Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Branchline Society The Members Newsletter of the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway May 2013 Preservation Society

The Goldfields Steam Train Challenge - An Honorable 47th Position

The inaugural Goldfields Steam Train Challenge took place on Sunday 21st April and proved a fantastic day for all concerned. The day was superbly organised by Paula Ewing and involved a bicycle race from Castlemaine to Maldon against our train. The train was hauled by J515, under the care of driver Tony Llewellen and fireman David Crowhurst and ran precisely as timetabled, arriving 45 minutes, 51 seconds after the starting signal. Our 47th position was right in the middle of the field, with 46 riders arriving before us at Maldon and 47 riders arriving after us at Maldon. The train was packed with friends and relatives of the riders and there was certainly a lot of excitement when riders were seen from the train windows.

The winner of the race was Jason Lowndes (18) who set a blistering pace crossing the line in 32m20s and beating the train by more than 13 minutes. Lowndes’ closest challenger was friend and training partner Tasman Nankervis (17), who secured first in the U18 category as well as second place in the overall results. Lowndes heart rate reached 191 beats per minute (95% of his maximum) in the final kilometre of the course as he raced to the finish line at Maldon Station at more than 40km/hr; determined to take the win from Nankervis and lay down a scorching course record for future editions of the event. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing how he’ll do next year!

Thanks go to Paula Ewing for organising such a great event and to all those volunteers who acted as marshalls on the day as well as to all those who made sure the event would run safely. Such an event not only provides great publicity for our railway, but also a great boost for the region with significant media coverage as well. We received a $1,000 donation from the organisers and we sincerely thank them for their contribution to the railway and the region. May 2013 Page 2

President’s Column

Every so often I think of those who by Michael Vines the market and so I feel the assistance Paul contemplate the big picture or seek to pursue will provide to us will be invaluable. what seems to be a virtually unattainable goal. Our modern world is so beset with Some recent events on our railway have been pragmatists but there will always be a core highly successful. We continue to attract group who want to really challenge good numbers at our Steam Train for Kids convention. And so I recently met with events and the feed back is that people Jonathan Newton who is the coordinator of particularly like the all embracing ticket. We the V499 project. Some months ago our recently hosted the “Great Bicycle Race” board resolved as a matter of principle to which was a huge success. There were over a support the project and in line with that 170 entrants of which about 40 riders were decision I did a video clip for their website able to beat J515 and train from Castlemaine reaffirming our support. For those that might to Maldon. I travelled on the train (all five not be aware this is an ambitious plan to carriages being packed each way) and there recreate a class of locomotives built by was a real buzz as bike riders were passed Baldwin prior to the dawn of the last century and some were able to forge ahead. I thank all which had disappeared by the 1930’s. Just as of those involved in the organisation of the has been done in the United Kingdom V499 is event and we look forward to putting on a to reappear “Lazarus like” and for those who similar event next year. There are also plans might want to dismiss it as fanciful I suggest afoot (in conjunction with VicTrack and the you have a chat to Jonathan. He is local shire) to develop a bicycle track (rail determined to succeed and so I ask all of our trail) of the type that can found in other members to take a moment to look at their places around and if this is done it website and contemplate what it might be like will only serve as an adjunct to this type of if V499 someday runs on our railway. To event. We have resolved at board level to further reinforce our support we will be meeting. Subsequent to this meeting Paul sent support the establishment of the rail trail and selling “V499 water bottles” with a me an email which, in short, was a glowing have been involved in meetings to date proportion of the sale proceeds going back to endorsement of how we conduct ourselves at whereby the project is to be implemented. the project. board level. I don’t mention this because of some desire for self-satisfaction but it is a On the preservation front it is great to have On a different topic I want to bring to good indication to members of an objective one of our PL carriages back in operation and members’ attention our continuing desire to assessment made of what we are doing. Paul repainted. The John Cole inspired 41BU is refine and build on the effectiveness of our will be continuing to assist us and at this stage now close to completion and by all reports is business. As part of our package of assistance is looking at aspects of our marketing in likely to be running by the middle of the year. from the Maldon and District Community company with Andrew Reynolds, our Our first class carriage Macedon is finished Bank we have provided to us a business marketing director, and Garry Atchison, who and sitting at Newport pending finalization of advisor at no cost. This is Paul Henshell from is our paid marketing officer. We can always certain Bendigo who attended our last board look at new ways to further our product in (Continued on page 3) May 2013 Page 3

(Continued from page 2) accreditation issues and movement to our railway. In line with the “pool of rolling stock” concept which forms part of our joint venture with Steamrail we are expecting movement of another BW carriage which incorporates kiosk facilities and this may come as part of the move of Macedon. Finally Dave Bail’s labor of love – the Z Van – is back in action and formed part of the consist for the bike race event. Well done to Dave and all those who have assisted him in this very worthy restoration of such an historic and iconic piece of rolling stock.

That will do from me for this edition of Branchline which is the new title of our newsletter as members would have seen V499 sits at Nyora with a rake of 4 wheel wagons. from the last edition. I feel this is a thoroughly appropriate title for our will be built with Vauclain Compound provision of drawings of great benefit. The V newsletter. For the next edition I am cylinders, making it the only one of it’s kind class is a Baldwin designed locomotive, as too proposing to go back to something that was running in the Southern Hemisphere, and are the NA class locomotives: In fact the the subject of a newsletter a year or so ago only the second in the world. designs of these two locomotives were less which was the restoration of the workman’s than 12 months apart. As a result, the designs van (WW143-but now having its 1887 The aim is to build the locomotive for use on of items such as the frames, boiler, cab, number-149 AB ) which sits on our property heritage tourist lines across Victoria, such as cylinders, motion gear, and many other parts at Maldon. Restoration is now complete and I the VGR. As yet, there are no plans for main are practically identical. Naturally there are propose to provide a full report along with line running. This is due to many reasons, notable size differences between the narrow supporting pictures. I think members will be several political, however mainly this: The gauge NA class and the broad gauge V class, truly amazed when they see this carriage in VSLC wants tourists and enthusiasts to be however these drawings that have been its revitalized form! Stand by for more on this able to not only ride behind V499, but have supplied will be of immense help, as there are as I have said. the chance to experience life on the very little V class drawings left in existence. footplate, offer driver experiences and run Other drawings, plans and research come in Michael Vines period photo charters. If the locomotive the form of highly detailed books on Baldwin President were to spend its time running on the main designs and a reprint of the 1900 Vauclain line, only the small handful of main line catalogue. accredited crews would be allowed to use it. The VSLC envisions all volunteer steam Recently in January 2013 the board of the The V499 Project qualified crews having the chance to drive and Victorian Goldfields Railway voted to support fire V499, and currently this can only be the V499 Project. This has been excellent The very first 2-8-0 locomotive that the achieved on a preserved railway. news for us and we shall be working with the Victorian Railways introduced in January VGR over the many years to build a strong 1900, V499, is set to be reborn following the What do we have so far? alliance, as it is hoped that V499 will be an launch of what is believed to be Australia's asset, and a draw-card, to the railway when first public new-build steam locomotive Before the project was publically launched, built. project. several of the major railway preservation groups were approached and introduced to To end with Inspired by the success of 60163 Tornado, the V499 Project concept. After many There is a very famous quote that most of us and the bevy of other new-build or major meetings and discussions, one by one each would have heard in some form, at some conversion projects that are currently group could see that this project could be time. “What ever the mind can conceive, and underway in the UK, a small group called the seen to a successful completion, and was very believe, can be achieved!” This is the attitude Victorian Steam Locomotive Company was viable and realistic. A result of this was an of every member of the VSLC team. Anyone formed and after two years of research, arrangement from Steamrail to supply a who may doubt this famous quote, well may launched a project in June 2011 with plans for surplus K class tender frame and tender we simply point you in the direction of the a new-build steam locomotive project in bogies, for use on the project. Apart from A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, or for that Victoria, Australia. restoration, all that will be required to matter, every preserved railway and every complete the tender is the tank/coal space. successful project that has and is taking place The locomotive chosen is a Victorian This is basic in design and it is what the VSLC since railway preservation was born! Railways' V Class and is to be numbered V499 are concentrating on first. Along with the after the class leader, however it is intended tender frame, we have also been pledged a We would be very grateful to you if you can to be a representation of the V class pair of bogies with ‘split-spoked wheels’. As subscribe to our newsletter, our Youtube collectively rather than a replica of the the V class were all fitted with this design of channel and our social media pages. If you are original 1899 Baldwin-built locomotive. The tender wheels, we are very excited to use keen to learn more and contribute to this 16 members of the V class were built as these for the V499 Project! unique project, please visit Vauclain Compound’s, however they were all www.vicsteam.com converted to simple expansion within a 10-11 The Puffing Billy railway is also supporting the year period. It is planned that the new V499 project and has supplied the VLSC with a May 2013 Page 4

Our Proud Sponsors May 2013 Page 5

Memories of the Flying Scotsman 1988: To and Back by Alf Batchelder

Alf Batchelder’s recount of the visit of this most famous steam locomotive to Australia continues. This month, Alf travels behind 4472 to Sydney.

I had always lamented the fact that I never travelled aboard the Spirit of Progress when it was hauled by the streamlined S-class locomotives. Since they had been scrapped in 1954, I viewed the chance to travel from to Sydney behind Flying Scotsman on the weekend of December 17-18, 1988, as the next best thing. It was simply too good to miss, so I immediately booked tickets for myself and my eleven-year-old son James.

We left Spencer Street early on a warm sunny morning. Although the next two days promised to be exciting, the journey north was bittersweet. Since I was under the impression that Flying Scotsman would not be returning to Victoria, I felt that this weekend would probably be my last encounter with the famous engine. Consequently, any photo opportunity was not to be missed. At Seymour, 4472 took water alongside J515. Somewhere south of Benalla, the train waited in a loop as NSW diesel 42212 went by with the Intercapital Daylight to Sydney. However, Flying Scotsman seen at Cootamundra beneath clear skies in December 1988.. the highlight of the day came late in the afternoon, when 4472 climbed the 1 in 66 gradient of the famous Bethungra Spiral, where, in the still conditions, the beat of her three cylinders echoed loudly off the rock walls.

In contrast to the recent visits of Flying Scotsman, crowds at Benalla and had been surprisingly thin. Even at Wagga and Junee, where the engine had previously been seen only once, few people were around as the engine was serviced. As a result, the day’s 332-mile run to Cootamundra had seemed quite relaxed, even leisurely, for the passengers. For chief engineer Roland Kennington, though, the day had been very demanding:

After fire cleaning and servicing we put the engine away, for what was left of the night, and after showering went to bed. Having risen at 04.30 we had just completed a 20½hour day. Flying Scotsman sits beside streamlined 3801 and 5910 at Moss Vale Unfortunately, his slumber was all too brief, as the Sunday “required us to be up at 04.00 Cootamundra. As she moved forward, an Meanwhile, about 5000 people had flocked to to prepare for the second half of the enormous pillar of dark smoke rose above Moss Vale station. Some had arrived on journey”. Moreover, he knew that, from the the train. By the time the engine reached the special trains from Sydney and Thirlmere. The outset, he was going to be under semaphore signal gantry near the northern majority, though, were part of what was considerable pressure “to run on time at any end of the yards, this had gradually become a reputedly the town’s first traffic jam. After cost because extensive arrangements had fluffy plume of white vapour. In the low early the previous day’s sparse crowds, Moss Vale been made to officially welcome Flying morning sunlight, it was a stunning start to staggered those of us on the train. When Scotsman into upon our what would prove a memorable day. Flying Scotsman slowly drew into the platform, arrival at Moss Vale.” The presence of a video the crowd was everywhere, even standing on crew emphasised that the second day would To ensure that everything looked perfect for the top of goods wagons. Somehow, a pipe not be quite as relaxed as the first. the welcome at Moss Vale, the crew band managed to force its way through the energetically polished the engine at Goulburn. throng, to march along the platform playing Just after six, Flying Scotsman pulled out of A final touch-up was applied at Exeter. (Continued on page 6) May 2013 Page 6

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Scotland the Brave. The view from the station’s overpass was unforgettable. Three very different locomotives stood amid a sea of people: Flying Scotsman, Sir Nigel Gresley’s classic A3, dating from 1923, was flanked by the streamlined 3801, built locally at Granville in 1942, and the Rail Transport Museum’s 5910, an American 2-8-2 made by the Baldwin -Lima-Hamilton Corporation in 1952.

After all of that, the final stage of the trip was initially a slight anti-climax. However, one more highlight remained. From Strathfield, 4472 ran parallel with 3801, which was carrying her “Bicentennial Train” headboard for the final time. Unlike the Victorian parallel runs, the trains were separated by several tracks. Consequently, we enjoyed a fine view of the pride of the New South Wales Government Railways as she hauled her carriages over the last eleven kilometres to Sydney’s Central Station Flying Scotsman leads 3801at Central Station in Sydney. Photo courtesy of Kevin Waid

In the months that followed, Flying Scotsman travelled on all the main lines radiating to the south, north and west of Sydney. In March, 4472 and 3801 spent a week in Brisbane. When it was announced that the “Scottie” would be returning to Victoria, we were eager to be on board for the trip south.

On July 8, 1989, Flying Scotsman and 3801 hauled a lengthy consist from Central Station to Goulburn. Since the front carriages would return to Sydney with 3801, Melbourne passengers were in the rear half of the train. Initially, I wasn’t thrilled at being so far from the sounds of the double-headed action, but my mood improved when the train moved into the Maldon curve near Picton. On this bright winter morning, the two Pacifics were leaving an enormous trail of white smoke that, for an instant, glowed as it was backlit by the sun. It remains one of my favorite railway memories.

Shortly after leaving Goulburn, the organisers Flying Scotsman and 3801 put on a show with plenty of exhaust steam. found that all the food supplies were on the train that was now heading back to Sydney. Late in the afternoon, a brief stop in a small town enabled me to avert starvation with a sprint to a pie shop. Nevertheless, our arrival at Wagga was most welcome. Next morning, a memorable photorun took place on the magnificent cast iron Albury-Wodonga bridge, made at Stoke-on-Trent, England, in 1884. Sadly, it was obvious that, as we moved further south, the weather was going to become very wintry indeed. From Benalla, we enjoyed some spectacular parallel running, initially with J515 and later with R761 and Mornington’s K163. While the wet and bitterly cold conditions often had the various engines wreathed in steam, it was good to get home for some warmth – and to contemplate one final month of outings with Flying Scotsman.

Flying Scotsman crosses the Murray River at Albury. Photo courtesy of James Batchelder May 2013 Page 7

Member Profile: Bill Coates

I had the pleasure of sitting down one volunteer membership list and Bill has proven morning where the carriage boys enjoy a to be so valuable to us, not only in his work cuppa or two and asked many questions of but his dedicated time. Bill has so far restored Bill and his life story to date. the insides of 2 carriages, which he is so proud of and rightly so! Bill has also made and Bill Coates is one of our wonderful, dedicated placed animal characters along the line from and happy volunteers working on restoring Maldon to Muckleford on Steam Train for VGR carriages and improving the organisation Kids days and has made two fantastic wooden of our stations, both Castlemaine and ball games (which was suggested be used at Maldon. He is just one of the hard working the end of year Volunteers Xmas people that need recognition this month in celebration—what fun that’s going to be!) our newsletter. Over the coming months we will tell the stories of other VGR Volunteers. Bill has also made new counters for both Castlemaine and Maldon Shops, along with Bill was born October 27th 1944 in Beulah. shelving in Maldon kitchen and shop and He attended Beulah Primary School and was lastly, a seat for the open Z Van for active in playing tennis and football and then passengers to sit as the train travels along. attended Warracknabeal Secondary School. This certainly won’t be the last thing he Bill is self- taught with his carpentry skills and makes! nothing is too hard or much of an effort to fix or make, especially when the Volunteer Co- One of Bill’s main aims is to transform one of ordinator has a request. our old carriages into accommodation for Bill relaxing in a stylish pink waistcoat on the volunteers to use. This is not only to help Pink Train last year In 1959 Bill joined the Railways at Beulah volunteers with projects to finish, but to help Station, where he worked as Signal Assistant with fatigue for our crews who travel a long for 5 years. His other postings included: distance to work on our trains.  1972-75 was stationed at Wimmera as Relieving Assistant Station Master So, whenever you see Bill and the boys working on the carriages, go over and see the  1975-80 Station Master at Wickham. wonderful job that they are all carrying out  1980-82 Depot Manager at Echuca successfully, for passengers to enjoy their In 1982, Bill left the Railways and moved to experience with our railway. Many, many Nunawading. thanks Bill Coates for your dedication to the Victorian Goldfields Railway, your talent with Bill travelled the countryside in his youth wood and also your huge sense of humour looking for the love of his life, not realising that you bring along with you. she lived across the road at Beulah! Irene married Bill on April 20th 1968. She moved Christine Gibb to Beulah in 1959. They had 3 children, their Volunteer Co-ordinator One of the fantastic animal characters that Bill first child passed away soon after birth. has crafted. Damien, their middle child, is a teacher at Tafe College at Mount Helen and their youngest, Paul is a tree lopper down in Launching Place. The boys have given them 4 wonderful grandchildren 9,7,5 and one about to hatch any day.

During their stay in Nunawading, they started their own Domestic Cleaning Service where Bill turned his hand to repairs and maintenance along with cleaning until 1994. The call of the bush still sounded, so they rented out their Nunawading home and ventured to a place called Navarre, near Stawell and St Arnaud. They operated a General Store there from 1994-96 then decided to return one more time back to their Nunawading home, but in 2005 sold up and moved to Mt Clear, Ballarat where they now live.

Bill says he has no real hobbies as such but gets great satisfaction in his achievements here at VGR and enjoys the good company of other volunteers. How he came to volunteer, was after a couple of passenger rides, when on looking around the place realised what a great amount of work needed to be done! We have never really had a Carpenter on the May 2013 Page 8

K160 Members may be interested in what our plans are for K160 after her withdrawal from service last year. K160 requires significant maintenance before she can run again and our belief is that while it would be possible to carry out what equates to a major overhaul at Maldon, it would be a difficult, costly and generally impractical to undertake this work ay Maldon.

The alternative that we favour is to transport K160 to Newport to carry out a major overhaul there with our good friends at Steamrail. Steamrail have access to much more suitable facilities that include the equipment to lift boilers out of their frames as well as a lathe.

Before we plan a move of K160, we need to know how many volunteers would be able to work on K160 at Newport, rather than our traditional workshop at Maldon. If you would be prepared to work on K160 on a regular basis at Newport Workshops, whether it be once or twice a month over a 2-3 year period, could you please make contact with our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Christine Gibb, via [email protected] or on 0428 810 633

Once K160 has been overhauled, she may well run on the mainline with Steamrail as well as on our line, however this won’t happen unless we can plan an overhaul with enough volunteers to undertake the project.

Victorian Goldfields Railway General Office and Marketing P.O. Box 51, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450

Phone: (03) 5470 6658 Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272 Putting Passengers First Can You Work As A On a couple of occasions recently, guards and Booking Officer? Email: [email protected] for bookings, conductors have been seen alighting from the Train Times & Fares information or We still need some additional volunteers to train as soon as it comes to a stop and [email protected] for all other enquiries heading straight for the shop to grab a coffee undertake the role of booking officer - at or a snack. This is not the way that we should both Maldon and Castlemaine. be carrying out our duties when rostered to Castlemaine Railway Station work. Booking officers are the first people that our Kennedy Street, Castlemaine passengers meet when they arrive at the Phone: (03) 5470 6658 It is vital that we are always assisting our railway and hence, we’re looking for people Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272 passengers by who are friendly and are great with people. Some of the tasks that a booking officer Maldon Railway Station  Opening carriage doors, especially when undertakes include answering the phone and Hornsby Street, Maldon they are stiff answering questions from the public as well Telephone: (03) 5475 1451  Assisting our less mobile passengers, as selling tickets on board our regular www.vgr.com.au especially the elderly, young children or services. those with a disability . www.driveatrain.com.au  Assisting parents with prams A number of booking officers at Castlemaine www.driveasteamtrain.com.au  Being available to answer passengers travel to their shift as a Booking Officer by queries about timetables, the location of V/Line. If you could assist as a booking officer, toilets, etc. even if it is only every second month, please If you would like to contribute an article, a contact Christine Gibb via photo or a letter to the Members There will always be time for us to buy a [email protected] or on 0428 810 633 Newsletter, you can send it to coffee or a snack, but our passengers must [email protected] come first!