Newsletter of the Valley Heights Locomotive
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No. 110 January The Depot Diary 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE VALLEY HEIGHTS LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT HERITAGE MUSEUM - BLUE MOUNTAINS DIVISION OF TRANSPORT HERITAGE NEW SOUTH WALES LIMITED ABN 25 000 570 463 ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO - THE SECRETARY, VALLEY HEIGHTS LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT HERITAGE MUSEUM, P.O. BOX 484, SPRINGWOOD, N.S.W., 2777 Web Site: www.infobluemountains.net.au/locodepot All Advertisements in this Newsletter are free, in recognition for the people and companies who have helped us in our activities. WELCOME BACK Greetings to all our loyal Museum Members and endeavour to bring you up to speed with the highlights of supporters who have stuck strongly with us during the what has been without a doubt the Museum’s biggest absence of this important communication channel with year. our members. Back in 1988 when the Locomotive Depot was closed by Little did we realise how full on the past twelve months the railways from regular service as an operating would be with the Centenary of the Depot during 2014. workshop, the Roundhouse, former DLE’s Building, Ash So much so that this publication suffered with it being Pits and Ash Disposal Tunnel (being the original pieces shunted into a siding awaiting for the staff to proceed into of Infrastructure still in existence) were 75 years old. the next section. These were all under the threat of extinction if the We do apologise for this unfortunate situation but with community didn’t band together to at least attempt to the Centenary now behind us the Museum plan to not save and preserve their existence. only have the Depot Diary shunted out of the siding and Twenty five years of hard work by the Museum’s moving again but to improve our communication to our volunteers has resulted in our home reaching the major members on a more regular basis. – Read more about milestone of 100 years. this on page 10, Section 11 – Depot Diary - “The Future”. Today the depot stands as a significant community asset of which our members can be extremely proud. As you Understandably some of our membership would have read through these pages we will recap the events that missed out on what the year 2014 brought for the occurred during the Centenary year. Museum. In this edition of the Depot Diary we will Below: The Governor, Her Excellency addresses the crowd prior to unveiling the Plaque commemorating the Centenary. Photographers left: Ralph Cooke & right: Peter Butler. Depot Diary No. 110 1 Blue Mountains Division January 2015 Transport Heritage NSW Limited 1. CENTENARY DAY Guests travelling aboard the Centenary Special were offered morning tea by Heritage Express Staff during the Over 3 years of planning culminated in a highly journey. A slight delay was experienced on arrival at successful Centenary Day on Friday 31st January 2014. Valley Heights to allow for the right of way into the The day itself was extremely warm and many of our Depot via the existing Track Arrangements. This requires volunteers arrived early to commence final preparations manual operation of trackside Frames and unlocking of to ensure the day ran smoothly. the interface between the network and the Museum’s Private Siding into the Depot. Thanks to our contacts Run sheets were produced and allocated focusing on what through the local Transport NSW Office, Mr Garry tasks had to be completed and by when. Sheather – Rail Incident Commander was on hand to Members of the Steam Tram and Railway Preservation operate the trackside frames once the train was in the Society prepared both the Steam Tram and the section. To ensure this delay was kept to a minimum, Stephenson Locomotive CPC 2. testing of the line side infrastructure was performed during the week leading up to the train’s arrival. Prior to the arrival of the Centenary Train from Sydney with the Official Guests on board, the site had to be Arrival at Valley Heights cleaned up and two runs to the Signal Box were made by Once accepted into the yard at Valley Heights the the Steam Tram to collect Invited Guests who were Centenary Train became the first Main line train to cross arriving aboard regular train services. Once these were the new Interface arrangement adjacent to the former collected the Steam Tram was stabled in the Departure Signal Box. Road pending the arrival of the Centenary Train. A large team of volunteers and helpers had been allocated tasks As the train weaved across the Interface and into the which were performed to ensure all was in place for the Museum’s Private Siding a small welcoming Party was arrival of the train. present on Valley Heights Station to witness the special arrive and to greet the officials to our small town. Centenary Train Our Parent Organisation – Transport Heritage NSW through Heritage Express kindly provided the train to convey the Official Party and invited guests from Central to Valley Heights. Many of our readers would relate a Centenary Train to be one typically hauled by a Steam Locomotive but given we were in the middle of summer and the temperature on the day topping the mid 30s the decision to operate the train using heritage diesels and air conditioned heritage rolling stock for the Official Party was welcomed. Our Centenary event was the first official event for the newly formed Transport Heritage NSW Limited and no stone was left unturned to ensure the train and the event ran smoothly. Above: 4001 & 4520 lead the Centenary Train along the The train was hauled by heritage locomotives 4001 (built Museum’s Private Siding and into the Museum. Photo: 1952) and 4520 (built 1963). The train departed Ralph Cooke. Thirlmere on Thursday night arriving at Central in the Upon entering the Museum complex Steam Tram 103A early hours of Friday, ready for a 9am departure from welcomed the train with some short sharp whistles. The Central just as regular morning peak hour services were train came to a halt with lead locomotive 4001 sitting half coming to an end. way across the Turntable with 100 guests to witness the As departure time approached the Official Party was train’s arrival. presented to Heritage Express Staff and welcomed Detraining of the Official aboard. Our Official Guest of Honour, Governor for New Party commenced with the South Wales, Her Excellency, Professor The Honourable Governor being presented Dame Marie Bashir AD, CVO accompanied by Sir to Museum Chairman Ted Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE were presented to Chair of Mullett and Sir Nicholas Transport Heritage NSW, Peter Lowry AOM who were Shehadie presented to escorted along Platform 1 by a solo Bag Piper to the STARPS Chairman Craig official carriage. Connelly. The Official The Media with news crews from Channel 7 and the Party was escorted in to ABC were also on hand to capture the train’s departure the Museum via the shop from Central and later the proceedings at Valley Heights. entrance where the visitor’s book was signed The train departed Central right on time with what can and introductions only be described as the smoothest departure. Smooth on performed. time running was maintained throughout the journey. Depot Diary No. 110 2 Blue Mountains Division January 2015 Transport Heritage NSW Limited Page 2 (Bottom Right): The Governor and Chair of Bottom Left: Uncle Graeme Cooper delivers the Welcome Transport Heritage NSW Mr Peter Lowry disembark to Country. Photo: Peter Butler from the train shortly after arriving at Valley Heights. The ceremony commenced with a Welcome to Country Photo: Peter Butler. by local Indigenous Elder representing the Gundungurra and Darug people, Uncle Graeme Cooper. Guests Bethany Harrison, a student from the Nepean Creative In addition to The Governor and Sir Nicholas, our event and Performing Arts High School then led the gathering attracted an extensive list of Officialdom including: in the singing of the National Anthem. • The then Premier of New South Wales, Honourable Barry O’Farrell • Minister for Transport, Ms Gladys Berejiklian • Member for Blue Mountains, Mrs Roza Sage MP. • Mr Mark Greenhill, Mayor, Blue Mountains City Council. • Mr Peter Lowry OAM, Chair, Transport Heritage NSW Limited • Mr Andrew Killingsworth, CEO, Transport Heritage NSW Limited • Mr Howard Collins, OBE – CEO Sydney Trains • Mr Rob Mason – CEO NSW Trains • Mr Milton Morris AO – Former NSW Minister Above: The singing of the National Anthem lead by for Transport, Chairman of Hunter Valley Bethany Harrison – Photo: Ralph Cooke Training Company Museum Chairman Ted Mullett was then invited to Prior to the commencement of the Ceremony the Official officially welcome the dignitaries to the ceremony. This Party was escorted to inspect the Museum’s latest was followed by Andrew Tester who delivered a history display, the HO scale model of Valley Heights that was of the Depot’s life. built to depict and tell the story of the depot in the 1950s. Representing the Government, the Premier then addressed the attendees, speaking about the role the pioneers played in the building of the railway and the importance of keeping that history alive for future generations. Left: The Premier, the Hon Barry O’Farrell addresses the crowd during the Ceremony. Photo: Peter Butler. Our Guest of Honour, the Governor for New South Wales was then invited to the microphone. The Above: The official party inspect the newest display Governor reflected on her model of Valley Heights depicting the 1950s era. Photo: early childhood days and Ralph Cooke. holidaying in the Blue Ceremony Mountains and reminded us of how unique and The Official special the Blue Mountains Ceremony was held Region is. The Governor also expressed her appreciation in the presence of of the efforts contributed by our volunteers in developing 200 invited guests.