Vgr.Com.Au November 2010 Page 2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 Victorian Railways 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 Victoria. 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, Melbourne, 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.