| News from the Tourist Railways |
| |
- Bellarine Peninsula Railway - 01/05/00
- Five Operational Steam Engines
Five steam engines are now operational at Queenscliff. The V class engine has been retubed and was operational in time for Easter.
On Good Friday, the Uncle Bob's club raised money for the Children's Hospital. There was also a Sea Foods Festival in Queenscliff and
the railway ran for the first time on Good Friday.
- Puffing Billy - Emerald Tourist Railway Board - 01/05/00
- Thomas the Tank Engine
The first ever Thomas the Tank Engine weekends was held at Emerald in March. This is the first time that a real steam Thomas
engine has been available in Australia. Up to now a rubber tyred Thomas look-a-like had been hired. The Peckett engine has been
converted to become Thomas. The coaming over the engine can be removed in about three hours of work. The weekends were most
successful and will be repeated in May and September.
Some track work is being done at level crossings and level crossing devices are being installed at Belgrave and Menzies Creek level
crossings.
- Mornington Railway Preservation Society - 01/05/00
- New Station
The new station at Mornington (Yuilles Road) will be officially opened on the 7th May. Traffic from this station has been slowly
building up and a bus has been used to run passengers into the heart of the Mornington shopping centre.
The railway ran a Teddy Bears' Picnic on the 2nd of April and this was most successful. Engine K163 has unfortunately been giving
trouble. The railway is looking froward to running 30 days over the present year.
- South Gippsland Tourist Railway - 01/05/00
- Charter Trips
The railway has been having great success with charter traffic during the weekdays and an average of 4.2 charter trips are being run
each week. The Y class engine is running and the Minister for Transport has visited the railway and helped with funding.
The railway is helping with the centenary of the Korumburra Butter factory.
The present mode of operation is to run a mixed passenger and goods train between Nyora and Korumburra and for passengers to change
to the "branch" train, a rail motor, for the rest of the journey to Leongatha. This has created a lot of interest.
- The Central Highlands Tourist Railway - 01/05/00
- Railmotors
The railway's railmotors have been carrying good numbers of passengers. The unusually fine weather this autumn has resulted in
many trains running to capacity. The 280hp Walker Railmotor is back in service. The DRC railmotor in its turn is now receiving some TLC.
The motor in the DERM is being rebuilt and this unit is expected to be operational again soon.
Bullarto Station
The station building at Bullarto has been realigned, as it was not placed true on the site. The track work at Bullarto is almost
complete with only tamping and minor work to be done. The run round loop is now operational.
Various
Track work has taken place at several locations and the bridge beyond Daylesford station has been re-sleepered. Track machines
have been loaned from the Central Goldfields Railway to help in the track upgrading.
The freight vehicles on the railway have been repainted and re-lettered and are looking very smart.
The group who operate the Museum at Trentham Station, which is on the former section of the railway beyond Bullarto, is looking at the
possibility of having the line extended from Trentham back to Bullarto.
- Victorian Goldfields Railway - 01/05/00
- Friends of Thomas
A very successful Friends of Thomas weekend was run recently. Seven double-headed trains ran in perfect weather. The railways ran
out of carriages and could have used more if they were available. The new station building at Muckleford was used for the first time for the
Thomas weekend. The next friends of Thomas weekend will be held over the weekend of 14 and 15 October.
Restoration Work
Work is still going on means to advance the operating track to Castlemaine The bridge at Winters Flat is to have two new spans
built to restore the fabric. Funds are being sought to improve the yard at Castlemaine Station.
- Walhalla Goldfields Railway - 01/05/00
- Bridgeworks
A recent report indicates that bridge No. 6 is three quarters finished and that No. 4 Bridge is nearly completed. Foundations have
been poured for the remaining bridges.
- Yarra Valley Tourist Railway - 01/05/00
- Charter Work
The railway has had good patronage and extra operational staff are being qualified. A charter to Tarrawarra Vineyard has run and the
railway is hoping to have a station at Tarrawarra. Charter work is increasing and car clubs are interested in making Healesville a destination
for outings. There has been constant vandalism, which is most disheartening to workers and in one incident recently two pet sheep were
killed.
|
| You can always click on the locomotive to catch the train back to our main page. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|