Walking upside down!

[Bealman]

More great pics, David. 

So I'm to assume you didn't do the bungee jump off the tower, then. 

George

[MinZaPint]

On the Hop on off bus trip round the city we started by the old ferry terminal



past Eden Park



and got off in Parnell where I wanted to look up the "Windsor Castle" a noted craft ale pub where I found info on the "Mainline Steam Heritage Trust" just across the road so after lunch and a couple of "whets" we went for a look, nothing running but some work being done and a lot waiting attention!



1275 their main running engine





Works in progress







Nice new cab





plate belongs to



and the Beyer-Garratt







Memories of past runs



1275 is running in 3 days time as this extract from their website shows

"Great New Zealand Muster
Saturday 29th March 2014
Auckland to Te Kuiti and return behind Ja1275. This is the 22nd anniversary of the "Great New Zealand Sheep Muster" and the running of the annual main street sheep race. The town comes alive with over a 100 market stalls selling a myriad of products."

Would love to have seen that!

anyway back into town for more steam this time afloat



and a final view of the tower from the quay



We had a wonderful time in New Zealand, met some very friendly people drank some wine (all locally produced and exceptionally good) and would go back at the drop of a hat, we did a lot but missed a lot as well, fingers crossed we might get back! So now it's the journey home via Las Vegas. cheers for now  David

[Komata]

MinzaPint

Glad that you enjoyed our fair city, and that you got to see Mainline's depot at Parnell.  It's a very interesting place.   

The 'Garratt is unique in NZ - our last ones were the infamous 4-6-2+ 2-6-4 'G' class Gresley compounds, of the late 1920's, locomotives best described as 'Over powered, over-useless, and too technologically advanced' for the local scene.  Designed by someone who thought he could out-do Beyer-Peacock, they were abominations. However, as a positive, we did get our amazing K-class 4-8-4's.

As I am sure you were told, Mainline's is the only one in NZ (how it got here is a story in itself), and it will eventually run; once a 'slight' problem with the loading gauge is sorted out...   We look forward to it.

BTW: FWIW, I have a personal involvement with J 121, going back to events that occurred after she was withdrawn from service in 1971 (which I won't detail here).  Let's just say that she has had quite a history. . .

The NZ railfan community owes a very large debt of gratitude to Ian Welch, who was able to save the loco's you saw (and, subsequently, others) from the scrappers...

Did you get to go for a trip on the 'Daldy? 

Hope that your trip home was enjoyable; and that you will enjoy your 'endless summer'as a result.  Being in two hemisphere's can have its advantages can't it?

[MinZaPint]

Hi Komata

Thanks for adding that info on Parnell depot, I would like to have spent more time there. Unfortunately a trip on the Daldy was another victim of the time we had in Auckland. On the upside I have a list of things to do in both South and North islands if we can wangle another trip out there and we enjoyed the trip home via Las Vegas but more of that later. Getting back to UK traffic also came as a bit of a shock!! 

Cheers  David

[Komata]

David

Re: 'Getting back to UK traffic also came as a bit of a shock'

Ah, yes, you mean to a place where road rules are actually observed, and turning indicators are used around roundabouts...? 

Yes, that must have been something of a shock; some locals have 'interesting' interpretations of the road  rules, especially in the rural areas...

Glad the 'Parnell' information was of use.; shame about the 'Daldy.  Perhaps next time.   

[Bealman]

I still like that one lane bridge south of Greymouth when you can be driving along on it and a huge loco hauling the Tranz Alpine steps onto the other end of it!

Driving in the UK is easy, after that, I reckon! 

[MinZaPint]

Las Vegas is fantasy land, we stayed in the Venetian and parts of it were pretty authentic, 2 shots at night

URL=http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/minzapint/media/NZ%202014/Las%20Vegas/DSCF2897_zpsb2c04fc0.jpg.html][/URL]



A rather poor picture of my favourite place inside, the bar of the “Public House” they have an amazing selection of beers, as you can see a lot on tap.



Part of the impressive interior



The outside section of the canal, we wandered why it wasn’t connected to the inside part and then it dawned on us that’s on the first floor!



The illusion was rather spoiled when we spotted the propellers at each end! Battery power! And seatbelts?



The Rialto bridge with moving walkway!



We again found a hop on/off bus to take us round and went to downtown to visit



Looking at the character photos it could have been the Mods museum!

My little treasure behind the one way glass for the identity parade



Motorcycle patrol



The original wall carefully taken down bricks numbered and rebuilt



The George Grill & Mob Bar where we had lunch, Crab Louis for me , mouthwatering!   The “Hogs & Heifers” sign refers to the Harley bar next door.



Coming up the Grand Canyon,  cheers for now     David

[scottmitchell74]

Great pics!
   
I can't wait to hear what you say about the Grand Canyon. One of my best days ever was spent there with my wife.

Where else you going in the US?

[Bealman]

Venice in Vegas..... only in America! 

[MinZaPint]

Our helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon started flying past the “Strip”



The exclusive resort where a lot of the stars have homes



2 shots of the Hoover dam





Part of the lake



An airstrip used to practice carrier landings



And so to the canyon, with my love? of heights I sat in the back in the middle! If anything happened I don’t suppose it would make any difference it just made me feel better!



From our picnic spot



Our chopper on the right



Up and away



How high?



Next some more from LV, Main Street station, cheers for now   David

[Bealman]

Great shots, but I'm not sure I like the look of that fuel gauge!!

[scottmitchell74]

Great photos!

[Chris]

Superb photos - just looked through all of them. The thread caught my eye as I'm off to Oz in 2 months time - I'll do my own thread of pics when I get back!

[MinZaPint]

Bealman didn't like the look of the fuel gauge in the copter, that was just before we stopped to refuel, apparently they use 55-60 gallons an hour! no wonder the flight was expensive.

Back in Las Vegas we took another trip to downtown, the original “strip” area, when we went to the “Mob” museum Rosemary had spotted at the top of the road the Main Street brewery so had to go have a look. First a pic of the area taken from the helicopter on the way back from the canyon.



The building Rosemary could see, well spotted dear!


The old Main Street Station




You can just see this part of the building in the aerial shot poking out to the right of the line of tall buildings where the highway curves left.

Anyway on to the exciting bits, where the action takes place!



And all brewed on the premises



Used some of that to wash down a very tasty rack of ribs

The old booking hall, now the hotel reception


A lovely old building.

And outside a reminder of the past



Just a few pics from the strip to come, cheers for now  David

[Bealman]

As always, wonderful pics. Thanks for posting!! Glad to hear that you topped the helicopter up!