July 2005#384
July 2005
#384
Please note: These pages are provided by me, Bill Russell as a service to the Puffing Billy Railway & the E.T.R.B.
If you find a problem with them please contact me first. No other person has the ability to alter these pages.
If you want to be notified when Monthly News changes send me an e-mail. My e-mail address is bill.russell@optusnet.com.au .
Among the Queens Birthday Honours list for 2005 was Norm Wadeson. Norm's Order of Australia Medal (General Division) is for his contribution to the development of Puffing Billy. Norm was former PBPS Vice President (1962-1972) and ETRB Deputy Chairman (1977-1998) and also served on the Society Executive Committee and ETRB in 1999-2000. As many mid-week volunteers know, Norm is still an active safeworker on the railway.
Following a full day session last February and discussions at subsequent regular Executive Committee meetings, the Society has now adopted and published its strategic plan. Copies are displayed in meeting rooms and meal rooms throughout the railway. The plan recognises that the PBPS core reason for being as "PBPS will maintain the vision of Puffing Billy as a premier steam heritage railway of world significance."
Other goals include:
Actions to support these goals are listed in the plan and the Executive Committee has assigned responsibility for implementing early actions among its members.
The Railway's Strategic Planning Committee conducted a workshop on 5th June to commence the process to update our Strategic Plan (currently referred to as the Ten Year Plan). External speakers Mr Tom Smith, who has enormous experience in the Tourism industry (including General Manager of the Melbourne Aquarium, and Board Member of Tourism Victoria), Doug Evans (Shire of Cardinia) gave us their view of respectively the tourism industry and planning and transport, and what changes might occur in ten years. Participants then discussed a variety of strategic subjects and what issues need to be addressed, to enable the railway to move forward in a positive way. Preparations will now be carried out for a two day workshop to review the Strategic Plan in mid August.
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Graeme Breydon ETRB Chairman chairman@pbr.org.au |
John Thompson PBPS President editor@pbr.org.au |
Ray Leivers, CEO ray.leivers@pbr.org.au |
Congratulations to Nicole and Stephen Nichols on the safe and happy arrival of their son Samuel Kevin. All your friends at Puffing Billy wish you well and we look forward to seeing the Nichols family soon.
Well done to the roster clerks, managers and others who got their copy in on time. This month was the best yet. It is much appreciated.
The positions of apprentice 'Fitter & Turner' and 'Boilermaker' at Belgrave are available; apply for either or both. A minimum entry level of Year 10 is required, with maths and science. The ability to dirty your hands with grease and soot would be an advantage. All enquires to Alan Gardner on 9757 0733 by 1st July 2005.
If you need to change your rostered day, please do not just add, move or delete your name from the various printed rosters located around the Stationmaster's Office. Please contact your roster officer and let him/her know so that they can keep tabs on who is doing what. It may save them from spending hours trying to fill a vacancy that you have already filled. This applies to other areas of the Railway also..
Please note that the cleaners' room under the Belgrave Station stair well has been converted to an airing storage room for raincoats. The lock on the cupboard is now an A2, which is on the Stationmaster's key ring. If you require access to cleaning products, these are now located in the cleaners' storeroom. Access to that room is in the key cabinet, key 14, issued by the Stationmaster.
A bucket and mop are available in the Belgrave Storeroom.
We are pleased to hear that Norm Wadeson is recovering well after having some additional stents in his heart. Peter Walker is also receiving further treatment. We wish Peter all the very best.
I would like to clear up some confusion about the reporting of injuries. An injury to a staff member or volunteer needs to be reported on forms available in SM's offices and most safeworking rooms in a book put out by VECCI. These forms should not be used for passenger injuries. Passenger injuries must be reported by IDR with an attached form which has a diagram of a human body on it.
Please ensure that sufficient information about the injury is recorded to allow the railway to defend itself in the event of litigation; like when, where the injury occurred, the circumstances surrounding the injury and what if any assistance was given. A memo is in each SM's office to further explain the requirements.
Ray Leivers
An exhilarating winter night-time steam trip to Gembrook is planned for the evening of Thursday July 21st, in an attempt to re-create the experience of a traveller in the early 1900's, aboard a typical V.R. narrow gauge passenger train.
A short train of clerestory roof carriages, complete with a Canadian Red engine, will be reminiscent of the type of train seen in about 1907 or so, prior to the advent of the excursion cars. The train will depart Belgrave at 6.00pm sharp for a spirited run to Gembrook and back, complete with an atmospheric listening stop at Fielder bank. On arrival at Gembrook station, expected at about 8.00pm, a roaring fire and hot B-B-Q dinner will await us, as well as the chance to indulge in some liquid refreshment.
A 9.00pm departure from Gembrook will see us back at Belgrave at about 10.30pm or so, and if you don't like the cold, rest assured that the wood stove will be fired up in 5NC! Needless to say, it may be a rather bitter night, (a good reason to bring along your partner!) so make sure you dress warmly, and bring a torch and raincoat if you are planning to alight for the listening stop.
The cost of the trip, including dinner, is only $40 per person, with no concessions. All proceeds will go to the Climax restoration fund. Numbers are limited, so book quickly and don't miss out. Bookings must be received by no later than July 14th, so that we can guarantee the train runs.
The trip is a replacement for the planned 2nd edition of 'The Gembrook Mixed', which unfortunately had to be cancelled this year due to a lack of goods rolling stock.
For bookings, call the Belgrave office with your credit card details, and quote the Olde Gembrook Pass. Non credit card payments can also be arranged.
For information about the trip, please contact Nick Anchen
This was an excellent evening, enjoyed by more than 150 attendees who watched a fascinating collection of archive film and listened to a number of short addresses by past Presidents of the Society. Thanks go to all those who assisted, especially to Carl & Venetia Barnard for their efforts in the fields of film projection and catering, respectively.
This is a final reminder that as part of the Society's Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Social Committee is organising a special luncheon train running from Belgrave to the Packing Shed.
The event will offer:
This event is open to all members and volunteers, staff & their families. A small numbers of tickets is still available at $38 per person, so send your booking form in now or ring Jeff Goodwin for latest information, evenings after 8.30pm).
Following our visit to the Bellarine Peninsula Railway last year, we are planning to visit them again, this time on a Saturday evening to travel on their enormously popular 'Blues Train'. The evening will include bus travel from Belgrave to Queenscliff and return, so come along and join us for an evening of fine food, live music and fun! This promises to be a great evening and although more expensive than most of our events, offers great value for money. Please see the flyer with this edition of 'Monthly News' and note that bookings must be in by mid-July to secure our seats on the train!
Once more, we are pleased to announce the running of our perennially popular New Year's Eve train. Pencil this in your diary now. Further details will be announced nearer the date.
Jeff Goodwin
The new booking office system has now progressed to the stage where will we commence training in July. All booking officers will be invited initially to an introductory training evening and this will be followed up at a later date with 'one on one' training. When we have a date confirmed for the training evening I will contact you all.
Regards, Jean
We have a few Head Conductor vacancies noted for the weekends. If any HCs are able to help, please let Ron Kelly or the Belgrave SM know.
The Board has approved new fares for 2005/06. For the first time the railway will charge a peak fare from 26 December to 27 January and for the four days of Easter for our excursion trains; about 8% increase on 2004/05 fares. The rest of the year will have off-peak fares. Lunch and Dinner trains will also have slightly higher fares to cover penalty rates when we use casual staff as train hosts. The fare schedules are available on Notice Boards.
A discount of 10% to members and volunteers on Books, DVD's and Videos is now available.
Ladies T'shirt - Wattle & Waratah design. Was $45.00, now $25.00.
Adult Windcheater Vest zip front - navy blue. Was $38.00, now $25.00.
Adult Polo shirt - Australiana short sleeve - blue and cream. Was $34.00, now $16.00.
Ladies 3/4 length top - navy blue. Was $25.00, now $13.50.
Children's Windcheater long sleeve 1/2 zip - navy blue Was $35.00, now $19.99.
Children's T'shirt and shorts - Australiana - blue and cream Was $39.95, now $16.00.
Navy blue canvas style picnic sets also available at heavily reduced prices.
Be quick, first in first served. Lots of designs to choose from.
To view picnic sets please call 9757 0782 as they will only be on display in the office.
Back Pack - 4 person was $79.00 now $37.00
Bum bag & Water Bottle was $15.00 now $9.50
Bum bag - Deluxe was $16.50 now $9.50
Picnic cheese platter was $14.95 now $9.95
Spectator Bag, 2 person was $54.90 now $28.00
Pull along Picnic Case was $129.95 now $54.95
Wine Pack, 2 person was $28.00 now $14.95
Wine Pack, 4 person was $52.00 now $27.00
Picnic Blankets was $24.95 now $15.00
Cane Picnic Basket (only 1 left) was $400.00 now $100.00
To stay open we need your help, even for a few hours a day.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to work at Menzies Creek, please call April Williams
It would be the same type of work as at Belgrave and Lakeside and would only involve selling to the public. No Baking or Meal Preparation is involved.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist with our Thomas weekends later in the year is asked to please contact April.
There will be 5 weekends overall. The first weekend is the 60 th Anniversary celebration of Thomas.
If you would like to apply for the position of Rostering Officer for Refreshment services, please contact June Ilett or April Williams for a position description, as soon as possible.
April Williams
This position is still vacant waiting for a reliable and committed person to take on the role.
Support, both physically and emotionally, for our Roster Officers is provided by operations staff, and roster related telephone calls are reimbursed by the railway.
Anyone who is interested in this role should contact Fleur during business hours on 9757 0716 or via email to fleur.barrell@pbr.org.au. (This position does not require the person to be safeworking qualified but a good knowledge of PBR is essential).
Safety is not something that should be taken for granted, or left for others, it is everyone's responsibility.
There have been no new incidents in May or June.
The position entails taking minutes, at our monthly meetings, held on a Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm at the Belgrave offices, and distributing those minutes. If anyone is interested in taking on this role please call me
.The following dates have been organised for classes by Lance and Cliff for 2005, other dates will be announced at a later date;
Engine Cleaners introduction (practical day) - Sunday July 31st
Note: This class has a maximum of eight to allow for the appropriate training so you must register with either Lance or Fleur in order to attend this class. If numbers exceed eight then we will run an additional class at a date to be advised.
To register your interest, contact Lance or to book at one of the above classes contact Fleur Barrell fleur.barrell@pbr.org.au).
Have you not worked at PBR for a number of years and allowed your safeworking accreditation to expire, but are wanting to volunteer once again?
Please give either Greg , Rob or Fleur a call and we can discuss how to bring your accreditation and knowledge of PBR up to date by recognising your previous experience and time spent on the railway.
Congratulations to Simon Walker on completing his Firemen's Training. He is now a fully qualified Firemen.
Barry Rogers
Below are listed the balance of the dates for firewood collection for 2005. Anyone who is interested in assisting on any of these dates, please contact Dave Conlan
All trains on Saturdays will depart Belgrave at 8am and be of approximately 3 to 4 hours duration.
All trains on Week nights will depart Belgrave at 5.30pm and will also be of approximately 3 to 4 hours duration.
Just a reminder that you have a few days left this financial year to make a donation to the Belgrave Signal Box Fund. This fund is currently at over $35 000 and will be the major source of funding when the time comes to commence onsite works. Your donations are and will continue to be appreciated.
Thanks to Errol Hermann for taking on the job of co-ordinating the point oiling and inspection program. He is currently being assisted by Bob Cochrane and my thanks to the others who indicated a willingness to be involved. There will be times in the future when you may be called upon to assist further.
On May 25 th the old 'carrier' telephone systems between Menzies Creek, Kings Rd, Emerald Station and Lakeside were taken out of active service and replaced with the latest of technological equipment. The new equipment converts telephone and fax transmissions into "Internet" type messages and with the use of computers, modems etc. enable this to be sent along our open wire system between the telephone exchanges. Despite a few teething problems, we are confident that the system is now performing very well and has already improved the fax transmissions to & from Lakeside. As such the Lakeside fax machine has been restored to the Lakeside Exchange and other machines programmed back to the original number.
The old system has served us well for over 40 years and is still in service between Belgrave and Menzies Creek. This final section will be converted when sufficient new equipment becomes available.
After many years of sending our voice and fax messages from Menzies Creek to Kings Rd via a Telstra link, the commissioning of the VOIP systems has allowed us to restore trunk services back onto our own telephone line between Menzies Creek and Emerald.
Thanks are due to the band of S & T workers who have spent hundreds of hours setting up, learning and de-bugging this new technology to make a relatively faultless transition possible.
Works are progressing well on the control cabinets for the up end of the yard. The recent addition to our team of a C.J.P. electrical fitter is helping with this progress.
Andrew Wheatland.
Just after our access was granted again, our manager took off to England for 10 weeks of visiting railways, friends and other tourist locations (order not important but probably right), leaving me in charge. I trust he is enjoying himself.
Now we are back into the Museum compound again, work has concentrated on finishing the Gang Shed and cleaning up the grounds to make them safe (after 12 months of branches etc. dropping). Since this compound will not be open to the public on a regular basis for the foreseeable future, expect to see tarps etc. draped over the exhibits outside in the weather to help preserve them. Also expect to see more exhibits crammed under cover to help preserve them too. Once the preservation is under control, the intention is to restore exhibits to a high standard ready for display when an opportunity presents itself.
Our work days are continuing on the 1 st, 3 rd and 5 th Saturdays of the month (2 nd, 16 th and 30 th July) so if you would like to come along we would love the help. Remember we are no longer open to the public so these days are the only chance you will have to look around the collection so please come and join us for a day.
Bruce Paroissien
The May workshop day saw a new Volunteer, Mick Bush, along to help with the project. Welcome aboard Mick. The majority of time was spent dismantling and cleaning the new wheel lathe. This machine will be used to profile the Climax tyres when they come in from South Africa. The plans for the boiler work are through all the design, checking and verification processes and the boiler will be off to visit its homeland shortly.
Our next workday is Saturday 2nd July. We would like to see more helpers along. There is plenty and varied work to do with a wondrous group of people. Come along for a few hours and enjoy a day at Belgrave.
John Conway jfgconway@yahoo.com
This group increased in size dramatically this month. We still have room for more. This Saturday's work involved dismantling, cleaning and lubricating the new wheel lathe in the Belgrave Workshop. It gave us a chance to see the inside workings and features of this unusual machine.
On our next workday, Saturday July 2 nd, we hope to start on a major restoration project. Please contact me for more details.
John Conway, jfgconway@yahoo.com
Our next workday is to be held on Tuesday 4 th July. Meet at Belgrave Station at 9:00 a.m. Wear appropriate clothes for the weather conditions and expect to get them filthy. Please contact me if you are coming along, as we need to match numbers of supervisors and workers. Lunch and drinks will be provided as usual.
John Conway, jfgconway@yahoo.com,
Would all staff and volunteers please note that a "Visitor's Book" is now located at the entrance to the locomotive workshops. Everyone entering the workshop must now sign their time of entry and exit.
From 6 th July, the workshops at Belgrave will be open from 7.30am until 10.00pm. Anyone wishing to volunteer on Wednesday nights is most welcome. The main focus of work will be on locomotive 8A.
As you may be aware the workshop at Belgrave has a new office. We require the services of volunteers that are willing to answer phones, use fax machines and help with ordering & other general office duties. If this work is done by volunteers the paid staff can be better utilised repairing the locomotives. If you would like to assist in our air conditioned office please give Alan Gardner a call.
The positions of apprentice 'Fitter and Turner' and 'Boilermaker' at Belgrave are available. A minimum entry level of year 10 is required, with maths and science. The ability to dirty your hands with grease and soot would be an advantage. All enquires to Alan Gardner by 1 st July 2005.
Hugh Markwick
The 'Thomas' Shed at Emerald is now at 'lock-up' stage and is useable although there is no internal lining, power, water etc. yet. Congratulations to Ray Williams and his team for a job well done.
Work on replacing sleepers between Menzies Creek and Clematis is now completed and shortly we will see ballast work in the section.
The Lakeside to Gembrook section has now been tamped throughout and we will shortly be running ballast trains to top up the ballast in some sections.
Sid Clark, who has been doing all of our floor polishing at Belgrave and Lakeside, has decided to retire from business. Sid has been doing this work for many years to a very high standard and we will miss him and his mother Eva on Monday nights at Belgrave.
Our next Volunteer Work Day will be on Saturday 16th July. Work will be in the forest near Clematis Main Road crossing and will involve replacing sleepers and repairing a number of minor track faults. The usual sumptuous BBQ lunch will be provided. Please let Roster Officer Terry know if you can attend .
| MAY | 2005 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Train kilometres for the month | 3,188 | 3,058 |
| Loco kilometres steam | 3,190 | 2,968 |
| Loco kilometres - diesel | 209 | 212 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 75 | 53 |
| G 42 days for month | 1 | 18 |
| Carriage kilometres | 25,932 | 24,851 |
| Carriage Days for month | 765 | 766 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,212 | 1,089 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,535 | 1,481 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 92 | 56 |
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 76% | 84% |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 171 | 152 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 183 | 167 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 8 | 12 |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 90% | 83% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 98% | n/a |
G42 hauled the Great Train Race train on 1 May for the second year. The locomotive had been out of service for planned maintenance but such work was scheduled so that G42 could be available on 'its' day before going back for more attention.
Three light engine movements occurred on Great Train Race day. Is this a record? DH 31 ran from Belgrave to Lakeside and from Menzies Creek to Belgrave. 14A ran from Lakeside to Menzies Creek.
On the 28 th May, Loco 7A was turned at Emerald whilst operating train No.32 ex Gembrook.
Bob Wilson
I became involved with Puffing Billy in 1974 whilst doing my apprenticeship with the Victorian Railways. (This was in the days of Red Rattlers and Harris Trains - mainly towards the middle of 1974). Initially I worked in the Locomotive Maintenance Restoration Group. I then undertook a "safe working course" under the control of John Hearsch, Maurie Barker, Ian Marks, Don Marshall & Carole Quinn. I did my first guard's run on Saturday 3rd March 1979, a two (2) train day no's 73/74, 75/76 Engine 6A, the driver was Ron Peach and the fireman John Fowler, OIC Tony Linden). It was also around 1979 that I did my first time as Station Master / OIC. Further "down the track" I became involved in occasional track work and then qualified as a trolley driver. I wouldn't be surprised if I am not too far away from doing my 500th or even 1000th trip safe working wise. I am currently a safe working supervisor and I am also involved with Healesville and Korumburra railways.
I have seen a lot of changes within Puffing Billy at Menzies Creek, Lakeside and Gembrook and I am still actively involved, mainly most weekends, in one role or another. I was signalman at Menzies Creek when the Olympic Torch was carried by Puffing Billy in the Olympic Torch Relay for the Sydney 2000 Olympics Games. I was proud to be the first guard on the bona trip to Gembrook with G42 and also the guard on Cup Day 2002 when Loco 14A was the first NA ever to run bunker first to Gembrook.
I have been noticing a lot of younger folk making their way through the ranks of the Puffing Billy Railway which is a good thing as sadly a lot of the 'older clan' are no longer with us. I also hope that I can continue to be involved with and see Puffing Billy continue well into the foreseeable future.