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VR Narrow Gauge

Started by ozbob, July 14, 2013, 12:27:31 PM

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ozbob

Whistles In The Hills, Part 1. 25/5/2013



On Saturday May 25th, 2013, Puffing Billy Railway ran a special steam-hauled train empty from Belgrave to Gembrook in the Dandenong Ranges. The purpose of this train was to collect firewood in the section to Cockatoo, and back to Lakeside (Emerald Lakes). The train was hauled by NA class tank engine 6A with its Lemphor exhaust creating a different note in the exhaust beat. This video shows the train in various locations between Belgrave and Gembrook.




Part 2 of Whistles In The Hills features more of locomotive 6A as well as scenes of 7A and 8A in action on the Puffing Billy Railway on the far outskirts of Melbourne in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges. 7A is featured double heading with 6A in some surprise moves, as well as scenes of 8A on a Lakeside train, and red saddle tank locomotive 861 which was used on the Footplate Experience train.
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ozbob

#1



On Saturday 30 June 2012, the Puffing Billy Railway commemorated the 50th anniversary of the last train on the Colac to Beech Forest line by operating Beyer-Garratt locomotive G42 on the Gembrook service.

G42 was decorated with a red buffer beam and headboard similar to how it appeared on that last train 50 years ago.

This video features lineside scenes at various locations along the line for both the down and up journeys.

© 2012 James Brook
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#2



Of the four original Victorian Railways 2'6" narrow gauge lines, two have survived into preservation; The Gembrook line (more commonly known as Puffing Billy) and the Walhalla line. The Walhalla line is currently restored between Walhalla and Thomson, and known as the Walhalla Goldfields Railway. WGR does not have any original VR 2'6" rollingstock, and as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for the line 'native' loco 7A was brought from Puffing Billy for one weekend only, being the first time an NA had been to Walhalla since the lines closure 66 years ago! On the Saturday 7A carried scrapped loco 9A's number plates, 9A having hauled the first train into Walhalla 100 years before.

I have stitched this video together from shots taken on three different Walhalla-Thomson-Walhalla runs to simulate one journey. The on-board footage was taken on the 11am ex-Walhalla departure, the trackside footage was taken on the 1pm and 3pm runs. Note the loco is carrying two whistles: The lower pitched one was 9A's, the high pitched one belonged to Garrat loco G41.

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#3
Garratt G42 mixed to Gembrook

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ozbob

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#6

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#8

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20th March 2014

Hi Everyone

History was made today as Stacey Faletoese from Berwick in Victoria boarded Puffing Billy Railway becoming the railways ten millionth passenger since the Railway was reopened by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society in 1962.  Stacey was travelling on Puffing Billy with her husband Lucas and their son Tepa (4 years) and their 13-week old baby Melia.

"I wasn't aware that Puffing Billy was so close to achieving such a huge milestone – we had just decided last night to have a family outing to Puffing Billy as we had never been on Puffing Billy before and we thought we'd make the most of the nice autumn weather – so it was a big surprise to be told I was the 10 millionth passenger to board the train!" Stacey said.

Puffing Billy Railway CEO, John Robinson, said the milestone was another significant chapter in the railway's history and paid credit to the entire Puffing Billy team and 10 million visitors for making it possible.

"This record is a credit to the staff and huge band of dedicated volunteers who, over the years, have laboured tirelessly and given their time freely to preserve Puffing Billy for the enjoyment of all Australians and overseas visitors," John said.

We had Channel 7, 9 and 10 at the Railway today capturing this milestone event, so if you get the chance, watch the news tonight.

Well done everyone!

With kind regards

Kine Haugland
Marketing Executive
Puffing Billy Railway
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#10
Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

Puffing Billy, 10 millionth passenger today! Well done all @puffingbillyr Memories --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Az8a5WZo8 ... ... I grew up on 2'6" #auspol

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#11
http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/news-events/locomotive-14a-s-100th-birthday/

Puffing Billy's youngest NA locomotive turned 100 years old on Wednesday 25 June 2014!

The Railway's Young Volunteers Representative Team organised a 100th birthday party on the day. The party included chocolate cake for the passengers and a coal cake for the special guest itself!

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Twitter

VictorianCollections ‏@VicCollections

@VicCollections welcomes @puffingbillyr's engines! http://victoriancollections.net.au/items/544065e72162f10fc0587305 ... http://victoriancollections.net.au/items/530e8ef82162ef1e50010cfe ... @YRRMuseum #train

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#15



Australia's Puffing Billy Railway with G42 and 8A
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#16
Australia's Puffing Billy Preserved (1966)

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Twitter

PuffingBillyRailway @puffingbillyr 16 minutes ago

Our special 'Mixed' Train is ready for the Governor General of Australia #ANZACwalk #emerald



=================

:-t :-c :lo
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PuffingBillyRailway ‏@puffingbillyr 2 hours ago

The Governor General of Australia has arrived! Now on our way to #emerald for the official #ANZACwalk opening.

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Twitter

CardiniaShireCouncil @CardiniaShire  2 hours ago

Sir Peter Cosgrove said it was a thrill to arrive in Emerald on Puffing Billy. It will not be his last visit.

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#20



A regular day of operations on the Puffing Billy Railway, Australia featuring the two oldest NA class steam locomotives in operation, 6A and 7A.

18th July 2015
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Twitter

PuffingBillyRailway ‏@puffingbillyr now

But first, let me take a selfie! #selfie #selfiestick. Photo credit @soooojiiii

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Herald Sun --> Push for return of 'red rattler' carriages in Puffing Billy upgrade

QuoteTOURISTS may soon be able to catch a heritage train from the city to Belgrave as part of a multimillion-dollar proposal to upgrade Puffing Billy.

Under the plan, vintage "red rattler" carriages would run on the suburban network, taking visitors to the historic steam train in the Dandenong Ranges, which runs from Belgrave to Gembrook.

The Herald Sun understands VicTrack, Metro, and Public Transport Victoria have been consulted about the proposal, which could see one inbound and one outbound service run each day.

Liberal MP Jason Wood is pushing for federal funding to transform the popular tourist attraction into a "mega tourism destination" ...
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#23



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#24
Some photographs taken by my Grandfather 1937 - 1950 at various locations


Colac yard c. 1949





Moe yard c. 1937







Walhalla 1937



Leaving Platina 1937



Knotts 1937



Boy waiting for the train.



Wangaratta yard c. 1949









Whitfield c. 1949



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Stillwater

Meanwhile, back at the (Gympie) Station.   :ttp:  :ttp:  :ttp:

http://thevalleyrattler.com.au

The state government is working on it, we are told.

ozbob

Meanwhile at Belgrave, they cannot cope with the passenger demand .. and remember they run more daily passenger trains than we get between Nambour and Gympie North !

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#27
The fact that Puffing Billy is such a success today is a testament to the legions of volunteers over the years that have contributed so much to keep it going. I did track work in the 1960s in helping to restore services from Belgrave to Menzies Creek.  It was good fun to ride the motor trolley along the line and sleep in the NC vans during the weekends.

The Victorian Railways narrow gauge was always very special.  A proper safe working railway on narrow gauge track. Each of the lines, Crowes, Whitfield, Walhalla and Gembrook all had their own  differing characteristics as well.

I was fortunate to have travelled on the the Crowes and Gembrook lines as a young boy - Crowes between Colac and Weeaproinah (line closed to Crowes at that time) and between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave on the Gembrook line when the line was closed from Belgrave.  These days the line runs from Belgrave back to Gembrook.  Crowes, Whitfield and Walhalla are closed, but a section from Thomson to Walhalla operates as a heritage operation.



A very special photograph this.  It is of the last train departing from Crowes on 9th December 1954. G41 the loco.

My Grandfather took the photograph and then ran to catch up with the train which was slowly moving.  My Uncle is sitting on the steps of the NC Van.  The train collected any wagons between Crowes and Weeaproinah on the return journey.  If memory serves me right, I recall Gandpa telling me they camped overnight at the Crowes station with the crew (they arrived at Crowes on the train the afternoon of the 8th) and had a pleasant time under the circumstances.  But at least history was recorded.

We had relatives in the Beech Forest / Weeaproinah area and some were potato farmers.  The insisted on sending the spuds by rail from Weeaproinah which kept the line going for a while, but it evenually closed in the early 60s.
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#28
An aerial pic of Beech Forest station and yard in 1965.  Line was closed at this time but the loop around the tennis court is clearly seen.

The loop was used to turn locomotives as needed and allowed trains to reverse easily if coming and going from Crowes or Colac as required.

The line to Crowes and the line to Beech Forest both left in the same direction from Beech Forest.



From https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5423a0892162f1155cc03b77
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#29
Beech Forest - train arriving at Beech Forest from Colac, the line on the right was the line to Crowes, hence the useful reversing loop around the tennis courts!



From http://www.westonlangford.com/search/?q=Beech%20Forest&country=Australia&state=Victoria&general=&tpn=&page=2


A loaded goods train heading to Colac - pulp wood was the load in the main on this train. The line to Crowes on the left. 1961.

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G42 ? at Colac, early 1960s

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/PICT0041.JPG



Puffing Billy on the way to Belgrave, 1950s.

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/PICT0042.JPG



Puffing Billy Menzies Creek 1970s.

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/PICT0043.JPG
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#31
Some more photographs taken by my Grandfather. 



Last train from Crowes at Kincaid tank 9/12/1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0001.JPG



NA 5A at Colac 1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0002.JPG



Last train from Crows entering Beech Forest 9/12/1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0003.JPG



Wyelangta

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0004.JPG



Beech Forest from coal stage

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0005.JPG



ARHS Special at Beech Forest 1959

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0006.JPG



Beech Forest station 1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0007.JPG



Near Kincaid

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0008.JPG



Lavers Hill

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0009.JPG



Ferguson 1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0010.JPG



G41 at Crowes 1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0011.JPG



G42 Colac 1959

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0012.JPG



Last train from Crowes coming into Beech Forest Dec 1954

HiRES > http://backontrack.org/images/arhs_ng/vrng/PICT0013.JPG
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As it was in 1949 ...



Photograph P G Dow
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https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/full-steam-ahead-for-puffing-billy/

Full Steam Ahead For Puffing Billy

Minister for Tourism and Major Events

13 November 2017

Victoria's iconic Puffing Billy will undergo major works to boost visitor numbers and bring more business to the region, thanks to funding from the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren and Member for Monbulk James Merlino have announced $8.2 million to improve facilities at the popular tourist spot.

A new Discovery Centre will be built at Lakeside Station, improving services and featuring educational and volunteer facilities, a café, and space to host events and meetings.

With the existing network currently at capacity, these works are vital to cater for growing demand.

Loved by locals and visitors alike, Puffing Billy continues to attract record numbers of passengers. More than 487,000 people flocked to the railway in 2016-17, with 60 per cent visiting from overseas.

This is the highest patronage of any narrow gauge steam heritage railway in the world that is a volunteer-based, not for profit operation.

Tourism means serious business in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges – creating around 7,300 jobs and generating close to $560 million for the local economy in 2015-16.

Puffing Billy is a major driver of this activity, delivering around $10.2 million to the economy, supporting 101 jobs, and engaging more than 900 volunteers.

Today's announcement will ensure Puffing Billy continues to be a significant drawcard for the region into the future, attracting visitors from all over Victoria, Australia and overseas – creating more business for local traders.

The funding will help kick off the first phase of the Puffing Billy Master Plan 2017, which involved extensive community consultation and support from the Emerald Tourist Railway Board.

Construction is expected to commence before the end of 2018 and be complete by late 2020.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren

"Puffing Billy is one of Victoria's greatest tourist attractions, but it needs some extra steam to stay on track."

"These upgrades will give this famous railway the facilities it needs to attract more visitors going forward – and that's good news for local jobs and businesses."   

Quotes attributable to Member for Monbulk James Merlino

"For more than 100 years, locals have made lifelong memories here, and we want that to continue well into the future."

"Puffing Billy is a place that values its volunteers and gives visitors a taste of what our beautiful region has to offer."

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Melbourne Age --> Puffing Billy and a tour bus collide



QuoteMelbourne's  Puffing Billy steam train and a tour bus have collided near Menzies Creek.

Paramedics are currently treating four people at the scene, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.

Photos taken by a bystander show that the tour bus appeared to clip the side of the train and ended up on its side.

It does not appear that any passengers on the train were injured.

It is understood that Puffing Billy services have been cancelled for the rest of the day until the scene of the collision is cleared.

Puffing Billy management has been contacted for comment.
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