Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Members Society

Newsletter March 2012

Derailment Disrupts Services

The railway suffered a significant incident on Sunday 4th March when the normal 11:45am service from Castlemaine to Maldon derailed in a cutting, known to many as the S curves between Muckleford and Maldon. The train was comprised of diesel Y133 and three carriages, Tambo, Lowanna and 29BCPL. The train was travelling at approximately 20 kilometres per hour. The locomotive remained on the rails while all three carriages derailed. Fortunately there were no injuries to either passengers or crew.

The railway’s Emergency Plan swung into action and we were able to convey the 50 passengers from the train to our mini-bus and then Bendigo- Maldon Road where a Castlemaine Bus Lines coach transferred them to Maldon and onwards to Castlemaine. The derailment was reported to Transport Safety and three investigations were immediately started - one by Transport Safety Victoria, one by the Office of the Chief Investigator and our own internal investigation. The cause of the derailment is not yet known. All three carriages have been towed back to Maldon and will be lifted by crane during the coming week so that the Chief Investigator can examine the carriages and try to determine the cause of the derailment.

Re-railing the three carriages has been undertaken using jacks under the direction of our Civil Manager John Shaw and our Mechanical Manager, Stephen Lumsden. This re-railing has been difficult as the number of volunteers who can work safely in the cutting is limited. Maintaining a safe work-site has been our top priority and we are fortunate to have had such expertise within our group of volunteers. Approximately 50 metres of track has been damaged and this is being repaired under the direction of our Civil Manager, John Shaw. At the time of going to press, ballasting, and tamping of the repaired section is underway.

This derailment has had a significant impact on our operations with three running days disrupted so far, however it is important to note that the repairs and recovery must be completed safely before can operate any train on our line. Further details and progress reports will be posted on our website at www.vgr.com.au Our Civil Branch volunteers enjoy a cuppa while working at the derailment site. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team of skilled volunteers. March 2012 Page 2

President’s Column by Paul McDonald In this issue, Members will read of the President - Castlemaine and Maldon Rail- as the assistance with the re-railing of the incident which occurred on Sunday last at 86 way Preservation Society carriages, most of those involved are over 60 ¾ miles from where the 11.45 am years of age, and there are some over 70! If train from Castlemaine to Maldon was de- the Railway is to have a future, we need to railed. There is sufficient information find younger volunteers who are interested in elsewhere without me going into detail to maintaining a valuable part of the State’s, and repeat however, at the time this issue was indeed, the Country’s history in the printed, investigations were continuing by the preservation and operation of a Branch line Office of the Chief Investigator, Transport railway. This is where you can help by Safety, and the Railway will commence its encouraging anyone you know that has own enquiry as soon as the situation is interest in becoming involved – we need resolved and we are in a position to breathe a them if we are to grow and progress in years little easier. to come.

I was thrilled with the efforts of both the Most of our members will be aware that K Station and on train staff on the day in 190 has been returned to Steamrail following question. They have acted entirely with the a highly successful period of hire to the focus upon our passengers, considering their V.G.R. The return to Castlemaine and welfare and needs and arranging evacuation subsequently Melbourne proceeded without a and alternative transport. This is exactly and hitch and, despite heavy rain, the task was precisely what they should have done and greeted enthusiastically by both the VGR cements the view that we must – all the time crew, V Line loco crew and signaling staff. and in everything we do – focus on the That the V.G.R. was able to have people on customer. The customer comes first. Many hand to man the coffee machine and assist years ago when working in a service industry those involved with refreshments before T (not the Tourist & Heritage Railway sector!) I able, with able leadership and guidance, to 364 departed 45 minutes early, was well had drummed into me during training courses have the carriages re-railed within a short received and thanks to Philip Ryan and that not only is the customer always to come time and available for inspection by the O.C.I. Rachael Musgrave-Evans for assisting with first and foremost, but that the customer is as well as our own Inspector before return to this. K 190 has performed very well in the always right. I believe we would do well to service. It has been both a pleasure and time it has been on our Railway and has keep these in mind. privilege for me to have been involved with certainly enabled us to get through a difficult some parts of the re-railing and to witness time while we deal with issues relating to K Also, I have been pleased with the offers of first hand the ability and enthusiasm with 160 and J 515. Work is continuing on J 515 assistance the Railway has received from both which this difficult task was performed. In and we are now hopeful of having it returned other Railways as well as Government some ways, it couldn’t have been worse – on to traffic later in March. K 160 has had agencies. Offers have been forthcoming from a 1 in 40 gradient, on a curve, in a cutting repairs to its ashpan as well as having a the , which tended to raise some issues with replacement set of grates fitted in the firebox. and Daylesford Spa Country Railway. We are access but this was also overcome. also grateful to have had an offer of assistance One problem encountered while K 190 was from Victrack and I cannot over emphasise As I have said in previous issues, the people with us related to an algal growth in the the help we have had from Officers of we are fortunate to have as part of our water tank located behind the workshop at Transport Safety Victoria and the Office of volunteer teams are possibly the greatest Maldon. The algae was finding its way into the the Chief Investigator. Needless to say, it is asset the Railway has. One important fact to locomotive tender and blocking injector our own people and the team is bear in mind, though, is that through the strainers, rendering them impossible to acknowledged in this issue who have been project to recover rail from Bandiana as well (Continued on page 3) March 2012 Page 3

(Continued from page 2) K190 Returns to Melbourne operate. Saturday 3rd March was the day that we said farewell to locomotive K190. K190 has been with Having traced the source of the problem, us on loan from our good friends at Steamrail since October and has performed very well over steps have been taken to stop any more this time. Due to fire restrictions, K190 was not able to be steamed back to Melbourne and getting into locomotive tender tanks and hence T 364 travelled up to Castlemaine to tow her back to Melbourne. investigations are continuing into the most appropriate method of controlling the growth of algae in the tank itself. There are a huge array of different things for people to become involved with in operating a Tourist Railway, hence my comment above: lets encourage as many as we can to become involved and spread the load with the work.

Volunteer Meeting

The next Volunteer Meeting will be held on Having K190 with us has been an enormous th Saturday June 9 at 2pm at the Castlemaine help as we’ve been able to carry out vital Station Refreshment Rooms between maintenance on K160 and to keep up progress platforms 2 and 3. on returning J515 and J549 to traffic.

Having K190 spending time with us wouldn’t New Sponsor have happened without the generous assistance and co-operation of:

 Steamrail  V/Line  RTBU (Heritage Division)

and we sincerely thank these three organisations for their assistance. It is much appreciated.

The railway is delighted to welcome on board, Grand Pacific Tours as a sponsor. Grand Pacific Tours run a number of tours that will Off the Rails be of interest to members, including a spectacular 18 day Steam tour of New The V.G.R. welcomes the new volunteers who are currently experiencing the wonder of working on our train Zealand. Further details of Grand Pacific WELCOME; Tours trips will be included in the next Coral Cooper, Pauline Wilkinson, Peter Harding and last but not least Colin Mickleburgh. newsletter. In the mean-time, if you’d like more information on their range of tours, see We look forward to working alongside these new volunteers as well as many happy, their website at memorable train hours together. Please stop and make them feel welcome when rostered on with them, and share your trips and experiences also. www.grandpacifictours.com Just a friendly reminder about donations for the PINK RIBBONS OF STEAM event to be held on Sunday October 21, 2012. (Please note date has changed to a week earlier). Raffle prize T367 donations would be gratefully received, along with any PINK tablecloths, vases, aprons or serviettes. Also any information on any groups or people willing to donate their time for Members will be aware, from previous entertainment either at Castlemaine or Maldon Stations. newsletters, of our submission to the

Australian Railway Historical Society to enter We are calling for any Volunteers interested in helping out with Catering for groups travelling in to a joint venture with the ARHS to on our train on a Wednesday. This would involve working from Maldon kitchen on said day, restore diesel locomotive T367 to mainline making sandwiches etc and packing them to be served on the train. We have currently 6 ladies standard and to return her to service as a to call upon but would love to have a roster going as to not rely on the same people all the freight locomotive, earning both groups a time. If you would be interested and can spare 2 hours on a Wednesday morning, please valuable income. T367 is currently sitting in contact Christine Gibb 0428 810 633. the ARHS Railway Museum at North

Williamstown. Preparations for the Trivia night-19th May- is under full steam! You can make a table up of your

own of family and friends or just come on the night and be placed with other intelligent people Unfortunately our submission was un- and win!! Cost for the evening will be $5 per head and please bring a supper plate to share. Tea successful with the ARHS deciding to allocate and coffee will be supplied, but soft drinks and cappuccinos will be able to be purchased. This the locomotive to our good friends at fun occasion will be held at Castlemaine Station with “heads down” at 7pm. If you would like to Steamrail to use on enthusiast tours. book a table or be placed on a table, please contact Christine Gibb on 0428 810633 or via

[email protected] While we were naturally dis-appointed not to be successful in our submission, we’ll certainly FULL STEAM AHEAD look forward to seeing her hauling Steamrail Christine Gibb tours all round the state. Acting Volunteer Co-Ordinator March 2012 Page 4

Returning to the Past by Alf Batchelder

After a soggy but unforgettable Steam on Show last November, I treated myself to a footplate experience aboard K190. The driver was Athol Graham, who went to considerable lengths to explain every facet of the trip between Muckleford and Castlemaine, from what was happening in the cab to the meaning of the various signals along the way. However, when Athol invited me to blow the whistle, he had no idea what that particular kindness meant. For me, there is nothing quite as exciting as the strong distinctive whistle tone of Victorian steam locos, and I had long dreamed of a moment such as this. As the sound of K190 rolled over the outskirts of Castlemaine, my thoughts drifted back to 1946, when my love of trains began.

At the age of five, Spencer Street station was the most exciting place I had ever known. Like so many other little boys in those days, I desperately wanted to be an engine driver. Of course, I had no idea of the heat that drivers Young as I was, I could sense his pride in stationary, conveyed an impression of power endured, or of the cold blasts that would hit Australia’s fastest train and the fact that it and speed. When S302 Edward Henty, my their faces in winter. Drivers blew the whistle was built by the VR. I was always in awe of favourite, sounded its chime whistle and – and that was what I wanted! While the what I saw, especially the luxury of the round started to move, blowing clouds of steam, my presence of the great A2s fuelled that -ended parlour car, with its plush arm-chairs world was truly an exciting place. ambition, my dream was really sparked by the and vases of flowers. Prior to departure, streamlined blue and gold of the S-class there would even be a telephone on the table After relishing every one of the blasts I engines that hauled the Spirit of Progress. Every at the end. Every carriage was panelled with unleashed from K190, I reluctantly weekend or so, my father would take me to Queensland ribbon walnut and carpeted with surrendered my authority over the engine to Spencer Street to watch the Spirit glide into a dark brown Saxony Wilton. In a typical Athol. For a wonderful moment, I had Number One platform at 11.30, on the dot. I passenger compartment, the seats were returned to those distant, happy times with would eagerly wait to see which of the four upholstered in dark blue chrome leather – my late father. I can only hope that, in his engines was working that day, and stare wide- but nothing emphasised the overall luxury retirement after 25 years on the footplate, eyed as she effortlessly hauled the long train more than the train’s air-conditioning which, Athol Graham will re-live many equally warm past me, with those 73-inch drivers looking in post-war Australia, was extremely memories of his days on the VGR. absolutely enormous as they went by. uncommon.

Occasionally, my father would ask the driver Sometimes, when my father was on holidays, if I could stand in the cab – while I have never we would be on Number One platform to 2013 will mark 25 years since Flying Scotsman’s forgotten the thrill of those moments, the watch the Spirit leave at 6.p.m. on its non- visit to Australia that co-incided with AuSteam88. sight of that fearsome-looking inferno in the stop run to Albury. Once, I had the rare Alf will be writing a number of recollections of firebox did produce some apprehension. My experience of seeing H220 at the head of the riding, chasing and photographing the magnificent father worked in the Secretary’s Branch in train. Massive and exciting though it was, the locomotive on her visit to Australia. These the nearby headquarters of the Victorian legendary all-black “Heavy Harry” didn’t quite recollections will appear over the next 18 months Railways, so he had no qualms about have the appeal of the streamlined S-class wandering through the train with me in tow. with its gold stripes that, even when Castlemaine Historical Society Raffle The Castlemaine Historical Society has selected a David Williams watercolour (left) of the Castlemaine Railway Station platform for their 2012 raffle prize. Such a choice is particularly appropriate for 2012 as this year is the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway.

The dates for the sale of raffle tickets are as follows:

 Thursday the 29th of March and Saturday the 28th. of April at the Castlemaine IGA Supermarket.  Tickets are also available from the Former Courthouse, 7 Goldsmith Crescent, Castlemaine on Tuesdays. March 2012 Page 5 March 2012 Page 6

2009 - The Victorian Year In Steam DVD has just been released by Steam Media. It is 2 hours and 15 minutes of top steam action from 2009 and the VGR features well. The Maldon line125 year anniversary where our double J class ran parallel with a double R class train from Castlemaine has excellent coverage. Our regular services and a cabride on K 160 are also featured. Other action includes R classes crossing on Warrenheip bank, 100 year celebrations at Puffing Billy, T 251 returning to service at Queenscliff, Double Ks to Seymour, 20 different locos in steam, Double R class to Bendigo, D3 639 on a suburban ramble to Cranbourne and Upfield, R 707 at Flemington Racecourse, Glen Waverley and Lilydale, K class on suburban shuttles to Williamstown, Dandenong and Mooroolbark and cabrides on T 251, Vulcan#4, K 160 and K 163.

VGR has a long time connection with Steam Media. Our President, Paul McDonald, is the narrator whilst founding Board member and regular driver Tony Marsden is producer and editor. Several members are also videographers for the DVD.

You can obtain your copy from our Maldon and Castlemaine shops priced at $49.95 or by mail order below.

Your purchase benefits the VGR

2009 - Victorian Year in Steam Mail Order Form

Please deliver me _____ copies of 2009 - The Victorian Year in Steam @ $49.95 each $...... Postage (Australia) @ $4.00 $...... Postage (International) @ $10.00 $...... TOTAL $......

Name …………………………………………………….. Address …………………………………………………... Card Number Mastercard / Visa / Cheque / Money Order

Return this slip to:     Victorian Goldfields Railway Expiry Date P.O. Box 51 CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450  Signature ……………………………... March 2012 Page 7

Our Proud Sponsors March 2012 Page 8

Services Roster IT Update

Our Services Roster covers: Anyone who has been surfing the web where possible and practical we ask members  Booking Officers recently and just happened to, by design or to check the members area from time to time  Conductors mistake, stumble across the VGR website to catch up on any news, safety updates or  Sales would have noticed that the site has material that may affect you as volunteer. undergone a few changes, it now fills more of  First Class attendants the screen, works on MOST mobile devices Unfortunately up until recently the website  Volunteers for Special Events (this is actually harder than it should be) and has been a bit stale with old news, and un- The only requirements are a friendly has some clean, crisp and fresh photographs current events and unless I get emailed disposition and a willingness to abide by the scattered around the place. While we haven't through some details of the happenings, I Volunteers Code of Conduct and the railways changed the content greatly we have tried to wont be able to keep the site up-to-date with Safety Policy. make navigating around a little easier. the all the gossip. So if you’re organising a workday, holding a morning tea or meeting If you’d like to join the ranks of our One big change that will be resulting from the or you’ve taken a fantastic photo that you volunteers, please contact our rostering new website is that we will, within the next would just love published on our website, officer , Russell Chapman on 5470 6178 (prior few months be setting up an online shop, please make sure you send the details to 8pm) or 0488 539 419 or via email at where various gift vouchers, driver through to [email protected]. [email protected] experience packages, membership renewals and general memorabilia will be available. We The other exciting news in regards to the hope that this will improve our scope for VGR in the technology stakes is that we are Castlemaine CWA financial gain, offering those internet impulse going to (soon hopefully) be installing a buyers a slice of the VGR. computer server, and some terminal units at Members will be aware of the plight of the Castlemaine and Maldon stations to make the Castlemaine Country Women's Association But the real purpose of the website after communication and efficiency as easy and and the possibility of them losing access to being a easy and instant marketing and effective as possible. Because the VGR is a their regular meeting venue. publicity tool, is that it is a communication non for profit organisation we are able to channel for our members. I've been trying purchase this system at a ridiculously low Fortunately, an agreement has been reached hard to have all current rosters and all cost, but, and there's always a but, we will between the CWA and Mount Alexander newsletters uploaded to the members area of need some help with the installation and Shire Council, meaning that they won’t need to the website. If you haven’t got access to the maintenance at least initially with the system, take advantage of our offer to use the members area please email me – so if there are any members out there who Muckleford Goods Shed on a regular basis, [email protected] leaving your CMRPS know even just the basics of networking, however representatives from the CWA have membership number and a password of your servers and terminal computers, then please, inspected the Goods Shed and may well use it choice and I’ll set up your personal login – or please contact [email protected] and in the future for event that are suited to the use the password and user-name given to you I’ll put your skills to good use. Goods Shed. to access the newsletter electronically.

In our members section of the site are some Hopefully that will include our crews offering I wish everyone the best, and remember, interesting and useful documents, like the to “taste test” some scones on the way keep that news and those photo's coming in. Volunteer Handbook & Code of Conduct, through Muckleford! AGM minutes and the all important Annual Cheers, Report, copies of the Constitution, and our

Victorian Goldfields Railway Safety Management System, safety updates Will Maylor and more. We will continue to upload all General Office and VGR Webmaster Marketing handouts so that if you miss out of lose yours, you'll know where to find them, and [email protected] P.O. Box 51, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450

Phone: (03) 5470 6658 Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272 Good Friday Wine and Cheese Special

Email: [email protected] for bookings, Friday April 6th 2012 Train Times & Fares information or [email protected] for all other enquiries Step aboard – relax, enjoy the entertainment, the company and the special atmosphere of the steam Castlemaine Railway Station train as we take you on an autumn Kennedy Street, Castlemaine evening journey from Maldon to Phone: (03) 5470 6658 Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272 Castlemaine and back to Maldon.

Maldon Railway Station Departs Maldon Station : 7.00pm Hornsby Street, Maldon Enjoy the unique ambience of a Telephone: (03) 5475 1451 great evening steam train journey.

Includes complimentary cheese www.vgr.com.au platter www.driveatrain.com.au Drinks - purchase on board - No BYO www.driveasteamtrain.com.au Bookings are essential - Phone (03) 5470 6658