Number 100!!

Welcome to my 100th blog post!!  I've certainly enjoyed writing all these posts, my primary reason for doing so, but if others can enjoy or learn something from them along the way that's great too!

I'm currently in Ingham, northern Queensland, visiting relatives and generally enjoying myself!!  Ingham is a huge sugar producing area (sugar cane) and also seemingly home to a large percentage of the world's snakes!!  It's harvesting time at the moment and all of the cut cane is transported to the two mills by light railway of 2 foot gauge.  The term "light railway" is something of a misnomer as although the rails are certainly narrow gauge the trains are massive!!  One train I saw this morning- pulled by a large, powerful loco- had 61 bogie 'bins'.  It's a fantasticaly effective way of getting the cane to the mill- long may it continue!!

I really enjoy seeing the light, narrow-gauge lines heading off through the cane in all directions, often only the tops of the rails visible in the long grass, and across creeks and through remnants of the rainforest vegetation.  There certainly is something really charming about light railways!

Another very enjoyable experience was having a look at some old 50's Hornby O gauge items, still owned by the original recipient!  A 1950 M1 tender loco whose spring had 'exploded' sending the body into orbit, and a no. 501 LNER tender loco in very nice condition, and still serviceable.

It was really enjoyable hearing first-hand of the fun that Hornby trains had given this gentleman when he was young, and I'm sure will continue giving pleasure to younger generations.

Here's to the next 100 blog-posts, hopefully including the completion of the Trainbarn building!!