Branchline Society the Members Newsletter of the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway March 2014 Preservation Society

Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Branchline Society The Members Newsletter of the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway March 2014 Preservation Society 2014 Steamrail Open Day On the March long weekend our friends at Steamrail held put on a wonderful display for their biennial open day at Newport Workshops. Seven locos were in steam and all running at various times singly and double headed on the demonstration freight train, locos were regularly turned on the turntable, special lineups were set up for photographers. Perhaps a highlight was seeing the A2 in steam minus cab and motion being pushed up and down the yard. Our own K 160 was not left out as it was second engine to K 153, albeit not in steam, on some of the freight runs. Carriage sets were set up to recreate typical Steamrail weekend, regular train and party train consists. The VGR set up a tent in what should have been an ideal location next to Steamrail’s catering and souvenir sales and near the turntable. However the weather was less than ideal being very hot and gusty wind so our display suffered badly. We even tied the tent to a car on Sunday night to make sure it did not blow away. However we had a lot of interest and did make a good amount from souvenir sales. A number of VGR members looked in and special thanks are due to Joe Kellet for untiring help over two days and also to Will Maylor and Russell Chapman for looking after the stand on the Monday. It was a great chance to see just what a tremendous facility is at Newport Workshops and would really recommend a visit in 2016 when we will make sure we set up inside the workshop buildings! Photos courtesy of Alf Batchelder March 2014 Page 2 President’s Column Our joint venture partner Steamrail had its by Michael Vines period of over a month where we had very open day at Newport on the recent long little income at all did not help. Things are weekend. I attended on Monday the 10th of starting to pick up and we are assisted by March 2014 and was very pleased to see not members who are promptly getting in their only a tent advertising our cause but similar renewals and also accommodating us with the stalls for other preservation groups. The $20 levy as requested. cooperation amongst the various groups in Victoria is clearly developing and is the way The other piece of news is that the excavator to go for us all to prosper and survive. The has now gone to McCulloch’s in Bendigo to day itself was a spectacular advertisement for start fitting the HiRail equipment which will the preservation movement in general. There indicate to members that we are on track to were 8 locomotives in steam including A2 raise the necessary funds for us to do so. I 986 (not yet completed) for which I have thank all members who have made donations particular affection as I travelled behind it as a to this cause and if there are any members 5 year old with my late father on one of its who have not done so I would be grateful if last trips in 1963. Unfortunately our they would consider the importance of locomotive, K160, had blown an internal getting the excavator out on external steam pipe in the days leading up to the event contract work to increase our income as so it was on static display. It was good to planned. This is a crucial part of the have a chat to various members of other reorganisation of our business in the wake of groups including the Steamrail people. I was the collapse of the hiring income that was particularly interested in the virtual computer coming from El Zorro. display of V 499 traveling the Healesville branch. Whilst the weather was somewhat I plan to be up in Maldon for the week leading oppressive on the Monday I came away 2014. For me it was a long overdue chance to to the Easter long weekend. This is always a feeling the event was a great success. travel on the line and I found the day very busy time for us when passenger particularly enjoyable. Like the Steamrail numbers will be high. We will be on show to Members may also be aware that the event it was good to catch up with some of the general public and I am confident that we Daylesford Spa Railway has recently reopened our preservation friends at Daylesford and on will present very well given that J549 is fully its line back to Bullarto. This was the section behalf of the VGR I want to congratulate operable ( with K 190 ) and we have a fleet of of line severely damaged in the bushfire them on their persistence and endeavor in carriages that both externally, and internally, around the Musk area a couple of years ago. restoring the line. put us in a very good light. I hope to catch up A huge amount of effort has gone into with members/volunteers over this time and, rebuilding the line and it is a great credit to As for our railway I am glad that we are back as I have said before, our “door is always their members and volunteers that the track in full running mode because it has been open” in relation to positive suggestions and has been restored. I attended with our particularly difficult over the summer period, comments as to how we can further improve Secretary, Andrew Naylor, and Civil Branch particularly during February when we ran our tourism product. Manager ,John Shaw (who was also involved virtually no trains at all. As I have indicated to in the reconstruction work) for their opening members previously our cash reserves are Michael Vines ceremony on Saturday the 15th of March somewhat depleted at the moment so a President The Victorian Goldfields Railway is supported by some fine businesses. If your company would like to benefit from a sponsorship, please contact our Sponsorship Manager, Rob Fletcher via our marketing office on (03) 5470 6658 March 2014 Page 3 Our Proud Sponsors March 2014 Page 4 Cumbres and Toltec by Alf Batchelder Early on June 1, 1991, I was in a sleeping berth areas of south-western Colorado. Since the the drive wheels placed between the main aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief as it stopped Pass has a 1:25 grade in parts, the journey frames, and the running gear to the outside. in Dodge City, Kansas. Unfortunately, the between Denver and the boom town of The K-36 engines are among the most nearby historic part of the town, dating from Silverton took 31 hours. In 1951, the powerful narrow-gauge locomotives ever the wild days of the Old West, was on the unprofitable passenger service from Denver used in the United States. Since my visit, the other side of the train, so I was unable to get to Durango was dropped but the quest for C&TSRR has acquired the former standard a glimpse of the Boot Hill Museum and the natural gas and oil in the San Juan Basin kept gauge K-37 497 from cowboy movie star once-notorious Front Street. Nevertheless, freight traffic alive until 1968 when Rio Gene Autry, while K-27 463, built by Baldwin this brief stop was a reminder that, once, Grande closed the line. Keen to emulate the in 1903, returned to service in 2013. lawlessness had prevailed here in the "wildest, success of tourist operations on the Durango- wickedest and woolliest" of the cowtowns – Silverton branchline, the Colorado and New Although the train had some very and that, at times, the railroads were caught Mexico governments purchased the 64 miles comfortable coaches, I went down to the very up in it. of track between Antonito and Chama to end where there was an open wagon, with establish the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic deluxe stand-up seats, for an uninterrupted My final destination for the day was Chama, Railroad. The United States Congress then view of the magnificent mountains of New Mexico, where I would ride the created a commission to oversee the railroad, northern New Mexico. As there was not a Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad to Osier which was claimed to be the world’s longest breath of wind, the tall fir trees on their and back. Like the Durango and Silverton tourist railway. slopes stood absolutely motionless, while the Narrow Gauge Railroad, this is a fragment of first touches of spring foliage could be seen the network built by the Denver and Rio My journey to Osier on June 2, 1991, was on the thin white trunks of the aspens. At the Grande Railway, which had originally intended unquestionably one of the best days I have foot of these spectacular slopes, the train to operate a 36-inch narrow gauge railway ever had behind steam. I arrived at the Chama moved through grassy meadows with fast- from Denver to El Paso, Texas, some 875 station straight after breakfast to photograph flowing streams and, in parts, sprinklings of miles to the south. Instead, the company the action in the railyards. It was a calm, yellow flowers. It was only a short distance spread throughout Colorado, New Mexico sunny morning, with the smell and sight of from Chama that 488 encountered the 1:25 and Utah. In doing so, the Rio Grande became steam in these conditions bringing more than grade which would be present for most of the embroiled in right-of-way disputes with the a touch of excitement.

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