 20


15 

A B C 

1.8mm 

5.4mm 

9.3mm 

16 

The hook was made from of 1/2 x 1/16 strip 

by reducing the drawing that I was using to 

1/24th scale on the photo copier . I t was then 

glued to the brass with PVA . When it was 

dry ,the hook was cut out and shaped with 

files. 

The hook still needed to be fine tuned when 

fitted to the buffer to ensure that when coupling 

to other rolling stock there weren’t going 

to be problems. 

It wasn’t too difficult to style an early type of 

hook from this same cut out. 

The side chain hooks were made in much the 

same way as the hook was made ,by reducing 

a photo to size, making copies and gluing 

them to the brass, cutting them out and filing 

them to shape. The chain was from Spotlight. 

These hooks should be 

about 1/24 th scale 

23mm 

25mm 

Cut slot in 

headstock 

to fit 

17 

2mm Nut 

To mount the buffers, a carrier was formed 

from 3/8 x 3/16 rectangle stock. 

The buffer was trimmed to 25mm. A small 

piece of 5/32 square was slid over the rear of 

the shank and soldered in place. 

A 1.6mm hole was drilled 23mm from the 

face and threaded with a 2mm tap. 

The rear of the shank was rounded off to allow 

it to move freely. A 2mm hole was made 

in the centre of the carrier at the rear for a 

2mm screw to pass through in to the shank. 

Washers were soldered to 2mm screws to 

form eyebolts. 2mm holes were made in the 

front of the carrier to allow for mounting to 

the headstock. A centring spring was made 

from phosphor bronze strip and soldered to 

the rear of the carrier. 

2mm Screw 

Washer soldered to 

screw to form eyebolt 

Slot cut for 

washer 

18 

19 20 

21 

Page 21


Ornamental arrangement 

22 

The slot in the front of the carrier was 

opened out to 11mm , this gave the coupler 

a 30 degree swing each way. 

The carrier slot can be altered to suit 

conditions . 

Alternatively a slotted guide can be made 

24 

23 

Screw 

5/32x5/32 

from 5/32 square and attached to the headstock 

and the buffer secured by other means 

behind the headstock. 

Such as the original coupler mounting 

point , if changing couplers on existing 

Rolling stock. In this case the shank stays at 

1/8 square . 

25 

26 

In this case a screw was passed through the original 

screw hole ,and the 5/32 square guide was 

used 

27 

Add sleeve if making the full carrier 

Leave sleeve off if just using the headstock 

guide and mounting to existing point. 

All of this is only a guide to how I have done 

this, you may choose to improve on this and 

enhance your own couplers . 

Page 22


As a follow on ,I will show how I fabricated a transition head to enable, 

Loco’s fitted with NZR buffers at scale height to couple to wagons that have Aristocraft 

or Bachmann knuckles. 

Kevin Leigh. 

Page 23

Auckland: 

Date TBA - Derek and June Lane, 10 Tiber Rd., 

Forrest Hill. 

Club Contact: Auckland G Scale Society. 

C/- Michael Hilliar, 22 Halver Road, Manurewa, Auckland 

2102. Ph 09 266-4745 email: mhilliar@orcon.net.nz 

The The Garden Whistle - November - May 2011 2011 

The Garden Whistle - March 2012 

Club Events and Contacts 

STOP PRESS: Just announced: 

8 th NZ Garden Railway 

Convention 

Waikato: 

Saturday 14 April - Grant and Donna Alexander 

Cambridge 1863 State highway 1, Cambridge 

Saturday 5 May - Raynor Johnston, Horsham 

Downs. 147 Osborne Road, RD1 

Club Contact: GROW: Garden Railway Operators of Waikato! 

Grant Alexander, PO Box 1172, Cambridge. Ph 07 823-0059. 

gscale@clear.net.nz 

To be based again at 

Tirimoana School Hall 

Glendene 

Auckland 

26 th and 27 th January 2013. 

(Auckland anniversary weekend) 

Wairarapa: 

Easter Sunday 8 April - Jeremy Were, 423 High Street South, Carterton. 1:30pm 

Club Contact: Wairarapa Garden Railway Group. C/- Murray Clarke, 4 Taylor Street, Carterton. Ph 06 379 7659. 

Wellington: 

Sunday 15 April - John Robinson, Tawa from 1:30pm 

Wednesday 2 May - BBC evening at Mack's Track Plimmerton Station from 7:30pm 

Sunday 13 May - Robin Gunston and Dave Allen, Whitby from 1:30pm 

Phone John for more details. 0274 427 160 

Club Contact: Wellington Garden Railway Group Incorporated. www.culcreuchfold.org.nz/wgrg.htm 

C/- John Robinson, PO Box 56039, Tawa, Wellington 5249 Ph 0274 427 160 wgtngardenrail@gmail.com 

Christchurch: 

Sunday 22 April - AGM. Neil Wiggins. 172 Tuahiwi Road, Tuahiwi , North Canterbury. From 1pm. 

If running afternoon is cancelled due to rain, the AGM will be held at Don’s work at 2pm. 

Phone Neil to check if weather looks doubtful - Ph 03 313 1091 

AGM (starts 2pm). Positions to be filled: 

1. Chairperson/Secretary. 2.Treasurer. 3.Newsletter Editor. 

All running afternoon’s 1-4pm. If weather looks doubtful, please phone host to check if meeting is still on. 

Club Contact: Christchurch Garden Railway Society P.O. Box 7145, Christchurch 8240 

Chairperson: . Email: 

The Garden Whistle is published monthly by the Christchurch Garden Railway Society and features news 

from various G scale clubs in New Zealand. 

Each club is a separate identity and the contact details can be found above. 

Contributions of articles and/or photos are always welcome. Photos should be sent as separate jpg attachments. 

Editor: Glen Anthony. 59 Colombo Street, Christchurch 8022. Email: glen.bren@paradise.net.nz 

Page 24

Garden Whistle Apr 2012 - Sandman.org.nz

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