- New Regulations - 28/06/02
- On the 30th June 2002, new regulations and legislation come into effect covering all rail safety workers on railways in Victoria concerning the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs. A number of seminars have been given by the Department of Infrastructure on these changes. All railways have adopted the prescribed zero tolerance on alcohol and illegal drugs and advised all safety workers of the perils of prescription drugs.
- Effect of Insurance Problems - 28/06/02
- The recent increase in the price of public liability insurance has affected all walks of life in Australia and the tourist railways and tramways have all been affected as well. The effect upon several well-known railways has resulted in them ceasing running as they have not been able to afford insurance. This in turn has caused their accreditation to be withdrawn, as this is mandatory. Without insurance, they can no longer keep their doors open.
- Bellarine Peninsula Railway - 28/06/02
- Ex TGR dog box carriage, BBL6 is nearing completion and is receiving a dual braking system. Final topcoat painting is being carried out.
The railway has most steam engines serviceable and only V1209 needs work to be carried out.
The former Queensland railmotor is being rebuilt at Beaudesert in Queensland and is rapidly taking shape. It will be used to help provide services on their 43km line once complete.
A proposal has been received from a new preservation group at Adelaide River in the Northern Territory to restore some of the South Australian carriages that the railway owns.
- Daylesford Spa Country Railway - 28/06/02
- No this is not a new Tourist Railway but the new marketing name for the Central Highlands Tourist Railway.
Restoration of motors for Steamrail Derm is continuing. Work has been carried out on DRC 40 to repair the roof of the vehicle. This required the removal of the pod carrying the radiators and it was seen that a previous solution was to pump a large amount of silicone into the area to "cure" the leaks. All parts and radiators were disassembled and the radiator repaired. Fibreglass patches were applied and it is hoped that all this attention will cure the water leaks.
Planning is going on to provide long term ambience for both Bullarto and Musk stations. Bullarto is to be reconstructed as it was in the 1930's and Musk as it was when the line closed in 1978. A long-term plan is to return the railway to Trentham.
- Mornington Railway Preservation Society - 28/06/02
- The restoration of K177 is proceeding well. Work on the boiler is well under way and specialised flue tubes and the main internal steam pipes are being made by Walker Manufacturing in NSW. The 21 new superheater elements have been completed by West Coast Railway. Work is going on to repair the compressed air tanks for the braking system.
K163 remains in service and has had a new connecting rod bearing fitted and two new superheater elements replaced.
In February, train services were increased from once a month running to running on the first and third Sundays of the month.
A number of goods wagons were recently retrieved from Spotswood and have been delivered to Mornington by road. The wagons were a HZB wagon and three G/GY four-wheel wagons. In addition, a number of other valuable spare parts were obtained. The wagons were taken by train from Mornington to Moorooduc.
All carriages are now stored in the carriage shed and this is helping to keep the vehicles spick and span. Work is continuing on the body of T334 to bring this engine up to a high standard of restoration.
- Puffing Billy - Emerald Tourist Railway Board - 28/06/02
- This year sees the 40th Anniversary of the reopening of Puffing Billy from Belgrave to Menzies Creek in 1962. Puffing Billy is the third oldest preserved tourist railway in the world, only the Talyllyn and Ffestiniog railways being established earlier. Puffing Billy was the first government owned railway saved for preservation in the world. After the Ferntree Gully to Belgrave section closed it took the Preservation Society some four years to reconstruct the line to Menzies Creek with the reopening taking place on Saturday 28 July 1962. The day is being duly celebrated by the Society.
The 21st great train race took place on the 27th April 2002 and attracted a record number of runners.
Planning is taking place to extend the present Belgrave workshop with a view to placing all engines inside the shed particularly once G42 is operational. Painting of the Belgrave station has been done as well as a full external repaint to the Packing Shed.
A new high rail truck has been trialed and will be most useful for track patrols and summer fire patrols.
Puffing Billy also congratulated its affiliated Society, the Welshpool and Llanfair light Railway in Wales on that railway's 100th anniversary.
For the first time in over 12 years the preserved 2'6" gauge engines were moved to facilitate photos for a forthcoming book to be published in the USA.
Shay Locomotive No 14 at Menzies Creek May 2002 - Photograph John Frost
- Redcliffs Historical Steam Railway - 28/06/02
- The railway has acquired the Irymple Station building to relocate to their station grounds at Redcliffs. It is believed that the building is a typical VR portable building dating from 1906. The relocation is waiting on the release of the building by Freight Australia a safe working telephone is located in the building.
Once on site the station building will be restored. An examiners hut at Mildura is being relocated to the railways terminus at Thurla where there is a turntable. This some two kilometres from Redcliffs. Long-term plans are to extend towards Benetook.
- Seymour Heritage Centre - 28/06/02
- F202 has been repaired and is now used a depot shunter with Y133. S303 has had the side panel repainted in Fright Australia's green livery. Steam locomotive J512 's frame is at Alstoms Ballarat works and is expected to be returned to Seymour in November. J515 has had minor work carried out. State Carriage No 5 has been placed in No13 road in the depot and is waiting to be coupled up into a train for the arrival of the State Governor in July.
- Steamrail Victoria - 28/06/02
- Steamrail took part in the Seniors Expo in the Melbourne Exhibition Buildings in late March. It is proposed to put on a display at this year Royal Melbourne Show.
Several carriages have been refurbished including 17BE, 12 AE. Other carriages have been shopped to attend to normal wear and tear. Carriage batteries have had to be purchased for 1 BCE, 64 AW, and 63 AW.
The last D3 hauled tour to Mildura was run on 24th -28th April before the line is converted to standard gauge. The train also went as far as Murrayville and to Yelta.
- Victorian Goldfields Railway - 28/06/02
- The track in Castlemaine station yard ahas been inspected and passed for use and work on the signalling is continuing.
The work in rebuilding the railway to Castlemaine is proceeding well with the large Winter's Flat Bridge completed. Other bridges have been rebuilt and work is proceeding on the Farmer's bridge, Rifle Range Bridge and the Sawmill Bridge. Track work is also going on and 500 metres of track were reconditioned over three days recently.
- Walhalla Goldfields Railway - 28/06/02
- On the 13 March 2002 the Walhalla railway reached its major objective of reopening to Walhalla. An exhibition was held at the new Walhalla Station to help celebrate this momentous achievement. The train now runs at weekend from Thompson to Walhalla and seven days a week during Easter, Christmas, and school holidays. The number of passengers has increased vastly since opening.
Future plans are for the railway to reopen back to Erica in stages and to rebuild the section firstly to Platina, then O'Sheas and Bennett's Siding. This is some 31/2 miles from Thompson. A further $250,000 is required to rebuild bridges No 9 and 10.
Following heavy rain in the area, the road into Walhalla was blocked by a landslide on the 21st may 2002. While the debris was removed several times from the slip, the decision was taken by the road authorities to close the road until they could stabilise the landslip. The railway also had a slip cover a section of the track. This was easily cleared. VicRoads approached the railway with a view to charter its services to provide a rail service to Walhalla in place of the road access until the slip area was cleared and the area stabilised. The railway was able to help and provided the only access to the town while the road was closed. Thus, 98 years later the railway once again became the town's lifeline. The little railway made national TV that night. Congratulations from all our members.
- Yarra Valley Tourist Railway - 28/06/02
- Yarra Glen Station has a tremendous improvement to the station surrounds with the help of the Steels Creek garden club helping to plan and plat the platform garden.
Mother's day was most successful and mothers were given a free ride. The market day was most successful.
Several new sheds have been built to hold the railways rolling stock and they are almost complete. Rail and sleepers have been obtained to lay the tracks. Rail has been obtained from AMCOR at Fairfield.
Healesville Station is waiting on the promised repairs and work is dependant on the acceptance of a suitable tender by Heritage Victoria.
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