Oct/Nov The 2017 Bennett Brooklet Streaming information on your favourite two foot gauge railway Send contributions for the next issue to [email protected] by November 25th. Chris Flowers driving P7 on Christmas Eve 2016. Photo: Clive Woodward This month’s issue potentially features: Vale Chris Flowers Introducing your new editor Progress on ZB 213 Canadian and Alaskan train travel Locomotive report Signals report Ashley Day report Doggie Day Out Betty Strips for Summer Dates you might want to add to your calendar Photos from around the Railway Vale Chris Flowers: 1947-2017 – Clive Woodward In researching for this obituary, I've learnt that Chris drilling and exploration company. He also drove buses was a very private person. What is known is that his for TransPerth, based at Mandurah and Malaga depots time at BBR was of immeasurable benefit to our and worked in Qantas' in-flight catering kitchen at railway. Chris joined the Railway in 2013. I met him Perth Airport. early in 2016 whereupon he quickly engaged me in learning to drive his favourite diesel, the yellow Planet. He's taught several other members to drive the Planet, Chris' alter ego, Connie, could often be found at the too. Chris started training as a fireman on BT1 mid last 7th Avenue in Midland, so convincing fully dolled up year. that even one of our senior members fell for 'her' charms. Prior to joining BBR Chris worked for the RAAF as a Chris passed away peacefully in Kalamunda Hospice. mechanical fitter and went on to a similar job for a Rest in peace, my friend. Introducing your new editor: Tyler Howie! He’s a junior, he’s lives in Melbourne and he should stop writing in third person… Hello, I’m Tyler. I’ve been a member for the past six months. I’ve been appointed as trial editor for the next three issues. I’m involved with multiple organisations in Melbourne, including Puffing Billy and Diamond Valley Railway. I joined Puffing Billy aged six and I assist during Youth Days and special events, such as Thomas and Santa Specials. I’ve been affiliated with the 7¼ inch gauge Diamond Valley for five years and help with day to day operations as well as special events, publicity and new member liaison. I joined Bennett Brook as I wanted to support an interstate railway that preserves light railway rolling stock and locomotives. As I’m based in Melbourne, I should have eaten more I’m limited as to how I can assist, which is why I’ve Weetbix that morning... taken on the role of newsletter editor. I look forward to the challenge, it might be fun! Chairman’s message: ZB 213 – Lindsay Watson After World War 1, there were great numbers of UK and Australian Governments funded a group returned soldiers seeking work in a depressed settlement scheme to open up new land for agriculture economy. To try and improve the situation both the in the South West of Australia. The WA Premier, Sir James Mitchell was a champion of this scheme, possibly because he was able to access UK and Australian funding to build new railway branch lines in regional WA to open up new land. Part of the process of opening up new railways was equipping them with rolling stock, such as brake vans. Post World War 1 Photo Ken Watson there was a steel shortage, world–wide. A reliable builder of WAGR rolling stock, the Westralia Ironworks Ltd of Rocky Bay North Fremantle were also busy, with an order of a second fleet of Kalgoorlie carriages caused by the opening of the Trans Australian Railway in 1917. These AR and The amazing ZB 213 AQ carriages were built with wooden underframes. These carriages lasted until the mid-1970s. So our ZB 213 began its life serving group settlement railways in WA, carrying families and folk from their So with a shortage of steel and the Westralia primitive, newly established settlements to existing Ironworks busy, Premier Sir James Mitchell looked towns to enable these folk to go shopping. As usual, it overseas to the UK. Dorman Long of Middlesbrough, was up to the traffic branch where the ZB brakevans UK already had orders for steel girders for the Sydney were allocated, however, the extra brakevans filled in Harbour Bridge and New Zealand’s Auckland the shortage. Harbour. Dorman Long signed an order for the supply and delivery of 16, 30 foot long, riveted steel frames to ZB 213 commenced service in December 1927 as ZB be delivered by sea to Fremantle, WA. 10607, was fitted with electric light in 1961 and was written off in May 1977. It was our foundation Dorman Long had steel sent to WA prior to World chairman, Charles de Bruin, who made enquiries with War 1. In 1908, a cyclone had destroyed the Whim Pacific National, Kewdale, where it was located as a Creek Hotel and much ado was made of building the ground mounted store and arranged to have it delivered new hotel with Dorman Long riveted steel stanchions to our workshop in the early 2000's. A lot of the and beams. Ironically Whim Creek was also the site of Dorman Long frames are still around, if you know a 2’ gauge railway built for the conveyance of copper where to look, they appear to be virtually ore to Wales for smelting into copper. Two Orenstein indestructible. I know of two, one in Hazelmere and and Koppel tank locomotives were used on this one in Gidgegannup. railway; sadly both now gone. Our carriage shed crew are doing fine work on ZB The WAGR workshops, upon receipt of the steel 213, keep up the good work fellas. riveted brake van frames began building a new class of passenger brakevan, class ZB, with 6 being issued to traffic in 1926/7 and a further 10 in 1927/28. Locomotive report – Michael Watson The end of the steam season is upon us and it’s time issues will put this locomotive out of service for the for the 0-4-2 Perry’s 10 yearly strip down and time being. inspection. This involves exposing the boiler shell to enable a detailed inspection by removing the cab, tanks The Atlantic Planet has been running as backup for and cladding. We hope to attend to a few minor repairs weekend running and will be our primary locomotive while this is going on. coming into summer. The Fowler unfortunately has failed with a leaking We are reasonably confident in having found the torque converter that coupled with engine and wheel Dorman Planet’s fuel starvation issues. Narrowing it down to the lift fuel pump diaphragm that had split and is the most likely cause of air in the fuel Photo Ken Watson lines. appreciate the help on Friday nights, making our jobs that little bit easier. Ashley has been running midweek and school holidays reasonably trouble free. Brayden and Geoff have been chipping away at some of the smaller components of Ng15 123 including repairs to the drain cock linkage while we await news on the boiler repairs. They have been occasionally been assisted by Adam and Chad among others. Andrew, Brayden, Dylan and Clive along with some helpers have been working on the 0-6-2 Perry reassembling the non-worn parts and assessing any future repairs for when funding becomes available. My apologies if I’ve missed anyone; Brayden and I Signals report - Bob Baker Since the last newsletter, the Signals Department has continuously for 3 weeks until it finally failed. been engaged in the following The mechanism was taken down, repaired and re-erected. The windscreen wiper motor 1. Refurbishment and erection of the Goomalling which drives the unit was undamaged. Distant Signal, all 16.5 metres of it, as the Recently the Signals Department work crew of distant signal Bushland Loop South. It is Peter Gould, John Johnston and I undertook a located at the bottom of Robert’s Bank. long overdue complete rebuild of the wig wag track circuits including re-insulation of the 2. Assembly and erection of the 3 doll coloured steel sleepers and refurbishment of the track light signal as the home bonding. The wig wag was originally installed signal Bushland Loop in 1999. South. It is located adjacent to No.3 road Coming up is the repair to the open wire pole route points WVJ South. between WVJ and Mussel Pool. This provides the This signal will display circuits for the electric staff and magneto telephone white crosses, system. At each end the wooden cross arms have signifying out of use, rotted and are only being held by the guy wires. The until the WVJ South cross arms, originally from the Midland Railway Line signalling is brought between Muchea and Gin Gin, are over 100 years old. into operation. Metal cross arms have been sourced and will be installed in November. 3. Due to a track circuit fault, and unbeknown to the signals’ manager, the wig wag ran Train travel in Canada and Alaska – Bob Baker Jan and I went on “another” holiday, this time on the privately run tourist operation. On the west coast of west coast of Canada and Alaska. It involved travel on Canada there are two railroad freight companies, the Rocky Mountaineer, White Pass & Yukon Railroad Canadian Pacific and Canadian National, which and Wilderness Express in Alaska. operate through the Fraser River Gorge; each having a line on the opposite side of the gorge that swap sides at Rocky Mountaineer – This involved a two day trip Siska.