GrahamH's photos

A puzzle? Edit 11/01/26 Sing!

A male Australian magpie about to swoop me as I wait for a steam train to come by. September 2025.

The structurally restored signal box in Toowoomba's yard. See PiP for a photo from 2013. The signal box has no function as all signals and points operations are now done from a control centre in Brisbane, the state capital. September 2025. HFF to my Ipernity viewers for 260925.

A surviving section of wall within the Ta Prohm complex, part of the Angkor civilisation remains in northern Cambodia. September 2024. HWW to my Ipernity viewers for 24/09/2025.

HWW to my Ipernity viewers for 27/08/25. A garden retaining wall at the church. See PiP for a closer look at the flower.

Fotografy can be Fun.

Brookstead railway station building relocated to a park near its former location and now facing North rather than South. The train shows the approximate location of the original station location. This run from Toowoomba was for a charter by a tour organisation, railwayadventures.travel July 2025. HFF to my Ipernity viewers for 01/08/25.

Loco and tender are connected and can now be moved together. The plan is to store loco 1086 on a track near the platform so it can be viewed by visitors until work commences. The first task will be to evaluate the boiler. See the PiPs for the coupling hardware. July 2025.

DownsSteam's 'new' loco. The fireman's side of the tender of loco 1086 showing the handbrake handle, rust and degraded paint (the orange is some tarpaulins). The PiP shows the interior of the water storage area of the tender, rust and rubbish. July 2025.

Loco 1086 was delivered by road this morning. It is the same type as our 1037, BB18 1/4, though this one was made in Queensland rather than England. Some members were contemplating the HUGE restoration job ahead. July 2025. An extract from a DownsSteam document. "BB18¼ No.1086 No.1086 was one of the later BB18¼ locomotives, built by Walkers Limited in 1957 as part of the final batch of twenty. After a decade of service (likely based out of Rockhampton or Townsville depots), No.1086 was withdrawn by 1969–1970 during the diesel transition. Instead of being scrapped, it found a second life as a display piece in the town of Emerald, QLD. There it was placed on a plinth and christened the “Spirit of Emerald,” serving as a static monument to the steam age. Around 2000, Emerald’s BB18¼ was made available for preservation. The Mackay Heritage Railway group, already restoring 1037, acquired No.1086 as a future project (essentially for spare parts or eventual restoration). The locomotive was moved to Mackay to join 1037, but with limited resources the volunteers focused on finishing 1037 first. No.1086 remained in storage, patiently awaiting its turn. By 2025, with 1037 operational, attention finally turned to No.1086. In mid-2025, No.1086 was transported south to DownsSteam in Toowoomba – the same facility hosting 1037. The plan is for DownsSteam’s experienced team to take on the restoration of 1086 to full running condition. At the time of its move, the locomotive was largely complete but in ex-restoration or “stored” condition (many parts needing overhaul, some components cannibalised over years to assist 1037’s rebuild). DownsSteam volunteers have begun assessing 1086’s boiler, running gear, and cab fittings, laying out a strategy for its overhaul. Given the group’s recent success, hopes are high that 1086 will follow 1037’s footsteps back to steam in the coming years."

Loco 1086 was delivered by road this morning. It is the same type as our 1037, BB18 1/4, though this one was made in Queensland rather than England. Some members were contemplating the HUGE restoration job ahead. July 2025. An extract from a DownsSteam document. "BB18¼ No.1086 No.1086 was one of the later BB18¼ locomotives, built by Walkers Limited in 1957 as part of the final batch of twenty. After a decade of service (likely based out of Rockhampton or Townsville depots), No.1086 was withdrawn by 1969–1970 during the diesel transition. Instead of being scrapped, it found a second life as a display piece in the town of Emerald, QLD. There it was placed on a plinth and christened the “Spirit of Emerald,” serving as a static monument to the steam age. Around 2000, Emerald’s BB18¼ was made available for preservation. The Mackay Heritage Railway group, already restoring 1037, acquired No.1086 as a future project (essentially for spare parts or eventual restoration). The locomotive was moved to Mackay to join 1037, but with limited resources the volunteers focused on finishing 1037 first. No.1086 remained in storage, patiently awaiting its turn. By 2025, with 1037 operational, attention finally turned to No.1086. In mid-2025, No.1086 was transported south to DownsSteam in Toowoomba – the same facility hosting 1037. The plan is for DownsSteam’s experienced team to take on the restoration of 1086 to full running condition. At the time of its move, the locomotive was largely complete but in ex-restoration or “stored” condition (many parts needing overhaul, some components cannibalised over years to assist 1037’s rebuild). DownsSteam volunteers have begun assessing 1086’s boiler, running gear, and cab fittings, laying out a strategy for its overhaul. Given the group’s recent success, hopes are high that 1086 will follow 1037’s footsteps back to steam in the coming years."

Loco 1086 was delivered by road this morning. It is the same type as our 1037, BB18 1/4, though this one was made in Queensland rather than England. This is its tender showing the a complete rebuild is probably required. July 2025.

Loco 1086 was delivered by road this morning. It is the same type as our 1037, BB18 1/4, though this one was made in Queensland rather than England. This is its tender showing that a complete rebuild is probably required. The loco can be seen in the background. July 2025.

On its most recent run DownsSteam's loco 1037 had a grate element break. These are made from cast iron. The two halves fell into the ashpan and were retrieved from the ash after the fire was dropped. The PiP shows a replacement element ready to be installed. July 2025.

Edwin, standing in the rear of the tender of DownsSteam's loco 106, is shovelling coal forward from the rear to where it can be used by the fireman. May 2025.

A bench in a suburban shopping centre in Toowoomba Qld Australia. See PiP to read label. May 2025. HBM to my Iperinity viewers for 23/06/25.

A cable pillar and a cable pit. Seen outside a motel at Moore Park Beach near Bundaberg Qld. March 2025.

Wind and water worn wood. March 2025.