General News

 With the help of the Victorian Government many of the accredited heritage railways and tramways in this State have been able to continue running. At present, of the 22 accredited heritage bodies, 19 groups have needed to avail themselves of the Governments generous offer. Affordable Public Liability insurance is impossible to buy and where the rare offer of a policy is made the suggested premium is often more than the income of the group from all sources. Thank you Government of Victoria.

Medical Standards

Following a railway accident on the main Victorian network at Footscray, the State Government ordered a tightening up of medical standards for railway safety workers. A new section has been introduced into the Transport Act 1983 which allows the introduction of Codes of Practice alongside regulations and other instruments. To introduce such a major change the DOI engaged consultants to prepare new Medical standards which cover all aspects of health and the use of prescription drugs. A number of meetings with both the commercial industry and the tourist industry has taken place and the new Code of practice for health Assessment and Certification for Rail Safety Workers has been issued with the Code to become law on 29 September 2003. The code will cover Heritage groups but has been modified to take into account our crewing practices and operational speed.

News from Members

Alexandra Timber Tramway and Museum

The Easter Steam Festival was most successful with the Fowler engine in steam  on the railway and the vertical boilers driving a tangye vertical pump, a  2 hp Marshall portable engine, and a larger 8hp Marshall engine. As well as this the diesel engines were also in use and passenger trains were run on the loop line and on the re-laid extension towards Rubicon.

In addition to the steam display  and the train service there were a large number of operational displays. The 2hp Marshall drove a hay press a New record drag saw cut wood for the boilers and power and kerosene engines chugged away.

In April a major charter from a Tourist group also visited the site and explored the extension to Rubicon.

Ballarat Tramway Museum

Trackwork in Wendouree parade has been done at the St Aiden's Drive end of the track to lift it above flood level. At this end of the track Lake Wendouree tend to flood in winter and as well as covering the tram track it covers the road. The track was dug out using a backhoe and 55 sleepers were replaced. The track was lifted and lined and filled with crushed rock to just above the top of the sleepers.

Work ahs continued in the workshop on Scrubber No 8 and the tram is to be repainted and the metalwork de-rusted. Single truck tram No 27 has both traction motors ready for re-installation.

An annoying problem has developed with Tram No 33 which has the habit of de-wiring itself at a certain part of the overhead. A number of efforts have been made to fix the problem even to swapping overhead poles. The swapped pole even made matters worse so the hunt continues as why does No 33 de-wire?

Mornington Railway Preservation Society

The railway has put into service the new run round loop at Mornington.

Puffing Billy

The 22nd Great train race was a huge success with 2403 runners taking part in the race against Puffing Billy. Notwithstanding such boosts to the railway's drawing power, the number of passengers has been disappointing this year with the drought and bushfires elsewhere in the State affecting patronage. Coupled with the war in Iraq and the SARS epidemic, numbers have been down in common with most other tourist destinations throughout Australia.

Major work has taken place at Belgrave as part of the Belgrave re-development. The trackwork  in the workshop yard has all been pulled up and rebuilt to suit the extensions to be made to the workshop. The locomotive depot was temporally re-located to the Museum at Menzies Creek while the work was being carried  out.

Redcliffs Historical Steam Railway

The new station at Redcliffs  opening on the 6th April 2003. The station had added to the amenity of the railway and has provided facilities that have made the operation of the railway more enjoyable for both the operators and passengers.

Steamrail

This year is the centenary of the D3 class and D3 639 will run a number of trips. Work on the carriages continues and 7ABE has been completed and it is in service again. 500AK is to be repainted into the VR blue and gold colours. Work in continuing on Moorabool and the final touches are being completed.

A special tribute edition of the railway's Monthly Notice was issued paying tribute to gary Mc Donald.

Tramway Museum Society of Victoria

The Museum has designed and issued a new advertising brochure.

The Cable Tram shed is receiving a clean out of accumulated stores that have found their way there over the years. Several exhibits have been transferred to the Exhibition shed and work is continuing on the trackwork to the vehicle Maintenance building. The motor vehicle fleet is receiving continuing maintenance  and Volvo Bus No 850 had some work done to it at Grenda's Bus Company in Dandenong.

There are presently 10 operational trams and several trams have received attention. SW2 644 has had work carried out on the compressor and W6 902 has had work done on the brake valves.

Yarra Valley Tourist Railway

The last school holidays were most successful with only one day being washed out. The railway received good publicity in the local Tourist visitors guide. A master plan has been released by the Shire of Yarra ranges for the Healesville railway precinct. Work is continuing on the permanent commissioning of signal lights at the Healesville Kinglake Road.

In the large shed at Healesville concrete foundations have been poured for the installation of equipment. Track work has continued and new sleepers are being sought. bridge work at the Watts River overflow bridge is to be done to replace a pile.