This page then, is a record of what was and what was planned to be.
First up the Bachmann Porter 0-4-2T seen below.
I have added a backup light, modified the headlight, installed a steam generator, air tanks and air pump. The loco is powered by an Umelec decoder which provides motion, lights and sound. The speaker is hidden under the wood load and the decoder is inside the driver's side of the cab.
Next is my Bachmann Climax.
This loco is pretty much standard except for the addition of a Loksound V3.5 decoder, weathering and a crew. I disconnected the leads from the decoder shortened and reconnected them coming back across the decoder instead of away from the decoder. This was done in order to make fitting the decoder into the tank easier. The bell has been removed, no stinkin' bells on locos in the New Zealand bush mate. This loco has restricted running rights on the current G&KP due to the tight radius of most of the curves.
The Mighty Outside Framed 2-8-0.
This one is also pretty standard. That infernal bell has been removed and the bell sound on the Loksound decoder is no longer assigned to any of the function buttons. The Loksound has also received a 32mm 50ohm speaker and along with enlarging the holes this has improved the sound no end. The headstock has been painted red as was the practice here in New Zealand. The tender has been relettered for the G&KP. The loco has recieved a light coat of grime befitting a hard working but well maintained pride-of-the-fleet machine.
Thames Trader Railtruck
Bush Railtruck. This one is a bash using a Corgi 1:50 Ford Thames Trader for the body and the running gear and decoder were supplied by a Precision Craft Models Galloping Goose. The Goose came with a Loksound decoder on board. The frame from the main body of the Goose was cut down in both length and width to fit inside the body of the truck. The frame was turned around so the drive is now at the rear. With the frame shortened there is now only one speaker which provides more than adequate sound levels. The decoder has had a capacitor repositioned so that the decoder now fits alongside the motor inside the body. The headlights are lit as is the tail light. The railtruck has found it's home on the Owen Firty Timber Co.
On the drawing board were:
Bachmann Railtruck. This one was in design stage but would be a relatively simple bash, changing the stakebed rear into a typical NZ bush jigger style of arrangement. It was to recieve a Loksound Micro decoder with their goose sound project. The photo shows the railtruck sitting in the yard with the decoder waiting for the work to be done.
Rivarrossi HO Heisler bash. Things had stepped up on this one. The cab and bunker had been removed. New steam dome, headlight, generator, stack installed. Frame mods done, ready for new pilots to be installed.
This one went to a good home with a well known Australian modeller...
Bachmann HO 0-6-0T bash. This one was in a similar state to the Heisler and was to become the main G&KP ore transport power.
I also had two more 0-6-0Ts waiting to be turned into??? Perhaps a second 0-6-0T and a ?-6-? tender loco but probably a Garratt 0-6-0+0-6-0. In addition to this the G&KP took possesion of a Bachmann HO MDT Plymouth. Sometime it was to be given the treatment and emerge as the G&KPs only D-cell.
A BVM Mighty Midget kitbash. I had lengthened the hood and moved the cab back. Also added are a headlight and backup light, air tank and air horn. The decoder was under the hood and dash inside the cab. This one went to the OFT.
Too many projects, too little time. With all of that I would have had all the motive power required to run a tramway twice the size of the G&KP!!!