Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Members Society

Newsletter November 2010

Maldon Toilets & Shop Opened Thanks George and Thanks Bob

Sunday 31st October was a momentous day in the history of the railway with the official opening of the new toilet block and shop at Maldon. The new toilets and shop were officially opened by the railway’s good friend and member for Bendigo West, the Honorable Bob Cameron, Bob, at his very last official function as member for Bendigo West before his retirement from parliament, spoke about the tremendous efforts of our volunteer workforce and the progress we had made since the very first steps that were taken to preserve the line back in the 1970s, through to running our first trains to Bendigo Road and then onwards to Muckleford and finally all the way through to Castlemaine.

Bob was introduced to the crowd on the platform by society Vice-President Michael Vines who also spoke about the enormous contribution made to the railway by the late George Young who passed away after having secured State Government and Council backing for the project that includes not only the new toilets and shop as well as a carriage shed and the completion of the loop of track alongside the Muckleford goods shed. Both Michael and Bob acknowledged the presence of George’s family including his wife, Rosalie, who has maintained George’s interest in the railway.

For those who haven’t yet had chance to inspect the new building, it is designed in the original style and includes accessible toilets for those with limited mobility as well as a brand new shop that contains a much larger sales area as well as an air-condition bookings area. This opening is significant as it means that we have modern, clean accessible facilities at both our terminal stations as well as at Muckleford.

Progress is being made on the rest of the project and further updates will be provided in future editions of the newsletter and via our website at www.vgr.com.au November 2010 Page 2

President’s Column with Michael Vines

Again members are subjected to my musings a significant and steady stream of income to us for this newsletter but to the relief of all (I am which will greatly assist our railway. sure) we’ll be back to business as usual for the As we now head into the summer season we next newsletter once president Paul returns need to continue to present our railway in a from his overseas adventure. We have had positive and encouraging fashion. In addition some emails from him and it would appear he to our normal Wednesday / Saturday services will come back inspired and full of new ideas we run our special events including charters. I to offer our railway. We are also expecting a was involved as a waiter with others for a heightened level of excitement from him given charter on the evening of Saturday the 19th of the imminence of a zero in his age! November for an engineering group from Gippsland. On a beautiful full moon night we I bring to the attention of members the travelled from Maldon to Muckleford behind progress of our new carriage “Macedon” J451 along with Lowanna and Tambo. Hors which is owned by Pullman Operations. We d'oeuvres were served at Maldon and on the have recently been updated on the interior train as they travelled there with a beautiful design for the carriage which is truly barbeque feast fully catered for in the goods spectacular! All will be revealed in due course shed. The positive vibe from something like but part of the carriage will be dedicated to this was clear for everyone involved and I just tables and chairs to facilitate a sit down meal felt so proud about how well we presented to as required with the rest set out with this group on the evening. This is how we beautiful leather lounge chairs and a kitchen / want to maintain the operation of our bar facility in the middle. We hope to have charter / first class service and I reckon it will this carriage on our railway sometime later be even more exciting once we can include next year and then we will implement our Macedon in the consist. plans to really uplift the first class service. Stay tuned for further developments. Anyway that will do for me for this It is perhaps opportune for me to make clear newsletter. Remember to welcome president I reported in the last newsletter that our to members and our volunteer staff the Paul back into the fold and we look forward volunteer workforce is now being organized. progress of our finances and the need for us to all of his stories. We will have to try and You will start to see some tangible signs of to be responsible in every way. In the last keep him under some measure of control this, firstly, with work now underway to couple of years things have been tight and at because if he gets too carried away then we restore one of the Z-vans in the Maldon yard. our last AGM members will recall the will have to consider some appropriate form Also courtesy of an arrangement we now recording of a profit albeit fairly modest. Our of threatened restraint! What say locking him have in place with the local prison there is to infrastructure projects for this year are placing in a room with Brian and his full repertoire of be a work force of ladies cleaning both a strain on our finances and we are actively impromptu jokes? Then again that might be interior and exterior along with windows of looking at ways to improve our revenue too severe a punishment! As I sign off all the our current operational carriages. Once this stream. A significant part of this will be best for our members, volunteers, and friends happens I feel the visual aspect of our railway income derived from the operation of our for the Christmas / Festive season. Remember operation will lift immeasurably and as I said in diesel T333 via El Zorro as it has now been as always – “It’s not just what we do, it’s the last newsletter our ability to maintain our running for the last month or so on the main how well we do it!” fleet in good condition will be enhanced line. We are assisted in the management of tremendously once we have the carriage shed the diesel by our friends at the Seymour at Castlemaine by the middle of next year. Heritage Railway Centre. Once the diesel is Michael Vines running on a more full time basis we anticipate Vice-President November 2010 Page 3

Our Proud Sponsors November 2010 Page 4

The Big Wet A year of above average rainfall contrasts with the past decade of drought and reminds us just why some of our bridges are as high as they are!

A scene not seen in many years! Matthew Davis captures K160 hauling a Maldon-bound train across Winters Flat bridge over a fast flowing river on Sunday 31st of October! The bridge over Muckleford Creek was a similar scene with the Muckleford Creek flowing at close to two metres in depth.

FOR SALE - Rare Timetables A proportion of all sales will go to the railway’s Station Appeal. For enquiries phone David on 5473 4200 (Guildford)

Victorian Railways Country Lines Services Passenger Time ride on engines; tracks crossing other railroads; wreck trains and work Tables Official Issue: December 11, 1939. 76 pages. trains, whistle signals etc. Complete with amendment pages pasted in Few Country Time Tables were issued by the after correctly. Mint condition. $60 1939. World War 2 saw to that. This one is therefore all the more sought after. In 1939 trains ran to Mansfield, Daylesford, Lancefield, Pennsylvania Railroad Working Timetable Pittsburgh Division, Bright, Forrest, Casterton and Coleraine, etc. This timetable has train Central Region, Western Pennsylvania Division Timetable No times to these locations and just about everywhere else in . An 4, Sunday, June 18, 1944 outstanding period piece, it provides an accurate and vivid picture of Welcome to a world of steam railroading! transport in Victoria in the immediate pre war years. This was just Contains all Pennsylvania timetable and safe working information with about the heyday of the Victorian Railways and the 76 pages of this the difference that the whole flavour of the document is oriented publication shows them at their best. Air conditioned travel is towards steam motive power. Thus helper engines feature frequently in highlighted, as are Buffet Cars, Dining Cars and Sleeping Cars. Interstate train movement instructions. Of particular interest are the instructions services to NSW and South Australia are set out in detail and you could given to engineman regarding firing techniques and use of the blower on even book a Pullman sleeping berth on the Overland! Sunday excursion double headed trains passing through tunnels at Gallitzin. 106 pages. timetables are prominently featured as is the now long gone Victorian The Jewel in the Crown! In pristine condition. Tables listing “Classes of Government Tourist Bureau at 272 Collins Street, , Phone:- Engines” show, among others the following well known PRR classes:I1s, F 0404. All pages present and generally in mint condition. Some loose J, T1, K4s, L1, M1, C1,etc. from staple binding. Paper cover slightly torn. Includes separately issued Notes such as these are sprinkled through the pages: Alterations and Additions sheet. Priceless! $40 “When engines are passing through tunnels, over trestles or open floor bridges, grates must not be shaken or coal put on the fire.” Pennsylvania Railroad Working Timetable Western Region “Coal must not be loaded on tenders while passenger trains are passing Timetable No 4, Sunday, April 24, 1966 on adjacent track.” 286 pages. In pristine condition. A truly authoritative document from And much more!! one of the world’s greatest railroads. Packed with information on passenger and freight train operation; maximum permitted speeds; To describe this timetable as “rare” would be the understatement of colour light signal diagrams and explanation of indications; train orders the year! Mint condition. $120 and notes on safe working at specific locations; employees permitted to November 2010 Page 5

Comments from our Passengers

EGBP would like to express its appreciation to the wonderful volunteers & members of the VGR for giving us a “night to remember”. We held our Office Christmas gathering and our farewell to a valued, long serving member of our team on Tambo, with dinner in the Muckleford Goods Shed, and were deeply impressed and appreciative of the excellent service provided, the delicious and varied menu and the professional and knowledgeable effort put in by them on the night – right down to feeling like royalty being piped off the train! We can recommend this unique and relaxing experience to anyone thinking of holding an event with them. We also wish them every success in their future endeavours and may they long ”steam ahead”.

On behalf of our staff, MANDA WILKINS ADMINISTRATION EGBP

To the crew at Goldfields Railway - Thank you all so much for making our day such a memorable experience. Everyone loved it. Your staff and volunteers are to be commended on their level of care and professionalism. See you again soon.

David and Michael - Recreation Team for Residents at Castlemaine Health.

The train ride was a wonderful way to relax and step back in time, particularly when travelling through the countryside much of which has changed little in 120 years. Staff and passengers seems to enjoy and share the experience. Riding up on the engine deck was something I have dreamed as a child.

It was such a feel-good experience, with the fantastic volunteers in the carriages and at the station, as well as in the train cabin. I was lucky enough to spend some time up front with the drivers and thier apprentice and blowing the whistle was a highlight. It was a rare treat and the whole experience brought back wonderful childhood memories of train rides with my family. My partner and I cannot stop raving about it to our friends and hope to return with a group to experience the fun all over again.

Our stay in Maldon was great, The Eaglehawk Motel is a lovely motel with a beautiful garden setting and the host was a lovely lady who would do anything for you. The train ride was great, especially being able to visit the engine and see how it works and being able to blow the whistle was great. The driver and his workers were fantastic to tell you how the engine works. Maldon is a quaint country town with many interesting shops, cafes and hotels to visit.

We enjoyed the experience very much. Everything was on time, the courtesy bus into and out of Maldon was an added positive. The experience of being in the loco with the drivers was fantastic, the carriage stewards were very welcoming and attentive.

Honey for Sale - $5 a Tub As mentioned The railway is fortunate to have some elsewhere in this containers of honey for sale. These containers newsletter, T333 is are generously donated for sale by member now out and about Max Jeffrey and all proceeds go to the railway. across Victoria Tubs are on sale at Maldon station on normal running days. hauling grain trains for El Zorro with other locomotives. Matthew Davis 2010 Photo Supplement captures T333 As usual, we will be producing a colour photo between a supplement early in the new year and if you Victorian S Class have a photo that captures highlights of the diesel and another railway in 2010, you can either email it to sister T Class [email protected] or leave in at diesel in Bendigo Castlemaine marked “2010 Photo on 21st October Supplement”. November 2010 Page 6

Safeworking Course Waste is a Problem We have had a couple of incidents lately where oil has been wasted during filling. This is a A safeworking course is being planned for hazard to both us as volunteers, the environment and our bottom line (fuel is money). It is early December. The course will cover two essential that there is someone trained in filling the locomotive at the pump switch at all times Saturdays being the 11th of December and when filling is taking place. the 18th of December. We need to know numbers of attendees in advance so if you are We have also noticed an increase in safety valves blowing numerous times during the day. The planning on attending, please contact Acting standard that we are aiming for is that the safety valve only blows off once, at the start of the Operations Manager, Brian Frewin on 0409 day, to test that it is operating correctly. Having it blowing off frequently during the day is a 434 8080 or (03) 5443 9462 to register your waste of fuel and again, this costs us money! attendance.

Saturday 18th of December is also our Victorian Goldfields Railway Christmas Party Christmas party, so attending this course The 2010 Victorian Goldfields Railway Christmas Party is a great way to relax in the company of would allow you to enjoy the social side of other members of the railway family and share travel stories, meet members you haven’t met the railway as well as learning some new before and enjoy reflecting on the year past. The party is being held as a lunch-time BBQ at skills. Muckleford following the December board meeting. All staff, volunteers and members are warmly invited to attend. Food will be provided and drinks will be sold at bar prices.

Safeworkers Saturday 18th December 2010 10:00 - 12:00pm (Board Meeting) Would all qualified safeworkers please check 12:00pm - 2:00pm (Christmas BBQ) your certificates, including your meical Muckleford Goods Shed, certificates. You should have been notified if Muckleford Station (Walmer Road, Muckleford) your medical certificate is out of date. If you haven’t been contacted, please contact Brian Please RSVP for catering purposes by contacting (03) 5470 6658 by Wednesday 15th December. Frewin on 0409 434 8080 or (03) 5443 9462.

Expiry dates are now on your certificates Looking forward to seeing you there! which should be with you at all times when on duty. Steam Train Special - to the Maldon Twilight Food & Wine Festival Thanks Saturday 15th January 2011 Special thanks to all those who offered to donate telephones for the Maldon Shop and Take the Train from Castlemaine to the Twilight Food & the Workshop. The response was great and we now have full telephone facilities at Wine Festival in Maldon's Main Street. Saturday Jan 15th Maldon. 2011 A magical summer's night under the stars in Maldon's Main Street You can add to the evening's Victorian Goldfields Railway enchantment, by taking the steam train from Castlemaine to arrive for the start of the event in General Office and Maldon. Marketing P.O. Box 51, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450 Wine & Dine under the stars in a magical atmosphere with lights and candles reflected in glasses of local Phone: (03) 5470 6658 or Facsimile: (03) wine. Taste fine food supplied by local producers and 5470 6272 vendors while you enjoy the company and the street Email: [email protected] for bookings, entertainment during the evening. Train Times & Fares information or [email protected] for all other enquiries Previous years events have been brilliant. Book now to secure your place for this wonderful summer Recorded Train Information Line: (03) 5475 evening. Places are limited so you need to book now 2966 to avoid disappointment. You can travel First Class or Excursion. Price includes train fare and Festival entry Castlemaine Railway Station, Kennedy ticket. Street, Castlemaine Phone: (03) 5470 6658 There are limited tickets available for the Twilight Festival tables in Maldon Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272

Maldon Railway Station, Hornsby Street, AS BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL - BOOK NOW TO SECURE YOUR Maldon PLACE Telephone: (03) 5475 1451 For Ticket Price and Bookings: Phone: 5470 6658 Newsletter contributions can be sent to or email your booking to [email protected] [email protected] Your Festival tickets will be allocated to specific tables at the event Seats at tables are reserved for Festival Ticket holders only. Drinks are available for purchase on the train. www.vgr.com.au Note : No BYO on train or at event.