Puffing Billy Railway ~ Diesel Locos & Other Vehicles Service Historys

Loco - T.A.C.L Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor Heritage Photo

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Loco - T.A.C.L Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor Loco Description Former Built By Condition Location Phot Catlog. Victorian Collections No. Class & o of No. 000029 Number T.A.C.L. Erica State Museum √ √ Date built - 1928 Sawmill Original owner - Forest Rail Tractor Commission of Victoria Original gauge - 762mm Withdrawn - 1949 Next owner - Walhalla & Thomson River Steam Tramway

Other Service History T.A.C.L. Built in 1928 for the Forests Commission of Victoria, this petrol rail tractor was issued to the Tyers Valley tramway that branched off the Moe to Walhalla line at Collins Siding. Following the closure of this tramway in 1949, it travelled from Tyers Junction to Collins Siding to the Forest Commission’s sawmill at Erica. From here it was taken to Walhalla in 1971 for the Walhalla & Thomson River Steam Tramway, but was never used. In 1974, it was sold to the Puffing Billy Preservation Society and stored at Emerald until restoration to original condition commenced in 1987 and was completed in 2000.

THE T.A.C.L. TRACTORS - On the 19th January, T.A.C.L. locomotive, purchased from Tractor Appliance Co. Ltd. (Malcolm Moore), was delivered. This unit had a 20 h.p. Fordson engine coupled by a chain drive to the two axles, providing a tractive effort of approx. 2000lbs. Wheelbase was 5’ and weight was four tons. It was intended that the two tractor locomotives, working with the grade, would deliver timber from the branch lines to Tyers Junction, from which place it would be steam hauled out to the Collins Siding transfer point. Following a breakdown of the steam locomotive, haulage during the early months of 1928 was carried out by the T.A.C.L. unit, supplemented by the Nattrass, which was, by this time, becoming unreliable. During April 1928, after ensuring that no suitable locomotive was available in Australia, an order was placed with the Climax Manufacturing Co., U.S.A. for the supply of a geared locomotive. A second T.A.C.L. engine was purchased during May and, on the 27th, the local mill owners, having obtained running rights on the tramway, commenced haulage with the Harman. The three tractor units worked the branch lines and transported ballast, whilst the Harman hauled the timber to Collins Siding in rakes of eight trucks (56 tons). The weekly loading of the line for the first, second and third weeks were 54, 62 and 71 trucks respectively. Ref from http://www.nmra.org.au/tyersvalley/Tyers-Tram.html 1949 - 1971 Collins Siding to the Forest Commission’s 1928 - 1949 Forests Commission of Victoria at the Tyers sawmill at Erica Valley tramway 1971 - 1974 Walhalla & Thomson River Steam Tramway 1974 - sold to the Puffing Billy Preservation Society

Puffing Billy Railway ~ Diesel Locos & Other Vehicles Service Historys

Loco - T.A.C.L Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor Puffing Billy Service History or Notes In 1974, it was sold to the Puffing Billy Preservation Society and stored at Emerald until restoration to original condition commenced in 1987 and was completed in 2000.

Date acquired - 1974 Acquired from - Walhalla & Thomson River Steam Tramway State when acquired - Stored Work done - Restored Restored to service - 2000 Current State - Operational

Victorian Collections No. 000029 Dec 1974 - Rail tractor TACL arrives at EMERALD. Jun 2002 TACL & mbsp; A half link is being fitted to the drive chain. 15 Sept 1987 - TACL rail tractor restoration commences. 21 July 2002 - The TACL rail tractor formerly operated by the Forest Commission in the Erica/Tyers Valley area was Jan 2001 TACL The tractor has run at the OTF, but the completed by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society and intermediate drive shaft has moved in its mountings. The Light Railway Research Society of Australia radiator is to be removed and the core repaired Aug 2002 - TACL Feb 2001 TACL The radiator is yet to be removed and the Yes, the TACL is now fully operational and is to be handed core repaired. The TACL has been out of action with the back to the Museum for operation as part of our exhibits rear drive axle shifting and throwing the drive train out of after many years of dedicated and determined restoration alignment. This will be attended to shortly but is a major by the T.A.C.L. Tractor Group. The tractor was built in 1928 job in dismantling the final drive area. by the Tractor Appliance Company Ltd, a subsidiary of Mar 2001 - May 2001 TACL The radiator is yet to be Malcolm Moore. It had operated on the Tyers Valley removed and the core repaired. A replacement spring has tramway with the Climax before being abandoned at the been fitted to the governor State Sawmill at Erica. To see the TACL running please come Jun 2001 - Oct 2001 TACL The radiator has been to the Museum for our quarterly steaming days. removed and and sent away for repair, a half link to be Sept 2002 TACL Has been handed over to the Museum fitted to the chain drive Sept 2002 - TACL Yes, the TACL restoration group has now Nov 2001 TACL The radiator has been removed and formally handed over the TACL to the custody of the repaired, a half link to be fitted to the chain drive Museum. A very pleasant function and BBQ was held at the Dec 2001 TACL The radiator has been returned from Museum to hand the engine over to the Museum. This is repair and is due to be fitted in December, a half link is to one of the rare artefacts from the pioneering forestry days be fitted to the chain drive of Victoria. To help maintain the engine in full operation Stan Gunn has been appointed the curator of the unit. To Jan 2002 TACL The radiator has been fitted and the see the TACL running please come to the Museum for our water pump overhauled, a half link has been costed for quarterly steaming days fitting to the chain drive. Unfortunately the clutch actuating mechanism has "failed in traffic" and needs attention. May 2002 TACL The clutch mechanism has been

Puffing Billy Railway ~ Diesel Locos & Other Vehicles Service Historys

repaired, the half link is to be fitted

Loco - T.A.C.L Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor Puffing Billy Service History or Notes

Mar 2003 - National Historic Machinery Association Mar 2008 - TACL Work is taking place on the TACL Rally with Stan working hard on the transmission. Ever since Preparations for the NHMA rally, which will be held at it arrived at the Museum it has been difficult to change Heyfield from 8 to 10 March 2003, have been going on gears and the work taking place is to prevent a major apace. This is a major event in the Historic Machinery engine malfunction. world and we taking the Malcolm Moore 2" gauge Apr 2008 - TACL Work is taking place on the TACL, engine, the TACL and possibly a 2'6" gauge NKS trolley with Stan Gunn and others working hard on the with us down to Heyfield. The trolley is some doubt as transmission. Ever since it arrived at the Museum it it has suddenly been pressed into use on the railway has been difficult to change gears and the work taking and we may not be able to restore it back into place is to prevent a major engine malfunction. exhibition standard in the short time that is available Jul 2008 - TACL The work on the repair of the TACL is before loading. We expect to run the Malcolm Moore proceeding slowly and replacement gears have been engine on a short demonstration track, which will be incorporated. Fortunately when the unit was restored built for our use. If you are in East Gippsland over the at Emerald several years ago, spare parts from other Labour day weekend put this event on your calendar units were collected and these have been invaluable in as it is one of the few times it will be held in Victoria. the current repairs. We are planning to have this unit There will be over 1000 stationary engines on site as operational by Christmas this year well as 20 steam rollers/ traction engines, other Dec 2008 - TACL The TACL has been the main item veteran, and classic vehicles on display. Over 3,000 worked on by our Wednesday Night group of young exhibitors will be on site; a good time is assured. people and is now operational once more. The Aug 2003 - Emerald Winterfest Following our usual locomotive has been completely overhauled and is in practice the Museum took part in the annual Emerald great shape for the next few years. To complete the Winterfest. The festival was held on 27 July and our unit we are replacing the roof over the driver in the planning is for the red NKS trolley to be displayed and way the engine was originally built. The roof is being for the TACL to go by rail to Emerald and also be fabricated from new and the unit is painted in displayed. Australian Army green. Oct 2003 - Quarterly Steam Day / Next Quarterly Steam Day On Saturday 6th September we Jan 2009 - TACL The TACL is still in need of additional successfully operated a variety of exhibits, including TLC and work in the next few months will be steam locomotive Hudswell Clarke No. 9, the TACL, the concentrated on the front end of the engine. Malcolm Moore and NKS 5. Our next quarterly steam running day is Saturday 6th December. May 2010 - The TACL restoration group has handed over the files of drawings, photographs, and May 2007 - TACL This machine is under going a correspondence used during the restoration. To though inspection in preparation for its accreditation. Archives Jun 2007 - TACL Rail Tractor The TACL has had a main Jul 2010 - Nov 2010 - TACL Drive gear being assessed. forward gear removed and requires a replacement gear. Also the associated timber jinkers have also had Feb 2017 - On display at Menzies Creek Museum. some work done on the rubbing plates and this is progressing well. Jul 2007 - TACL Locomotive Plans have been made to repair the badly worn drive gear. This will require a pattern to be made for casting.

Puffing Billy Railway ~ Diesel Locos & Other Vehicles Service Historys

Loco - T.A.C.L Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor

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