ATHRA - Association of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia

Meetings

The  next  meeting is to  take  place in Canberra on 14th - 16th March 2008. Details of the meeting and the optional Pre-meeting Tour will be available  on the ATHRA Website when released. Anyone  from Heritage Rail may  attend the tours and  meetings.

The other General Meeting and the 3rd Annual General Meeting will be held in Cairns in September 2008.

ATHRA Awards

ATHRA will make the following  set  of awards for Heritage rail for Australia for 2008: Then awards will be  for:

ATHRA  -  Excellence Award 

ATHRA-ARA -  Graeme Breydon Rail Safety  Award.

ATHRA-ARTC - Infrastructure Restoration Award.

ATHRA-Workshops Rail Museum - Research Excellence Award.

ATHRA - Locomotive Restoration Award.

ATHRA -  Passenger Vehicle Restoration Award.

Cinders and Ashes

This  publication  can  be read online  at the ATHRA website and you can subscribe to  have it sent to  your email address automatically. It  contains news  of National  events and happenings throughout Australia  on Heritage Rail. The address is www.athra.asn.au

The Association has set up a system of "Alerts" to immediately draw to member's attention urgent changes which are taking place in the rail industry.  Alerts No's 1 to 13 were issued in 2005.  No's 14 - 27 were issued in 2006 and No's 28 to 36 in 2007. For details please see the ATHRA website. Click Here

Australian Railway Historical  Society - Victorian Division.

The November Issue of Newsrail celebrated 50 years  of  the ARHS (Vic Division) monthly  magazine in all of its various guises. It also highlighted the  Spirit  of Progress over  the years 1934 to 1986 in  both the famous S class  steam engines and  the S class diesel engines..

The December  Issue  of Newsrail commemorates the 100 years  of the A² class of steam engines in Victoria. This class  of engine was the most  famous and  ubiquitous class in Victoria and was well known  to  Victorian passengers  for  over 50 years as the workhorse of the Victorian  Railways. The engines were found  on all  passenger  trains  throughout the State. Only a few remain in parks and  in Museums. A²986 is  being restored  by  Steamrail to  operating condition.

A² 980  - 7 Nov 1961

Photo J. Frost

Two  books are  being published and these are "Buffer Stops & Baulks" and  "The History of South Australian Railways - The Early Years".

Ballarat Tramway Museum

A proper footpath has  been  built paralleling the access track  from Wendouree Parade to  the Depot by  the Municipal Council. This path was included in the 1995 master plan  for the gardens. As part  of the need to  conform to  the requirements  of the Rail Safety  Act  it has  been  necessary  to  rename some  of the  positions and create  other ones.  The position  of Traffic Manager has been  abolished and replaced with  the  more  prosaic Operations Manager. A Training Manager has  been appointed  and a Depot Services  Manager as well. All  Heritage rail  groups  have to  conform with  the  new  Act  and this  has resulted  in a huge amount of extra paper work.

Tram No14 has  had  its  wheels returned from  being turned and work has  started to  restore them to the overhauled truck  frame. The best  way  to  replace the defective motor is being sought.

No 28  has  a defective field coil  and needs repair and a compressor  is to  be installed to  replace the  existing worn  unit.

Patronage  has been quiet  but 306  people were carried  on the "Springfest" market  day. In November  some 40 children  visited the tramway from the annual "Copsnkids" camp  run by  Ballarat Police for children suffering from cancer.

On the 17 July 2007, a snowfall blanked the  area  and the sight  of the tram  depot  in snow  was magical!

In December 2007,  a load  of tramway  rail was obtained from a  scrap  dealer  in Geelong who  had  pulled it  up  as part  of the reconstruction  of  roads  in that  city. The rail came from  the former North Geelong/Railway station route in Malop Street .

The Bellarine Railway 

 

The building  of the rolling stock  shed at Lakers Siding  was held up  by  the  objection by a  developer, Stockland, to  the  Planning Permit and this  has  had to  go  to mediation. This has  now been  completed and very minor changes were  made to  the  planning permit and work has started to make  Lakers Siding  into  an island platform station. It is expected that  the shed will be constructed during January  and February 2008.

 

The first  Greencorp  project on the railway has  been completed and  included the design and construction  of  garden beds, research and  identification of  plants at  Summa Park Siding and Drysdale Station.. They also  did carriage restoration of historic railway  carriages,  removal of  gorse and  other  weeds from the  lineside, tree management and assisting  in the refurbishment  of Queenscliff  Station. As well  as this they  also  did  a number  of  minor works.

 

The railway ran a satisfactory "Friends  of Thomas" event with "Skarloey" in attendance.

 

At  Suma Park Station the  building  has  been  re-clad in corrugated iron  and repainted  as the building was subject  to  constant vandalism.

 

The third edition  of the history of the railway, "trains, Troops & Tourists is  now available at  the Drysdale kiosk or  by  mail order from the railway.

 

 

Coal Creek Heritage Village

 

The  Museum is  currently  not  open  and  is  undergoing restoration.

 

Daylesford Spa Country Railway

 

The railway  reports that the timber roof  of Leyland 53RM has been  completed at the Bendigo  Tramway  Workshop. This work was funded by a grant from Heritage Victoria. The replacement  of the roof canvas and body  work will be  undertaken by volunteers.

 

The Statement  of Significance focusing  on the railmotor collection  has been  completed  using a further  grant from Heritage Victoria. The statement  sets  out  the  part  that  railmotors  played  in the development  of Victoria and gives a firm foundation in seeking support  for the preservation  of this facet of  Victoria's history.

 

Work has  continued  on the track  and  points in Daylesford  yard have had their  timbers renewed. A further 100  sleepers are to  be renewed in the  main line.

 

Work on the rolling stock continues with routine work on the  operational units and  most  work concentrated  on 32RM. The main work  was the replacement  of timber  framing  of the car  body  and work has  now moved to  the front  of the vehicle. All the roof ventilators have  been  removed  and are being cleaned and repaired. The timber  framing  to  hold these has  also been  repaired  and with  the completion of the roof framing,  insulation has been  installed  between  the  internal masonite   and the roof.

 

This has  led to  the repair  of the  wiring  in the vehicle and  it was found that  the colour coding  of the wiring  in this unit  was reversed. The return earth wire was found to  be red, which is contrary  to all normal wiring practice. A start  has been  made to  replace the floor  in the  toilet  and the concrete base has been  removed  to  allow access to  the steel  floor  pan which is rusting. (Editor's Comments. When the Walker  Rail cars were  introduced  after  the end of World War  2, as part of  Operation Phoenix, it was believed at  the  time that  these units would have  a very  short  life span. The  only  other  known operational Walkers are those  on the Isle  of Man  and these also  needed rebuilding from  the frame up. The restoration being carried  out at  Daylesford  has proved the contention that  they  were  intended for  only a few years service.)

 

The railway has found that   owing to  increasing numbers of passengers  on the Sundays,  it is  being embarrassed by not  having sufficient passenger  accommodation for them to travel comfortably. Thoughts  are moving to  the restoration of the  stored 280 Walker  and converting  it  to  run in  multiple  unit with the  operating  280 Walker,  RM 91. Multiple  operation  of these railcars never  occurred in VR days although it could  have  been  possible to  modify  them  for this.

 

Diamond Valley  Railway

The railway  advises that the  platforms and  buildings at  the Station area  have  been  cleaned using  high pressure recycled water. Tree pruning to  improve the visibility of signals has  been  carried out and a new  set of  points constructed at  the entrance to  Rocla tunnel and track  laying has started towards Fork Tree  cutting as part of the new loop line. The second  set of  points for the Rocla loop is ready  for  installation. In addition new curve speed  boards are  to be  placed at  curves  of 60'/18m radius to help  reduce rail  wear

 

As is  usual, sleeper replacement  is continuing as well as aligning and ballasting  of the track. A retaining wall is  being built alongside the Sanctuary Carriage Storage Sidings and to  complete  beautification works in the area. The  new Sanctuary siding head shunt  is  proving to  be an operational  problem  and plans are  being drawn up  to  rectify  this.

 

Maintenance work on the Kingston  bridge and the Wilcox  bridge  is  underway and rail replacement will proceed as time permits.

 

A new 80 lever  frame was positioned  in Diamond Valley B-Box on the 23 September  2007 This replaced an existing 40  lever  frame which  was  relocated and  kept  operational. The  new  frame  is to  be  powered up  in early 2008.

 

Planning has started on celebrations  of the railways 50th anniversary at  Eltham Lower Park which  will take  place  in 2010.

 

The railway is concerned  by  the changing of standards made  by the AALS to the 7¼ inch gauge wheel standards. The  proposed  new standard for the flanges  is to be  4.2mm whereas the present standard  is 6mm which  give a greater safety margin. While the reduction in flange width for narrower gauges which  carry  fewer passengers may  be  justified, for  railways  which  carry  large  numbers of  people the matter  is very debatable.

 

A very nice touch was found  in the December  issue  of Diamond Rails where a special insert  was enclosed  of an obituary  for the late Gordon Webb.

 

Friends of the North Australian Railway  at Adelaide River.

 

With  the resignation  of the former Chief Minister  of the Northern Territory , a new  Minister for Heritage has  been  appointed. The Railway  had  its second annual works in  progress exhibition in the Allora Gardens Nursery in Darwin in October. Good  numbers attended and a special  list  of  VIP's were  invited. The NT  Government  has announced that  a WW2 Museum is to  be established  in Darwin and  it  is  hoped that  the  location of the  museum will enhance the Top End WW2 Heritage Trail.

 

A member  of the railway,  Mick Kent,  was honoured  by being recognised for  making a significant contribution to  the recording and  preservation of engineering heritage in the NT and was presented with  an  award certificate  by the Administrator  of the NT at  Government  House.

 

Mick Kent with His Honour the former Administrator, Ted Egan

(Photo All Aboard)

 

In the Sidney  Williams Hut  at  Adelaide River a display  of Scotch  Blocks  has  been set  up.

 

Once again in 2007 a safari of  over 107  people was   held to  the end  of track  at  Birdum of the former  Narrow Gauge  line. A number  of events took place during the visit  not the least  being the  re-opening  of the Birdum Hotel.

 

The Railway  Picnic Day  at  Adelaide  River received  good  publicity  in the media and good  numbers  of  people also  attended this event.

 

Friends of Hawthorn Tram Depot

 

This  new organisation has  been  set up with  the assistance  of VicTrack  to  oversee the collection  of Historic Trams housed in the former  Hawthorn Tram Depot. They  have  been invited to  join  the ATR  as  a member. The  Museum is  open  for visitors to  inspect the trams on the 2nd Saturday of the  month from 1pm to 5pm. The collection  covers the full range  of trams from Cable trams to  the  current heritage trams.

 

Heritage Victoria has  recently advertised the  proposed nomination of the former North Melbourne Electric Tramways and  Lighting Company tram No 13 to  be  placed  on the Heritage Register. This  tram was built  in 1906 in the  USA by J. G. Brill and assembled in Melbourne by  Duncan  and Fraser an Adelaide based carriage building firm. When  the  MMTB  was formed  it was renumbered 214 as part of the V class of trams. This tram is a  cross bench  car known as a toast rack.

 

Puffing Billy - Emerald Tourist Railway Board 

The new CEO  of the railway , Eamonn Seddon started in November. Eamonn came from the Westcoast  Wilderness Railway and before that the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales.

The gardening group is  slowly working  on improving the approaches to  Belgrave Station and  is  planting bearded Iris to provide  contrasting colour.

The Wizards and Witches Express went well with over 1200 children taking  part in the events  over the school holidays.  A further fun run with  Thomas  was held  at  Gembrook  in October.

The  usual  Day out  with Thomas completed its season  for 2007 and saw in excess of 8000 children and their parents entertained. The next  sessions  of Thomas in 2008  is  in March and April.

Locomotive 7A has  returned  to  service after  a heavy  overhaul.

7A - First Steaming Belgrave 15 Nov 2007

Photo J. Frost

A further  two  DH  diesels  have  been  secured for  future  use  on the  line to  "drought" proof the  line. Guards Van 2NC is at  Belgrave  having a new  frame prepared and the  body has been  placed  on the new frame. The  work on the Climax engine is well under way and the foundation ring riveting has been completed and seal  welding  of the ring  is  underway.   The regulator valve is  being overhauled and the ash pan is  being worked upon. It  is  hoped to  undertake a hydrostatic test of the boiler soon. Footplate driver  experiences  have  been  very popular  and  all who  have taken part  have  enjoyed the experience.

Steamrail

The trip  to Seymour  was well patronised and the train was  headed by R761 with  five carriages behind. Passengers  on the train visited the wineries and the Puckapunyal tank  museum.

The trip  to  Bainsdale on the 4th November was suddenly halted at Fernbank  when  sudden flooding  of the railway  line at  Hillside closed  portion  of the track. This  is the second time that  this  region  has  been  flooded this  year  while the rest  of the State  is  in drought. This train  was a very  rare sleeping train as  it was  a weekend tour and there were 80 beds  for  volunteers to  make  up.

Steamrail ran a commemorative  70th Anniversary  train of the Spirit  of  Progress on Saturday 17 November 2007 and while the  original  steam engines were cut  decades ago, some of the  other passenger rolling stock  still survives and was used to  make  up  the train. The train was  hauled  by S313 and S 307. Unfortunately  S313 suffered an electrical fault on the  journey and is waiting  on repair.

Van 292PCP has received  a communication doorway  and walkway and  is  being repainted. Electrail carriage Swing Door carriage12 BT has had  its external  wood work  completed and  internally  one compartment  has also  been  completed. Work has started  on the second  compartment. Tait carriage 341T is also  being worked  upon and work is  underway  in a third compartment with  timberwork  being reinstated. External beading has  been repaired and work has started  on the  other side  of the  car. Internal  gloss varnishing  is going  on and a decision has been  made to re-install  windows blocked  out  in the 1970s.

The conversion  of R766 to  standard gauge  is continuing with  the  last of the wheel set  being weighed. Reassembly of the engine bogie frame onto  the wheel sets has  been  completed and  spring  plates and reset  springs fitted. The engine  may  go  to  NSW  for final  testing  once complete.

An Accreditation application  to operate the depot as an exempt private siding  has  been  made to  the  DOI and a new SMS has started. The Group is  also  wishing to receive accreditation as an operator  in its own right so  that  it  can operate  trains  on the mainlines using  its  own authority  and staff. This  is  presently  done  by  V/line Passenger. on their  behalf.

B72 restoration continues and  a modern wheel  type  handbrake similar to  those  on the Pacific National  "XR" class is being used  in the No 1 nose compartment. Work has been  done  on 292PCP power van and  it has  been  repainted into VR blue to  allow  it to be  used in the commemorative Spirit of Progress train. 18CE is receiving a standard roof repair  job. 46BE is receiving attention to its electrical problems.

The  Victorian Goldfields Railway

The  launching  of J541  on Saturday 20 October 2007 on the railway  saw over 100 members  and their  families attend the function. A trip  was run to  Castlemaine from Maldon and a cross was made at  Muckleford  with a driver experience train  headed by K160. The J class of engine was the last  class of steam engines  ordered by the Victorian  railways . These engines were constructed  in the UK  as part of Operation Phoenix to upgrade the railways  from  the long years  of the depression and the war  years.

F212 is  in service as the yard shunter  at  Maldon  and needs to  have axle box repairs carried  out. This  engine  is  similar  to  the  08 and  09  design of similar  engines  in the UK. T333 which is at  Seymour in receiving attention to the engine and the rings in No 4 cylinder are being replaced. The DERM is to  receive a repaint  before the commencement  of the  summer  fire ban season and  the total fire  ban days.

J515 is  under repair and several stays are  being re-welded and the driver's side  expansion bracket was found to be seized which  caused a flexible stay to  fail. This has  now  been  replaced and a  new expansion pad  fitted. On the return of  J515 to  service  K 160  will receive some attention.

Work has started on J549 and this engine  is  in the shed to  allow a new smoke box to  be fitted. New leaves have  been  fitted and the springs sent to  Tasmania for this to  be done and  the for them to  be re-tensioned.

Carriage 29BCPL has  received a lot  of work to  the timber roof. It  is  planned to  start  to repaint and do  some general  repairs to  wagons at  Castlemaine.

Due  to maintenance needs  to  the Muckleford bridge, it has  been  decided  not to  run  public trains  in February 2008. This  is to  allow the works to  be done quickly with  total occupation. Six piles are to be  replaced and the decking being repaired.

Castlemaine  Station is to  be resurfaced and  both  platform 2 ( used by mainline trains)   and  platform 3 (used  by Heritage trains) will  both  be  repaired. As  the  access to  the  platform is  best  served  by rail  the contractors  will load their equipment at Muckleford in a GY  truck and a freight train  run to  Castlemaine  to have the work  done.

Before Christmas 2007 the  railway visited the Daylesford Spa  Country  Railway and celebrated Christmas with  that  railway's members at  Daylesford Station. A train  trip  was held to  Bullarto  and back. The event was a great  success  and  both  railways  will be celebrating Christmas  again in 2008  at  Maldon.

Seymour Heritage Railway  Centre

 A second commemorative trip of the first  run of the Spirit  of Progress trip was run  by Seymour and the DOI.  The  train  consisted  of  the following vehicles, from  the locomotive end, B74, S303, 1CS, 1BS, 2BS, Dining car, 3BS, 3AS, 4AS and the  Parlour car. Both  classes of  diesels hauled the Spirit once the train  was  dieselised in the 1950's to  1962. The Spirit  of  Progress was the British  Empire's first  all steel  air-conditioned train and  the Victorian  Railway's  most important named train. Later in 1962 the Spirit was regauged to  4'8½" and ran  between  Melbourne and Sydney until  it was supplanted  by  the Southern Aurora.

B74 and S303 at Benalla - 25 November  2007

70th Anniversary of the Spirit  of  Progress

Photo Bob Wilson

Yarra Valley  Tourist  Railway

The railway has announced that a consortium of four members have agreed to  purchase  J541 from its present  owner Andrew Reynolds. The  ownership  will gradually transfer  over the next  three years  and the engine may be  operating  on the YVTR in 2010. To allow the engine to  operate between Healesville and Tarrawarra  in 2010 the track needs to be  upgraded and a passing  loop built at Tarrawarra.  The engine was rebuilt  by the  Puffing Billy Railway  at  Menzies Creek  being finally completed in late 2007. The engine  had  been  previously domiciled  at  Healesville before restoration.

The  railway's workshop  has given a  lot  of attention to  their  main  passenger carrying trolley PM16 and it has  been  more or less rebuilt following an accident at  Mirror's Crossing. The 8w's trolleys have had attention as well.

Locomotive W250 is almost  ready  for service and new side windows are  being manufactured.

Railcar  DERM  RM 62 is closer to  restoration as two Detroit 671 motors have been obtained to  power  the  car. It was found that  the engines had  only  operated for a total of 180 hours which is the equivalent to  the car operating for 2 weeks  in service.

The main work attention to Walker  Rail Car RM 22, has been  the restoration  of the motor and the cabin of the  salon passenger  area. The power unit has been  re-united with  the salon unit and  piping and wiring renewed and tested  and control actually  now do  their intended function. Four batteries have been  donated. The exterior is being sanded and prepared for  painting. it  is  hoped to  have the railcar operational  for its 60th  birthday.

A large  number  of sleepers have been installed  in the track  and work is  now  up  to  the tunnel. Approximately 350 sleepers are yet to be replaced and the aim is to  have the  present  trolley operating system (which is a short  distance  beyond the Tunnel) upgraded to  higher than train operating standard.

New level  crossing signage has  been installed at Donovan's Road and Mirror Crossing and  trees and shrubs  removed to improve sight distance  of the railway.