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Branchline Society the Members Newsletter of the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway October / November Preservation Society 2013

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Branchline Society the Members Newsletter of the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway October / November Preservation Society 2013 Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Branchline Society The Members Newsletter of the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway October / November Preservation Society 2013 One Weekend, Two Great Events, Many Dedicated Volunteers The crowds at Mucklefest got to enjoy some magnificently presented machines and some fantastic displays in perfect weather. The weekend of the 26th and 27th of October arguably comprised two of the biggest events of the year with the combined Victorian Goldfields Railway / Steamrail Victoria Maldon Steam Spectacular being held on the Saturday and our annual festival, Mucklefest held on the Sunday. Hundreds of people enjoyed the two events which were only possible through the hard work of a very large number of volunteers over the two days as well as many hours of planning and preparation over the preceding weeks. A large number of photographers captured the action as J549 hauled a wedding special while K190 and J515 waited to depart for Maldon Photo courtesy of Alf Batchelder October / November 2013 Page 2 President’s Column Spring is upon us and we are now right into by Michael Vines railway. some of our big events as members would be aware. I have previously talked about the On Saturday afternoon, the 19th of October, Maldon Steam Spectacular on Saturday the we ran a similar special train along with a 26th of October 2013. This event was one barbeque for our Bandianna volunteers that was jointly run by us and our good without whose tremendous and committed friends at Steamrail. Passenger numbers were efforts we would not have the quantity of 80 high and those railfans who attended got to pound rail sitting at Muckleford ready for re- see how well the VGR do special events. railing of the Maldon /Muckleford section. Travelling up on the Steamrail train from The purpose of this day was to recognise the Melbourne along with a number of other efforts of these volunteers and to say thank volunteers, I was conscious of the sense of you to them. Later on this month we will also anticipation amongst my fellow passengers be operating a special train with the invited and it was pleasing at the end of the day to guests being local councillors, state and see that their expectations had been well and federal government representatives, along truly exceeded. I need to express my with, hopefully, our Registrar of Heritage and heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who Tourist Railways, Adrian Ponton ( who was of put in many hours preparing for the event as great assistance earlier in the year with our El well as our staff, volunteers and staff from Zorro difficulties), and those from Public Steamrail Victoria as well staff from V/Line Transport Victoria. We are particularly and the RTBU, without whose help, this concerned to “press the flesh”, so to speak, event would not have happened. I believe the and to keep the need for funding of our through train from Melbourne concept is a railway uppermost in the minds of all levels of taste of things to come. For many years we government. struggled to satisfy those in authority that the organisation. On Friday evening the 11th of crossover at Castlemaine could be regularly October we ran a special train from Maldon This brings me to an important part of our and safely used. I may stand to be corrected to Castlemaine and back for our various plans now that the new board for this railway on this but in the last 12 months the sponsors. There were roughly 30 in year is constituted. Whilst we have had in crossover has been used more times than attendance with the consist comprising J515 place a business plan for the last few years we probably in our history. One of our visions along with Tambo and Macedon. It was a are revisiting this document via a (as members would know) is that great opportunity to showcase Macedon and comprehensive workshop with the use of a Castlemaine will be a destination for mainline for my part it was the first time for me to see facilitator to occur at Maldon in mid heritage operations and this is now being how brilliantly it works for these types of November. The idea behind this process is to achieved and, I believe, can and will be part of events with the fully functional bar facility. update and refocus on our business plan and ongoing operations. The complements flowed thick and fast from particularly with a view to the funding the sponsor representatives that came that overtures that we are directing to all levels of Since the last newsletter we have run some evening and I was particularly pleased to see government over the next year or so. We special trains to recognise contributions by that some of our original join up sponsors of are particularly mindful of an upcoming state those both within and outside of our 5 years ago still remain committed to our (Continued on page 3) October / November 2013 Page 3 (Continued from page 2) Steamrail / VGR Maldon Steam Spectacular election later next year and conscious of the need to secure commitments from both sides of politics. At the risk of sounding slightly controversial there are lessons to be learnt from the recent federal election and announcements for commitments to other heritage railways from one side of politics which were then placed at risk because the election result fell otherwise. Needless to say former Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner and director on our board responsible for funding needed for major projects, Kieran Walshe, will play a central role in our aspirations in this area. It will be seen that there is much happening around the railway at the moment. The big events occurring at this time are a magnificent opportunity to showcase what we are about both to those in our immediate geographic area and beyond. As I have already indicated the through trips to Maldon from Melbourne R761 and K190 sit in platform three at Castlemaine. Photo by the editor are all about trying to capture a broader tourist market. I have also been pleased of recent times at the number of new volunteers that we seem to be attracting. Sometime back I called for more volunteers and there is no doubt that we are steadily building in this area. I urge all members to remain committed and focused in their endeavours. I assure all members that the current board is working effectively in furtherance of the aspirations of our magnificent railway. Michael Vines President, Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Society J549 Update J549 has hauled her first passenger service in many years, with a successful run as part of the Maldon Steam Spectacular. J549 hauled three different consists on the day, being: An old fashioned photostop between Muckleford and Maldon. Photo by the editor The wedding special to Muckleford - Tambo, Macedon, 700BK & 43BPL The Steamrail train, comprising 5 E cars, 2 K cars and 42BU double heading with K190 and D3 639 42BU on her own J549 is still undergoing the final phase of her major overhaul and her venture out was minus her dome cover, smoke deflectors and cylinder cladding, making a very unusual sight. She had received special dispensation from the certifying engineer to run on the day and the crew reports that she ran well. She still has a number of adjustments and tests to be undertaken to make sure she is right for her public re-launch in 2014. These will include fitting of the various missing parts as well as being painted, using paint that was donated by the late Barry Stewart. Details of her official return to service will be provided closer to the time. K190 and J515 charge across Sawmill Road Bridge. Photo courtesy of Alf Batchelder October / November 2013 Page 4 Our Proud Sponsors October / November 2013 Page 5 A UK Travel Report by Andrew Naylor On Wednesday the 27th of June 2012 I arrived at Manchester on board SQ328 with a group from the Victoria Welsh Choir. After satisfying the usual entry formalities we boarded our coaches and headed for Bangor via Llangollen in northern Wales. Entering Llangollen I sighted the railway station picturesquely located on the banks of the River Dee and the head-quarters of the restored Llangollen Railway. This railway extends along the valley of the River Dee from Llangollen to Carrog with work on the further extension to Corwen continuing apace. After a confused lunch (the café had been so overwhelmed by Australian customers that they had been unable to supply the food ordered) I used this ready-made pretext to excuse myself, and wend my way down the main street to the source of those familiar smells and sounds emanating from a working steam locomotive, and a meal in the L.R. cafe. Afterwards I had a look in the L.R. Museum which was located in a bogie Llangollen Railway Station, signal box, museum van and the River Dee van in the platform dock and was introduced to the Llangollen Railway’ Marketing Manager. We were able to compare the practical issues faced by operators of tourist railways and to exchange guidebooks. Then attired in a borrowed ‘hi-vis’ vest I was escorted across the tracks to platform 2, where the LR’s restored Great Western Railway 2-8-0 heavy freight locomotive No.3802 was standing after completing its first journey for the day. It was one of 82 similar locomotives built from 1938 onwards for heavy long distance freight work on the GWR to a G.J.
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