November 2005#388
November 2005
#388
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 .
Congratulations to all the Puffing Billy volunteers and staff who contributed to the running of the 'Thomas' days this season. Feedback from volunteers and an unprecedented number of letters, notes and phone calls from customers have been received. The new shed worked well and the teamwork was unsurpassed. We also made a profit of about $20,000 for the first weekend of November.
Thanks to the Way & Works team for the preparations for Thomas at Emerald and Gembrook.
Well done also to the volunteers on our Picnic trains; numbers of recent times have been good and the numbers carried on 2nd October were the highest October one day figures for some time.
Members of the Puffing Billy family will notice work that has been done to remove the grass and weeds for the entrance to Belgrave station, and plant it out to native vegetation. This is one of the works to be carried out by the 'Greencorp' project, which provides young people with training about work and community and prepares them for future employment.
Ten young people commenced on 3 October 2005 and will complete planning and works for the railway, the 'Friends of Trestle Bridge' and John's Hill Landcare Group over the next six months.
We now have a copy of the legislation which establishes the framework of the direction the Victorian Government is taking us. Having read the 261 pages of the Bill, it is obvious that the 'devil is in the detail' and we will need to read the Regulations very carefully and comment on them; ensuring that they have reasonable expectations and do not put too much bureaucratic reporting on Tourist Railways.
If anyone would like to see the Bill it can be borrowed from Ray Leivers.
We are moving into our busiest time and request all volunteers to see if you can help us out with taking shifts at this time. Most roster clerks are having difficulty filling rosters. Please talk to your Roster Clerk to let them know when you might be available.
A big thanks to Alistair Brownlie who has recently taken on the Guards roster, Dave Conlan who has taken on the Fireman's roster and Darren Baker who has taken on the Conductors roster.
A huge thanks to Bob Cochrane, Barry Rogers & Ron Kelly who have been the respective roster clerks.
Congratulation to all 28 who received Certificates of Competency at Gemco Hall in Emerald on Saturday 15 th October and the 12 who have since been awarded certificates. A good time was had by all.
| Ray Leivers CEO | Graeme Breydon ETRB Chairman | John Thompson Pres Puffing Billy Preservation Society |
Have you noticed that the weather is warming up, allegedly? Accordingly, the Fire Patrol Gods are starting to stir from their enforced slumber of frosts and chills and have summonsed all Trolley Drivers and Fire Patrol Assistants to include their name on the Fire Patrol Roster for the upcoming season.
The Roster is aflame and there are vacancies yet to be extinguished. Please contact Terry Lee on (e-mail on tblee@bigpond.com) in order that he can appease the said Gods with your volunteering contribution. Every day donated by your help is greatly appreciated and prevents the Roster Clerk from being sacrificed.
We will have a display consisting of TV with tape player showing our volunteer promotion video, a model train a ticket dater the same as the in the Station Master Office, and a display panel with photos of our volunteers inaction. We will be giving away mini poster of Puffing Billy and postcards with information on volunteering and that we run every day of the year except Christmas Day.
If you would like to assist on these days please contact Sue Ham for more information
We would like to thank Darren Baker for the donation of a TV/DVD/Video player for the house.
The following volunteers have mail in the mail box in the Station Master's Office at Belgrave as at 14 th October 2005 for collection:
Ken Walker, The Worths, Bill Whitford, Geoff Tasker, Peter Van Houts, Christopher Trikilis, Geoff Urand, Robert Rossiter, Paul Schumann, Gisela Schumann, Roy Richens, Aiden Stevens, Jack Smith, Jason Rothwell, Reg Sharp, Jim Spanwick, Alex Mclaughlan, Don Horsbugh, David Porter, David O'Brien, Carl Propsting, Callum O'Dell, Brenton Hands, Sarah Kleehammer, Valerie Keszge, Matthew Gardner, Danny Gilliland, Steve Holmes, James Hansen, Ted Godwin, Peter Hammond, Brian Heywood, Robert Gilholme, Michael Georgiou, Kaye Lyons, Anna MacGregor, Bruce McIntrye, Frank Morrison, Jan Maslin, Alexander McCooke, Warren Mauseth, Lance Mobbs, Alex McLaughan, Andrew Bligh, Ian Batchelor, John Bell, Bernadette Cowley and Adam Day.
Just a quick reminder to all as the busy season approaches that overnight accommodation is available for any volunteer who is working and the distance home makes the option of staying locally preferable. You must pre-book - and this can be done by contacting Sue Ham at least three (3) working days prior to your required stay date. If you need to get accommodation closer to your work day than that, then please ring Sue Ham.
Sue Ham
We extend our condolences to Daryl Baulch who's father passed away recently.
This year's Fire Patrol Assistant Course is to take place on: Sunday 4 th December commencing 1:00pm in Trolley Shed Belgrave (near Locomotive Compound), Duration 2 hours
The Course is open to anyone thinking of helping with Fire Patrols through the forthcoming months or for those looking to refresh their knowledge.
Items covered on the Course include:
Fire Patrols form an important operational function and are an instructive way of learning some safeworking procedures as well as seeing the Railway from a different perspective. It is also a very good way to meet and make new friends whilst having a safe and enjoyable day.
If you would like to come along to the Course please contact the Fire Patrol Roster Clerk Terry Lee. Send an e-mail expressing your interest to tblee@bigpond.com.
A Level 2 First Aid course will be held on Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd November. There will be no weekend course as our training venue is unavailable. If you would like to attend the course please contact Deb Lyons deb.lyons@pbr.org.au.
Thanks to Norm Wadeson for his donation of items for the archives.
Hugh Markwick
All those who are new arrivals or who have not done any training (other than 'on the job') are invited to a course at 9am on Saturday 5 th November 2005. Completion of this training is a pre-requisite to commencing training to be a Head Conductor.
Station Masters, Head Conductors and Booking Clerks are invited to a seminar to discuss arrangement for the busy season and other matter from 7-9pm on Tuesday 15 November 2005 at the Belgrave Fire Station. Please let Jean Clowes know if you can attend. Email jean.clowes@pbr.org.au.
Congratulations to Darren Baker for taking on the Conductors roster; please give him you support.
We are still seeking:
Please talk to Jean or Ray Leivers for a chat about these with no obligation to proceed.
We welcome the following trainee Conductors to the team: Roy Richens, Fauve Hassapis, Ripeka Ewe, Bernadette Cowley and Brian Heywood.
We wish them many years of enjoyment volunteering on the railway.
Ross Peterken
The strengths, and weaknesses, of any group is how people work together. With the busy season now with us in operations, bringing with it the pressures of extra trains and roster vacancies, it is essential that everyone works together to ensure that we all enjoy our time at Puff. There are a lot of new Guards, Fireman, Drivers, conductors etc on the railway at present so please be aware of this and if they look as though they need help offer to assist them.
After a long and brave battle with cancer, Peter passed away on Saturday 25th September. Peter was a valued member of the Train Operations team and will be sadly missed.
A reminder to all Guards, Drivers, Fireman and Track Patrollers that you are required to sign this acknowledgement before departing from Belgrave.
Please note that the guard is now required to present this to the driver for signing.
Each year we train a new group of "Safeworkers" at PBR. We are looking for anybody who might be interested in helping with this training. If you are an experienced safeworker, with a good working knowledge of PBR and interested please contact Greg Hanslow
There have been no new incidents in September.
Safety is not something that should be taken for granted, or left for others, it is everyone's responsibility.A reminder that we have changed the locomotive regulator locks. The new keys are in the loco crew room at Belgrave.
The modifications have now been completed, thank you to the Workshops, Way and Works, Dave Conlan and Andrew Wheatland for their assistance.
Work is being carried out to look at the cost and feasibility of the "Roundhouse" option It is expected that a meeting will be convened in early November to finalise our preferred option.
Below are listed the dates for firewood collection for 2005/2006, anyone who is interested please contact Dave Conlan
All trains will depart Belgrave at 5.30pm and be approximately 3 to 4 hours duration.
All trains will depart Belgrave at 8am and be approximately 3 to 4 hours duration.
There will be another course in mid November on a date to be advised. If you are interested please contact Jean Clowes or Fleur Barrell..
Please note that applications for the next safeworking course (No 27), which commences in February 2006, close on November 11 th 2005. Application forms are available from the Station Masters office at Belgrave.
If you would like an email copy sent to you contact Fleur Barrell. (fleur.barrell@pbr.org.au) or Ray Williams. (raynsuew@bigpond.net.au)
Note: - Prerequisite for this course. Applicants must be a member of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society and have attended an introduction to safeworking course in the last 2 years or will be attending an introduction to safeworking course in 2005.
Ray Williams. Safeworking Training Officer.
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.
We have a vacancy in Train Operations for anyone who would have the time to assist Rob, Fleur and myself with the day to day tasks involved with the operation of the railway. This position is primarily to assist us during our busy period from November to Easter, and the person would preferably be available at least two days per week Monday to Friday. Safeworking qualifications, and a good working knowledge of PBR, are preferable but an ability to work in a team environment is essential.
Anyone who is interested should contact Greg Hanslow
.Well after my near miss last month, and a few days of guard hunting I can safely say the November roster is out for all to criticise.
There are a few vacancies this month that any Safeworker who can walk a path, climb a step or even blow bubbles is hoped to generously offer assistance with. If you can offer assistance please don't hesitate to call me (option 4, then option 2).
I'd very much like to thank the guards who helped myself and Fleur out last month with the many vacancies, your help was greatly appreciated.
I would also like to take this opportunity to ask that any one who hasn't done a run in a while, or have lost contact with us, to give myself or Fleur a call so that we can get you on the road again.
With this month out of the way (partially of-course), It's almost time for Summer, and 6 train running. I will be beginning my ring around soon, but If you would like to put yourself down for specific runs please give me a call.
Until next month. - Alistair Brownlie
Anyone wishing to spare some time to work at either Belgrave or Lakeside weekdays or weekends, please call either June or April. Thank you
Anyone wishing to volunteer and enjoy our Thomas weekends please contact June on 746 or April on 782.
Now with the new Thomas shed, the conditions have been dramatically improved as well as proving to be very successful.
There are 2 weekends left. Half day or full day shifts are available.
Thank you to the volunteers who have already offered to help.
Congratulation's to Hennie Faber who was the successful applicant for the new Shop Manager's position. We wish her all the best.
Available at all stations
CLEARANCE SALE! Heavily reduced stock
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 on 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 |
| 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 |
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 June on 746 or April on 782.
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 involved.
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
The workshops at Belgrave are open from 7.30 am until 10 pm. Any one wising to volunteer on Wednesday nights is most welcome. The program continues with work on 8A.
David Barnes has been appointed as our CAD Engineer at Belgrave Workshops
Hugh Markwick
Check the Climax web page for news of the boiler. We will update it as information comes in from our Washington correspondent.
With Christmas coming up, we offer an ideal opportunity for the perfect gift! Sponsorship of boiler tubes and other parts of the locomotive. What could be better? The Climax shop at Emerald Station is selling a selection of Climax gear, which is also good for stocking stuffing. It will be open on non-Thomas Sundays. Please ring for details of opening times.
Work continues on an exciting line of unique fundraising devices that will be on sale soon. The work involves machining metal and wood, sanding and painting. These skills are ones that will come in very handy when work resumes on the Climax itself.
Our next Workshop day will be Saturday 5 th November.
The Young Volunteers were very busy this day. Lots of carriage blinds at Belgrave and then on the 10:00 to Emerald. The yard needed a big clean up ready for the Thomas season. The white rail fencing was cleaned and then a long section along the platform was painted. Formwork around the newly poured concrete was removed and cleared away. Gravel was spread up to and around the concrete pit to make it safe. Gravel was also spread around to fill up some potholes and to make the pathway safer. Gravel was wheelbarrowed into the Nursery to fill up so big holes near the new concrete floor. The new coal pad walls were painted black and look very good. Branches were cleared from the car park area and transferred to the Nursery for lighting up. Many barrows of scrap wood from the Carriage Workshop were also taken to the Nursery. (This was very much appreciated by Thomas' Firemen, especially on the wet mornings.) The platform was swept. Lots of boxes were carried across to the Thomas shop.
The group carried out a great deal of work. They all worked very well and Emerald was much better set up for Thomas after their efforts. Well-done Young Volunteers!
John Conway, jfgconway@yahoo.com
With the boiler of the Climax engine safely in the works in the USA, the Climax work has necessarily slowed down and only minor attention is now being given to the preparation of the frame and motion. A vast amount of hubris, which is inevitably picked up by all engines once in operation, has been removed and the engine parts that need refurbishment have been dismantled for repair.
As mentioned in earlier issues of Monthly news, the Museum is open for inspection when we hold the workdays at Menzies Creek, which are on the 1st, 3rd, & 5th Saturdays of the Month. However, please make your self-known when you enter the compound to alert our staff to your presence. If a specific group wishes to inspect the exhibits, please notify the office at Belgrave, who will in turn arrange for a member of staff to be available to show visitors over the site. (A group is more than five people). Don't forget, it is your Museum.
We are still working on the gang shed, the first trolleys have taken up residence, and for the first time in many years are dry and as happy as a trolley can be. As we have altered the width of the shed making it a two bay shed we need to strengthen the front by placing possible a large open lattice beam across it. We are currently looking for such a beam and if any reader has knowledge of such a beam could you discuss it with any of our committee members.
The Lineside Attractions in co-operation with the other branches of the railway are examining the possibility of helping to make Emerald Township station a more attractive destination for visitors particularly in the winter months. To this end the possibility of being able to use the "Nursery Shed is being explored with the more regular running of the "Little engines" at least of once a month on a new demonstration track at Emerald. We would also exchange exhibits from time to time with the other exhibits at Menzies Creek to keep visitor interest high.
Yes, it is near that time again and as usual, we will be holding our annual bring your own everything to our annual BBQ at Menzies Creek. The BBQ will take place at lunchtime on Saturday, 3 December 2005. Everyone is invited and we hope to see you all there for our scrumptious sausage sizzle.
John Frost
With the busy season approaching, Branch activities during November will concentrate on the works required for the upcoming Summer period. Your assistance is, as always, most welcome.
We aim to commission the Outer Homes and the Up Inner Homes as soon as possible. We then aim to signal moves into both roads at the Up end of Lakeside when the existing Up Home Signal post at Menzies Creek becomes available.
The next S&T Branch meeting will take place on Sat Dec 10. We will then sojourn to a place of refreshment. Any suggestions as to venue would be appreciated. Please advise any suggestion to the S&T Depot by Nov 5 to enable a booking to be made.
Andrew Wheatland.
This very popular event is already selling well, with half the tickets already taken.
So, don't miss out, get your booking form in now. For further details, ring John Conway
.This popular event returns after an absence of a couple of years. Join your Puffing Billy colleagues for an enjoyable evening travelling the entire line to Gembrook, calling all stations and pausing on the way to eat dinner. Look for the booking form in the December Monthly News.
For details and enquiries on any of these events, please ring Jeff Goodwin.
| SEPTEMBER | 2005 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Train kilometres for the month | 3,489 | 3,661 |
| Loco kilometres steam | 3,449 | 3,586 |
| Loco kilometres - diesel | 190 | 198 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 69 | 52 |
| G 42 days for month | 10 | 30 |
| Carriage kilometres | 30,126 | 31,484 |
| Carriage Days for month | 821 | 874 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,307 | 1,334 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,424 | 1,489 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 105 | 171 |
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 68% | 79% |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 201 | 203 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 209 | 215 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 16 | 18 |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 80% | 75% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 70% | 56% |
Wed 7/9 - G42 ran trains 11 and 30 on its first scheduled revenue trips to Gembrook & return. Load was 15 vehicles for 166 tonnes.
Thurs 8/9 - 6A took 12 cars to Gembrook and back solo on trains 11 and 30. Load 91 tonnes.
Sat 20/9 - 7A had problems at Lakeside and was unable to return unassisted to Belgrave. Trains 32 & 36 were combined with 6A joining 7A. Load - 19 cars for 148 tonnes.
Bob Wilson
An email was recently sent to the 'UpDate' which related the story of a group of weekend Conductors who contributed enormously to the enjoyment of a family travelling on Puffing Billy.
Essentially the story goes like this:-
An interstate (Brisbane to be exact) domiciled family consisting of Mum & Dad, three kids (two under 4) and both sets of Grandparents had been to Lakeside, spending most the day 'burning off energy in copious quantities'. This family planned to meet the train returning from Gembrook but muddled up their times and just missed the departing train. Sensing that the passengers seemed upset at missing their train, the Conductors (on their own initiative) proceeded to make a 'fuss' over the passengers by 'reserving' their own carriage on the last (near empty) train and arranging for some coffee & tea to be brought over (along with some flags for the kids). A number of photos were taken with both adults and kids wearing Conductor Caps and holding ticket clippers. The Guard joined in by having the kids wave the red & green flags and to top it off the whole mob were shown through the Locomotive by a cheerful Driver & Fireman with more photos taken.
In the end this family experienced a terrific day, as did the Conductors, Guard and Loco Crew and left with many happy memories. All in part because of the sensitivity of the volunteers of the day to the needs of passengers.
Great effort by all concerned. - Contribution by Terry Lee