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

Busy Easter Times - Full Trains on the VGR Easter is our busiest weekend of the year and this year has been no exception. We started off the weekend with a charter that we ran for the Austin Car Club. We were joined by 350 excited members of the club and they got to enjoy K190’s return to service after an easing of the fire danger in the area after significant rain during the previous week.

K190 hauled five carriages and a guards van full to the brim of excited passengers. They joined us at Castlemaine and travelled to Maldon where they enjoyed a meal served to them on the platform before exploring all that Maldon has to offer. They returned to Castlemaine later in the day to continue their weekend away.

As soon as the train returned to Maldon, it was time for a crew change as the train was prepared for the annual Good Friday Wine and Cheese Train. The train carried over 50 people and they thoroughly enjoyed the music, the company and the wine served on board.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday also saw good passenger number.

It is important to recognise the efforts of all the volunteers who prepared for the weekend by working to stock up our shops, paint and clean our carriages, check and repair seats, clean and prepare our locomotives, hi-rails, stations (including toilets), ticketing, lighting and all the other things that are needed to show the railway at its best on such a big weekend. There are also the un-seen tasks such as marketing, promotions, rostering, Special Train Notices and other admin tasks, Of course, thanks also go to all those volunteers who worked over the weekend, including our booking officers, shop staff, conductors, loco crews, guards, fire patrol crews and signalmen. Without such a fantastic effort by everyone, the weekend wouldn’t have been as successful as it was.

We have another big weekend just around the corner, with our first Steam Trains for Kids weekend rapidly approaching and it will be thanks to many volunteers that this weekend will be a success too!

T333 in Focus

T333 leads a transfer of K Cars that have slowly made their journey on the Standard Gauge from Parkes, to Adelaide, to . Lionel Camilleri was on hand to photograph the cars getting hauled past Wallan in the pouring rain on the way for storage within the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre yard for Steamrail .

Civil Branch News Our volunteers and staff from the Civil Branch have been busy working all around the state, as well, of course, on our own railway.

A number of repairs have been made to our bridges, including the Sawmill Road bridge and the Muckleford Creek bridge. In addition, the continuing process of sleeper replacement is in full swing, with over 1,000 having been replaced since we acquired the excavator last year.

Our civil branch have also been working on a number of projects for other railways, including some work for our good friends at Puffing Billy and several private sidings around the state. The fact that our staff and volunteers are being asked to assist other railways is a reflection of the high standards of work that they are achieving, using our specialised Takeuchi excavator. April 2013 Page 2

President’s Column

In the last newsletter I indicated that we had by Michael Vines with but on an interest free basis. signed a new major sponsor. This is the Furthermore the bank has agreed to provide Kangaroo Hotel in Maldon. We had a formal us with a substantial grant which will be tied launch of the sponsorship at the hotel on the to the installation of the new rail from 13th of March 2013 and some publicity is to Bandianna on the Maldon to Muckleford appear in the local newspaper. The terms of section. This grant is contingent upon us the sponsorship provide for us to sell a travel achieving a grant for the same amount from and lunch ticket for passengers coming from some other source and at the time of writing Castlemaine. Our courtesy bus service will I am confident that this will be achieved. The now drop off and collect passengers direct at combined effect of both grants will be to the hotel in addition to our drop off point at restore our cash position pretty quickly and Maldon 50 Kilometre Local (also a sponsor of make good the substantial outlay we had to the VGR). We will have dedicated a page on incur for the transport of the rail. Our our website to our arrangement with the railway is particularly grateful to the bank, Kangaroo Hotel and I encourage all members along with local councillors and state to avail themselves of this. The sponsorship politicians, for their help. The bank has also also provides for our members to have generously offered us the use of a business discounted meals at the hotel. advisor at no cost which will be of great assistance to us as we move on. I am I want to appraise members of recent informing members of what has occurred in difficulties that have been caused to us by our broad terms to reassure everyone that the lease arrangement with El Zorro for our position of our railway is sound and that the diesel T333. We do not have a direct jobs of our paid employees are secure for the relationship in relation to the hiring of the immediate future. It goes without saying that diesel which is handled by the Seymour it has been a very difficult time and occurring Heritage Rail Centre under a formal the last few months and a fair bit of anguish over Christmas and in the early New Year management agreement. The problem that for your board. when revenue is modest and our passenger has come about is that El Zorro have not numbers are generally fairly sparse. been paying us promptly and this has now Having painted that gloomy picture I am been going on for almost 9 months. There pleased to advise that we have achieved a Finally I want to report to members that we was a concern that they may be in financial package of assistance via the Maldon held a barbeque with representatives from trouble themselves with their major creditor Community Bank. There have been many Steamrail at the Maldon station on Saturday being VicTrack. The operation of our discussions which have achieved this position the 16th of March 2013. This was then business depends upon the El Zorro money and I have been assisted by Vice-President followed by a meeting to discuss further and our commitment to the transport of the Paul, along with our Financial Controller Neil, aspects of the joint venture arrangement. At rail from Bandianna was reliant upon the El and Secretary Chris. The up shot is that the our board meeting earlier in the day we Zorro funds. The lack of payment from El bank has agreed to increase our overdraft resolved that the extra Zorro has caused us cash flow difficulties in facility whilst this awkward position is dealt (Continued on page 3) April 2013 Page 3

(Continued from page 2) running day be a Saturday and that this would commence on the 15th of June 2013 subject to reference to their Board. In negotiations we have reached a position where there will be a pool of locomotives and rolling stock utilised for the venture between our respective organisations and available to run both on our line and the mainline. The venture will now be heavily promoted by Steamrail to its members in the run up to the proposed commencement date. Our website will contain a formal announcement as to the start date along with a revised timetable. We still need more non-locomotive crew volunteers and the promotion by Steamrail to its members is designed to achieve this. As I have indicated previously this is a very exciting project and we are determined that it should succeed.

Michael Vines (President) Historic Locos used on the Maldon Line : Early Locomotives on the VGR No.2 (Castlemaine – Maldon - Shelbourne branch)

N class 2-4-0WT (well tank) Records show that there were four locomotives in this class, all even numbers N 252 – 258 which came to the VR when the government ab- sorbed the assets of the Hobson’s Bay United Company. They were built by Robert Stephenson between 1859 and 1866, weighed 32 tons in roadworthy condition with a tractive effort of 7,474 lbs. This engine (N 252) was taken off the loco register on the 26 th May 1906.

The N class were modified as per the picture below with the cab extended over the bunker and down to the footplate with side plates plus a door to give crew members access to the any carriages if checking tickets. The extra water tanks at the front added a further 3 tons 3 cwt. to the class mostly to the front of the locomotive. Records show that by 1890 it was working on the Maldon line. Our picture shows N 252 completely derailed in Maldon yard (No.2 road) on the 5th July 1895. It had been hauling the ‘up’ ‘powder’ (explosives) train. The re-railing process has begun using a jack placed on timber baulks just below the buffer beam Features to note:  The English style ‘bullhead rail’ with its cast chairs and wooden keys.  The doorway in the back of the loco cab – thus very limited fuel (coke?) supplies from the bun- kers within the cab  The water tank behind the jack and beneath the cab – the well tank.  The additional water tank at the front of the locomotive and the equalizing pipe linking it to its partner out of sight on the other side of the locomotive  The chimney cap to slow the rate of cooling by the boiler as per J 549.  The coupling hook, large kerosene lantern and the circular container on the right.

Joseph Jenkins who had left for Wales on the 24th November 1895 only seven months before would have been familiar with this locomotive which was based in Castlemaine from 1890.

This profile is sourced from pages 168 & 169 of “Steam Locomotives of the : The First Fifty Years” Notice to Train Crews It is required that the following movements be used for Locomotives and Trains arriving with the 1230hrs arrival from Castlemaine. 1. On arrival the Loco will pull the train towards the turntable until all Passengers Cars can access the platform. (This may mean that the up end door of Tambo is only just on down end of platform) 2. Loco uncouples from train & completes E/R. water & turning etc. By now all passengers should be off the train (Conductor/Guard to check). 3. Loco then recouples to train, pumps up brakes & pushes the train back until Loco clears Head Shunt Point. This Point is then changed to straight ahead & Loco pulls train back to a similar position as above. Uncouples & runs around train. (Note; if coal required fill up at this point.) 4. Loco completes run around & couples to cars at up end. Train Crew takes lunch with a nominated person watching Boiler. (Hot water, tea & coffee & heating available in kitchen)

The advantage of this is that all shunting is done when no passengers are on board and loco & train are ready to depart on time at 1430hrs. When arriving @ 1230 loco Driver has good vision along train for stopping purposes.

Note: If a diesel is operating, the first move can be ignored unless driver requires it turned. Maldon Courtesy Shuttle Bus One of the little extras that makes our passengers’ day with us more special is our courtesy bus, that provides a free shuttle in to the town. We are fortunate to have two businesses that sponsor us and to show our support and appreciation for these two businesses, our courtesy shuttle bus will stop outside the Kangaroo Hotel and then Maldon 50K Local. These stops need to be included on every shuttle bus trip. April 2013 Page 4

Our Proud Sponsors April 2013 Page 5

Memories of the Flying Scotsman 1988: To by Alf Batchelder

Alf Batchelder’s recount of the visit of this most famous steam locomotive to Australia continues. 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of Flying Scotsman’s visit and here, Alf writes about her trips to Albury.

Flying Scotsman charges past the photo-line looking every bit the classic British thoroughbred.. Photo courtesy of James Batchelder.

My passion for steam locomotives began in Though Albury might not have had “the Kennington, Flying Scotsman covered most of the 1940s, when my father used to take me magical appeal of Edinburgh”, the Flying the 60 miles from Seymour to Benalla at a to Spencer Street to see the . Scotsman “created enough awe and magic” to constant speed of 65 mph, arriving fifteen In my young mind, its non-stop journeys on encourage 454 patrons to fill the train to minutes early. However, it was here that he the Albury mainline gave the town a special capacity. (Steamrail carried the overflow noticed “we had broken the spring on the left aura, a far-off place, in another state, with a bookings on a broad gauge train, hauled by trailing coupled axle.” In a slight very long platform where mighty Victorian S- R761.) When we left Spencer Street at understatement, he wrote that “it looked like class engines stood alongside proud C38s of 7.17a.m, I don’t think anyone quite anticipated a disaster …” He managed to find some the New South Wales Government Railways. that we were starting a journey that would material in a platelayers’ hut that could be For most of my life, though, Albury had been become famous in railway lore. used as a makeshift spring clamp, and a local a destination that remained out of reach. engineer made the temporary bracket that On the run to Seymour, 4472 easily handled eventually enabled the train to depart for When the LNER 4-6-2 Flying Scotsman the 1 in 50 grades to Beveridge and across Albury. travelled there during Aus Steam 88, I was the Dividing Range, with the loco’s short working. Consequently, the ARHS outing chimney “showing the earnest nature of the As 4472 moved north at a reduced pace, Mr. behind the “Scottie” on Sunday December crew’s intentions by emitting large volumes of Kennington decided that the spring would 11, was not to be missed. Unlike 4472’s many black smoke.” A photostop was held on the have to be changed before the return trip to runs to Seymour, this 600-kilometre round down side of Mangalore. Initially, the engine Melbourne: trip was aimed squarely at railfans. For them, struggled to lift its load up the 1 in 75 grade, So arrangements were made by radio for the the appeal of such a journey was once but eventually its 80” driving wheels gained depot engineers to prepare for our arrival. explained by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry as “… traction. With all of the photographers back They did a magnificent job in removing other the familiar smell of smoke, and the beat of on board, 4472 “stormed Avenel bank, to locomotives off the pit and preparing for a the engine, and the feeling that you are being thunder down the other side.” quick shunting operation to put our spares pulled, not by a mechanical box on wheels, van adjacent to the Flying Scotsman. but by something pulsing and alive.” According to chief engineer Roland (Continued on page 6) April 2013 Page 6

It was15 46 when we reached Albury, a little more than nine hours after leaving Spencer Street. Despite the late arrival, the platform was packed, and hordes of sightseers occupied every vantage point as the famous loco was turned. Then it was time for the experts to begin their work. Although driving axle springs are “by far the most difficult to remove”, Roland Kennington reported that “the job was completed in 1¼ hours with help from a number of people on the train, including the crew and traction inspectors.”

It was a remarkable effort. Nevertheless, our departure was three hours and five minutes late. Officially, Flying Scotsman was restricted to 50 mph for the run to Benalla, but Mr. Kennington wrote that 4472 travelled “without incident at speeds in the 65 to 70 mph range.” At Benalla, under a magnificent golden sunset, the engine took on water. For the chief engineer, though, the outlook was The broken spring is clearly visible upon arrival at Albury. Fortunately it was able to be repaired not quite as tranquil, because another critical quickly situation confronted him. The train’s late running meant that, on the single standard gauge track, with its intermittent passing loops, he risked losing his path to the Sydney Express, which had left Melbourne at 8pm. Thus, “if we didn’t make the loop at Seymour before the express, we would be stopped 30 miles further back and have to sit and wait.”

What followed was incredible, an unforgettable ride as the Flying Scotsman unleashed the power for which she had been famous in her LNER days. From start to stop, she roared over the 60 miles to Seymour in only 60 minutes. As legendary railwayman Norm De Pomeroy observed, the passengers “knew that the train was travelling fast due to the rattles in the carriages”. (To say nothing of the vibration!) Roland Kennington later admitted that 4472 had consistently touched “the mid 70s with a couple of spells around 85 mph – reputedly a new Australian record!” Flying Scotsman sit at Albury platform after having arrived and been turned and serviced. However, Mr. De Pomeroy claimed that “an unofficial 88 miles per hour was seen on the speed in the cab.” When 4472 reached Seymour loop four minutes ahead of the express, Mr. Kennington was “absolutely thrilled with the locomotive’s performance”, later describing it as “one of the major achievements of this tour.” (The English magazine Steam Railway later wrote that, on five subsequent occasions, Flying Scotsman hit speeds between 82 and 84 miles an hour.) After the dash to Seymour, the trip to Melbourne was a slight anticlimax.

Right, Flying Scotsman, having arrived in Albury, is mobbed by enthusiasts keen to see the famous A3 thousands of miles from home, but in a city full of railway history. April 2013 Page 7

Somewhere near Broadford, certificates commemorating the day’s journey were distributed. Since Flying Scotsman had just added to the mystique of Albury mainline with one of the greatest runs in the history of Australian steam, they were truly a memento to treasure.

This remarkable day ended on a bizarre note. As the train moved at 15 mph through the Dynon Yards, only an hour and forty minutes late, a car “came across from the driver’s blind side” and hit the buffer beam “with sufficient force to spin the car around 180°.” Roland Kennington believed that the driver was on “some illicit business because he immediately reversed out of the situation and drove off at high speed”, never to be seen again.

On July 30, 1989, Flying Scotsman hauled another ARHS trip to Albury. Without any Steamrail ran an “overflow” train, hauled by R766 and here we see her paralleling Flying Scots- mechanical problems, the engine was at its man. R766 has since been converted to standard gauge. best, providing some of the most spectacular photoruns of the tour. In different ways, the great locomotive had shown on its two Albury runs that it was not simply “a mechanical box on wheels”, but indeed “something pulsing and alive.”

Sources: Personal scrapbook and recollections. Foote, Peter: “Flying Scotsman to Albury II”, Newsrail, February 1989, pp.260sqq. Kennington, Roland: “Up and Over Down Under”, Steam Railway, May 1989, p.46.

Next month, Alf travels behind Flying Scotsman to Sydney and back

Flying Scotsman’s “spin” on the turntable at Albury is watched by hundreds of railfans Board, Management and Staff A number of changes have occurred recently and the board, management team and staff are listed below:

Board of Directors President: Michael Vines Vice-President: Paul McDonald Secretary: Christine Gibb Treasurer: Neil Burgin Board Members: Andrew Naylor Andrew Reynolds David Bail Philip Ryan Shirley Frewin Stephen Lumsden Will Maylor Kieran Walshe

Management Positions Responsible Officer: Paul McDonald Mechanical Manager: Stephen Lumsden Acting Civil Manager: John Shaw Operations Managers: Brian Frewin & David Crowhurst Carriage Manager David Bail Special Projects Manager: Art Lynch Marketing Manager: Andrew Reynolds Membership Officer: David Watkins Volunteer Co-ordinator: Christine Gibb First Class Manager: Andrew Reynolds Webmaster: Will Maylor Newsletter Editor: Philip Ryan Operations Roster Officer: Jeremy Lavery Services Roster Officer: Shirley Frewin (Acting)

Staff Workshop Supervisor Michael Compagnoni Workshop Assistant: Paul Hubber Ganger Brad Cooper Labourer: Harley Cheyne Marketing Officer Garry Aitchison April 2013 Page 8

T333 Leads Qube Container Train Can You Work As A Booking Officer? The railway is in desperate need of some additional volunteers to undertake the role of booking officer - at both Maldon and Castlemaine.

Booking officers are the first people that our passengers meet when they arrive at the railway and hence, we’re looking for people who are friendly and are great with people. Some of the tasks that a booking officer undertakes includes:  Answering the phone and answering questions from the public  Selling tickets on board our regular services T333 leads 2 GL class locos hauling a large container train towards Melbourne. Lionel Camilleri  Issuing cab-passes  Welcoming Red Balloon passengers  Making welcoming and safety DERM to Maldon Mechanical Branch announcements Our good friends at the Diesel Electric Rail News  Assisting passengers to safely board and Motor Preservation Association of Victoria alight from our trains (DERMPAV) will be conducting a history Our Mechanical Branch has been busy looking making trip on Sunday 12th May when 58RM after all the rolling stock and equipment used  Taking payments of cash / EFTPOS / will venture from Southern Cross to Maldon on our railway. Credit Cards / Gift Vouchers for the day! The trip will be the first  Completing daily paperwork. scheduled passenger trip travelling the whole Recently J515 has had its annual boiler line with passengers in almost 40 years. inspection and passed. J515 is available for A number of booking officers at Castlemaine traffic when required. travel to their shift as a Booking Officer by The DERM will be driven by a DERMPAV V/Line. If you could assist as a booking officer, crew who are regular V/Line drivers and also K190 is hauling most services at present and even if it is only every second month, please members of the CMRPS who are qualified on is continuing to perform solidly. We contact Christine Gibb via our line, so it will be one crew all the way! anticipate her returning to Steamrail for [email protected] or on 0428 810 633 The trip will also involve a cross with our mainline use in early June. own timetabled service at Muckleford in both directions and a BBQ lunch on Castlemaine J549 has had a decent amount of work platform. completed recently with the smokebox Victorian Goldfields Railway having been completed. The smoke deflector General Office and This trip is sure to sell out very quickly, so if still remains to be fitted. The boiler was you’d like to enjoy this trip, please check out inspected recently and some work to replace Marketing the DERMPAV website at some boiler tubes will be carried out shortly. P.O. Box 51, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450 http://dermpav.net.au/ The superheater elements will have been fitted by the time this newsletter is Phone: (03) 5470 6658 If you’d like to travel behind the DERM from distributed. Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272 Castlemaine to Maldon and return, in carriage 43BPL, please see our website for tickets. We need more volunteers to assist with Email: [email protected] for bookings, preparing the loco for painting. If you can Train Times & Fares information or assist with a wire brush or sanding, please [email protected] for all other enquiries contact our workshop supervisor, Michael Occupational Health Compagnoni on (03) 5475 1451 during business hours. Castlemaine Railway Station and Safety Kennedy Street, Castlemaine The safety of our volunteers, staff and Family Matters Phone: (03) 5470 6658 passengers will always be our No. 1 priority Facsimile: (03) 5470 6272 and board has recently determined to focus On a recent Sunday we had possibly an on the health and safety of volunteers and unusual occurrence in that we had 3 "pairs" Maldon Railway Station staff away from train running activities. of volunteers! On the loco, we had Don and Hornsby Street, Maldon Andrew Marshall (Father & Son). We also had Telephone: (03) 5475 1451 As part of this focus, the board is requesting Doug Pearse as Conductor and Dianne www.vgr.com.au Pearse in the Maldon shop (Husband and all department managers to include a report www.driveatrain.com.au on the OH&S of all volunteers and staff in Wife). Finally as Guard we had Paul their departments. This will include details of McDonald (Vice President) training new www.driveasteamtrain.com.au any incidents or near-misses and any volunteer Paul McDonald - and they're not related!! Vice President Paul (or, Paul identified hazards that have not been If you would like to contribute an article, a adequately addressed. McDonald Senior) is from Maldon and trainee photo or a letter to the Members Paul McDonald to be known as Paul Of course any incidents or hazards should be McDonald Junior, (yes, they're spelt the same Newsletter, you can send it to reported via an IDR as soon as they are way, too) hails from Kialla in the Goulburn [email protected] detected. Valley.