Association of Tourist Railways Inc.

News from the Tourist Railways

Bellarine Peninsula Railway - 06/03/02: The holiday period this year was most successful with passenger numbers above those of last year. Locomotive M6 has been running well. The Queensland rail motor RM 76 and trailer PL 127 have been delivered to Beaudesert Rail in Queensland for rebuilding. Drysdale station surrounds have been improved and the station is to be entered into the "Tidy Towns' competition this year.

Mornington Railway Preservation Society - 06/03/02: The train is now running on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in the month as well as on some holidays. There is a courtesy bus running from the Mornington station into the heart of Mornington Township. A Teddy Bears outing will be held in April. The railway is catering for children's birthday parties and a carriage or a compartment may be hired. The venue may be stationary or as part of a train.

Puffing Billy - Emerald Tourist Railway Board - 06/03/02: The fully rebuilt locomotive 6A was launched by the Minister for Transport in January and is now one of the oldest operational engines in Australia being 101 years of age. Puffing Billy has provided two scholarships at the Emerald Secondary College. The Puffing Billy Speakers' panel spoke to 5,000 people at 63 meetings in 2001. The Great Train Race will be held on 28 April and a celebration of the 40th re-opening of the railway to Menzies Creek will be held on Sunday 7 July 2002 at Menzies Creek.

Seymour Heritage Centre - 06/03/02

After a restoration programme, extending over some years but greatly accelerated in the latter part of 2001, ex VR locomotive S303 has been returned to traffic. It carries freight Australia's green and gold livery and is in service with that company.

When Tulloch rail car 43 DRC was allocated to the SRHC, some years ago, it allegedly was the best of the VR's notorious four cars. It soon lived up to the poor reputation and presented some tricky problems, which it is hoped have been solved with great difficulty in executing the repairs. The car is about to undergo a heavy clean in anticipation of being again available for service.

The saga of the tubes for J515 continues and work is about to start in re-tubing the boiler. A machine is being built to swage the tube ends as a tender increased the price to do this fivefold.

A successful trip with S303 and GM 36 was made on 28 January to Tocumwal with over 400 passengers and the trip is to be repeated on 13 April. The gauge conversion of J5123 is continuing with most of the work being done off site. The motion-gear was subject to crack testing which it passed.

Steamrail Victoria - 06/03/02: Steamrail suffered from the attention of thieves over the holiday period who stole many items from carriages including a number plate. The thieves were not very smart and some material was found dumped after publicity and at local second-hand dealers. Prosecutions are pending.

Victorian Goldfields Railway - 06/03/02

Restoration works to Castlemaine are continuing. The Winters Flat Bridge is well ahead and the final new pier has been planted. 37 piers have been replaced and re-decking is under way. Christmas holiday running went smoothly and passenger numbers were up on last year. Although the number of total fire ban days were down on previous years, the ones which were called have often fallen on running days which is unfortunate. Services were provided by the J class engine and on total fire ban days by the T class diesel.

The K's sheet steel tender side has been removed on the driver's side and is currently being replaced with new steel. It should be back in service by the end of March.

Civil: Regular maintenance has been carried out on the running line with some sleeper replacements and lifting and packing of the approaches to the Bendigo Road level crossing.

At Castlemaine, ballasting and tamping of the approach road of the Maryborough line and the relayed turntable road took place in January. Most other tasks have been completed with one major outstanding item being signalling. Work is continuing to enable a train to use the back platform at Castlemaine.

Track: A short length of track has been laid on the up side of Farmers Bridge as a trial run. The track between Farmers Bridge and Sawmill Road has been dismantled and the track bed graded. The track between Walmer Road and Farmers Bridge has been de-spiked and broken into sections ready for the rails to be rolled aside

Commencement of the Work for the Dole scheme has been delayed.

Placing the last trestle at the Winter's Flat bridge on existing footings 27 Feb 02
Photograph. Bob Wilson

Walhalla Goldfields Railway - 06/03/02: The track into Walhalla is now complete and the railway extension into Walhalla will be officially opened on the 13th March 2002. The annual Jazz On Track Festival was held and was a great success with advance bookings received for this year's Festival. The passenger figures for the end of last year were good and charter work is the growth area for the railway with new packages and markets being pursued.
Work is proceeding on the Henschell steam locomotive prior to its commissioning. This work includes modifications relating to the weight distribution over the axles and the fabrication and installation of a new funnel.

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