June 2006#395
June 2006
#395
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 .
Thanks to all who helped before, during and after the 25th Great Train Race on 7th May. This Silver Jubilee event attracted record numbers and we suffered from a severe storm on the eve of the event which together added to the pressures on many volunteers. We got some great publicity for the Railway (on the news on three TV channels, a photo in The Age plus coverage in many local papers) and we expect to earn a healthy surplus for Society funds. Thanks again everyone for a job well done under what in many cases were difficult circumstances!
The PBR Volunteer Strategy published last year committed us to conducting a standardized volunteer satisfaction survey annually and the first of these was mailed in mid-May to more than 600 active volunteers. If you have not yet returned yours please do so now to help us develop appropriate strategies for recruitment, retention and reward of volunteers. We are keen to receive the widest possible feedback, whether positive or negative and so have arranged for the responses to be anonymous and to be independently processed.
We are sad to advise of the death of a volunteer killed on Easter Saturday (15-4-06) during shunting operations at Ariah Park (near Temora) in Southern NSW for a heritage operator. The deceased was 58 years of age and undertaking shunting operations as a volunteer rail safety worker for Lachlan Valley Railway. Based on information received, a key lesson arising out of this accident is that a rail safety worker must never place themselves in a position of danger (between rolling stock) when rolling stock to be coupled is still moving. We are reviewing a number of our standard procedures in the light of this incident, and other recent incidents in the commercial sector and will be making changes where appropriate. One such action already taken is withdrawing the transition coupler used between Loco G42 and other locos with cowcatchers. If G42 needs to be moved when not in steam either locomotives 14A or D21 are to be used, or an item of rolling stock positioned as a match vehicle.
Following our invitation for applications for the voluntary Head Station Master positions in last month's Monthly News, we are pleased to announce that Henry Brohier has been appointed HSM Belgrave, with responsibility for Selby and John Shaw as HSM Emerald, with responsibility for Clematis. Congratulations and thankyou for rising to the challenge of representing the Railway in your respective communities. We have received one application for Cockatoo, which is currently being evaluated, but have yet to receive applications for Lakeside and Menzies Creek. Applications please!
| Andrew Stephens CEO | Graeme Breydon ETRB Chairman | John Thompson PBPS President |
Track Patrollers are requested to ensure that they set Lakeside so that the first train arrives into No.2 Road. This applies for all timetables except Timetable G.
Rob Emmerson
Thank you to all who worked on the Great Train Race day. There will be a thank-you letter and medallion for you in the Stationmaster's Office from 23rd May. If I have omitted you from the list I apologise. Please let me know on 9725 6675.
Bill Russell
Lost Property Folders are now located at all our main stations. The folder contains the lost Property Procedure, Lost / Found Forms and Tags.
At Menzies Creek, the folder is in the Signal Box.
At Emerald Station, the folder is in the Refreshment Room with the ticket box.
At Lakeside Station, the folder will be in the area where PA announcements are made.
At Gembrook Station, the folder will be in the Refreshment Room.
A silver fob watch (found several months ago) please phone Jean or Di on 9757 0719 if you believe the watch may be yours.
We now have an updated uniform form and they are available in the Station Masters office Belgrave, the crew room on the platform, safe working room and the Belgrave 'Hilton'.
We have a new supplier of good quality machine washable jumpers which we will sell for $63.50. The Jumper will have the logo with the NA and Puffing Billy Railway written on it. If you are interested in purchasing one of these jumpers please fill in the order form and forward to me. I will be getting in stock sizes 16, 18, 20, 22 & 24 if you are unsure of sizes they will be available to try on before you order.
Jean Clowes
A number of Rail Safety Workers have complained that going to our Medical provider [InterHealth in Dingley] is too far for them to travel.
Fleur can provided an alternate and 'Rail Safety' approved provider in your area. Please note that whatever you are charged for this service elsewhere, we only reimburse you for the cost that we would incur by you going to our provider [$80].
John Hoy
By now you should all have received your copy of the Anonymous Volunteer Survey developed by the Society Membership Group AKA Matt Gardner, Nick Anchen, Lachie A'Vard and Henry Brohier. We are really interested in your honest opinions and ideas, which is why we are going to considerable lengths to ensure the survey is truly anonymous. You can say what you like without fear or favour. Our thanks go to Kevin Findlay for acting as a 'neutral recipient' of the surveys.
We appreciate that the survey will take some time to complete, and we assure you that your input will be of value. Finding out more about our valued volunteers will allow us to determine how best to improve your experience with the railway, and maybe even encourage some new volunteers to join up and lighten the workload a little!
Your responses will be entered in a database for analysis, and the results will be used as the basis for a report to the Society and to the Board. We intend that this report will also be made available for you as well. Keep an eye on the crew room notice boards.
Please get your responses in early; the quicker you respond the quicker we will know what you need. We'd offer a prize for the first ten responses, but we can't figure out how to identify the winners, so.......
Please complete the survey and send it in soon. Please!
Matt, Nick, Henry, Sue and Lachie
A Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between the CEOs of Puffing Billy Railway and Tourism Victoria documenting the special relationship between the two organisations (remembering that both are Statutory Authorities reporting to the Minister for Tourism) and committing the parties to work together to share information, improve market research and marketing and lobby for grant funding. Benefits are already starting to flow from this initiative.
If you are able to spare some time to work in Refreshments anytime this month, it would be much appreciated. Could you please call April.
Puffing Billy Blackberry Jam on sale for only $4.00.
Puffing Billy Steaming into the 21st Century
Retail Merchandising Officer/Storeperson.
If you would like to apply for the position of Roster Officer for Refreshment Services, please contact June Ilett at Belgrave or April Williams at Belgrave for a position description.
April Williams
If you cannot make your rostered shift, please let me know as soon as possible as I may be able to find a replacement for you if sufficient notice is given (normally 1 week), if not please contact the Station Master at Belgrave and have your name marked off the roster as due to my other commitments and PBR commitments messages and emails may not always be relayed in time!
Those who like to turn up on the day, please bear in mind it helps the SM's greatly if they know the anticipated number of conductors each day, again a quick phone call to the SM to have your name added will help all concerned, I know the monthly news deadline is too early for some to give a definite commitment, but let the SM know your intentions where possible. Note: SM will allocate trains and duties as required to those not on the roster. If you would like a regular arrangement then let me know!
We are still desperately short on the weekends, if you can assist let me know or if you are having difficulties making it, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Email is by far the easiest and cheapest way for me to keep in contact with you. Any conductors with email who do not receive my regular updates let me know at conductorroster@iinet.net.au and I will add you to the mailing list.
Darren Baker
When selling tickets to Gembrook on days when the Purple Timetable operates, please clarify with customers that if they are travelling on the 12.20 from Belgrave they will have a 20min break at Lakeside and they will need to change trains at Lakeside to continue their journey. On their return from Gembrook they also need to change trains at Lakeside to continue on to Belgrave.
On arrival of the Luncheon Train at Lakeside, could conductors please walk along the platform and check just in case any passengers who have Gembrook tickets are not aware they need to change trains to continue the journey.
I have a made up some suggested announcements to be made at Lakeside for the Purple Timetable. The announcements are on a mauve coloured laminated sheet at the microphone. It is very important we let Gembrook bound / returning passengers know the time they have at Lakeside and when they need to change trains.
I appreciate the efforts of all our volunteers throughout the year and thank you for your ongoing commitment to the railway. However I especially thank you for your efforts and support during the Easter and Anzac weekends. Staffing these busy holiday periods is often difficult and I appreciate that to volunteer on the railway does involve time away from family and friends, so my sincere thanks.
As the car shops are temporarily closed please could the conductors on the last up train remember to lock the toilets at Emerald.
Thank you to Keith Buckland for his excellent conductor seminar. Eight of our conductors and myself found the day interesting and informative.
Some of our Station Masters and Duty Managers enjoyed Ken Whatman's excellent Intouch presentation. For those who were unable to attend let me know and we can organise training in the booking office.
Following the appointment of Head Station Masters, the Passenger Services Branch will be undertaking a review of how we manage our Stations, with the results to be published in the next Monthly News.
Jean Clowes
"THINK SAFETY" - Many a production facility throughout Australia has this catch cry printed on buildings, notice boards etc.
We need to go one better"THINK SAFETY WHEN SHUNTING".
When you shunt, are you in the right position for the move, are there obstructions, can you be seen? If you are propelling, are you located on the rear vehicle in easy reach of the "tap" if an emergency occurs.
Shunting is inherently dangerous - don't take it for granted. THINK SAFETY WHEN SHUNTING.
Following consultation with Workshops Branch, they have advised that the walkway between 1NB and 2NBD is okay to use. This was following some discussion about there not being any 'rubbing pads' on the walkway plates. It is not intended to apply them to this car.
Another reminder to ALL Guards - please fill in the 'TR Time', Carriage Dock By' and 'Loco Attach By' times on your Guard Running Statement as well as the Loco (or Loco's) that hauled your train and any carriages added to or removed from your train. This is important as the information is used by our statistical expert, Bob Wilson, to compile our 'On Time' figures and running mileages.
Please note that the Working Time table covering the period March 2006 until end of Feb 2007 has recently been issued. This included reprint pages 1 to 26 inclusive. Pages 27 to 36 are reserved. (As shown on the bottom of Page 26.) Pages 37 to 56 should be retained.
Those WTT copies not collected from the railway by Monday 8th May have now been posted out. If you have not received a copy of the WTT and you think you should have, then please contact me on or by email to rob.emmerson@pbr.org.au.
Since production of the WTT, some minor errors have come to light and a further WTT Circular was issued with the appropriate corrections. The WTT's posted out after 8th May have the second circular included. Those who had already collected their WTT's will receive the second WTT Circular in the post shortly.
Rob Emmerson
Operations Supervisor
Towards the end of June I will be leaving on an "East Coast" railway adventure and will be away for about two months. During my absence, Fleur Barrell will be acting at the Guards & Signalmen Roster Clerk. Fleur's details of contact are unchanged and as you know she can only be contacted during business hours.
I will be preparing the July Roster for publication, but just before my June departure, Fleur will be taking over. I am going to endeavour to cover as many shifts as possible for August and September, and will be telephoning all of you during the first couple weeks in June to see if you can plan ahead for the coming couple of months. The objective of this exercise is to assist Fleur, who as you all know is extremely busy, to fill the least number of shifts for those coming month.
The trip will take me to Sydney where I will travel all the Interurban Lines, visit the Zig Zag Railway, Loftus Tramway Museum, Thirlmere Railway Museum and the Power House Museum. Then I'm off to Brisbane on the overnight XPT to join the "Westlander" to Charleville, return to Brisbane for the trip on the "Spirit of the Outback" to Longreach and a visit to the Qantas Aircraft Museum. On returning to Rockhampton I'll make my way to Townsville on the "Tilt Train" to join the "Inlander" to Mt Isa, then its back to Townsville for the trip to Cairns on the "Sunlander".
Cairns will be my base for almost three weeks where I'll take a trip on the "Kuranda Scenic Railway, then a couple of days later I'll join the "Savannahlander" for the adventurous trip outback to Forsayth, this four days trip is packed with adventure. Back in Cairns, I'll take the weekly bus service to the Gulf country and the town of Normanton for a ride on the famous "Gulflander", visit the old gold mining town of Croydon and the big game fishing town of Karumba. Back in Cairns there are a few of the local sights to see before heading to Brisbane to see family. On the way home I'll travel via Canberra to see some of the great museums, many I've not seen for years.
I'll be back in September and Fleur will no doubt be glad to brief me and throw the books back in my court!
Kevin D Stanes, Guards & Signalmens - Roster Clerk
| APRIL | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Train kilometres for the month | 4,376 | 3,766 |
| Loco kilometres steam | 4,485 | 3,837 |
| Loco kilometres diesel | 270 | 293 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 64 | 73 |
| G 42 days for month | 30 | 12 |
| Carriage kilometres | 38,755 | 35,133 |
| Carriage Days for month | 938 | 870 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,590 | 1,402 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,621 | 1,621 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 55* | 27 |
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 58% | 78% |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 253 | 226 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 295 | 242 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 6 | 7 |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 74% | 68% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 82% | 72% |
* Excludes 21NQR which ran passenger carrying trips of 201kms
Friday 7th April:- No.44 Pass. was cancelled from Lakeside to Belgrave due to defective loco 6A on No.40 at Cockatoo. 7A ran light engine from Lakeside to Cockatoo to rescue No.40 and the train was double headed all the way back to Belgrave. D21 later ran light engine from Belgrave to Lakeside to bring back the empty cars from No.44.
Bob Wilson
Thankyou to all the volunteers and staff for their support since I have taken over as Rolling Stock Manager. With out your excellent work, my job would be made impossible, so thanks again for making the impossible, possible.
Thankyou also to Ron Peach who has kindly donated original VR boiler records of 8A, G41 and G42 for the archives.
Adam Black.
2001 Holden Rodeo Tray Utility with V6 motor.
It has travelled 160,000 kilometres and has had one owner. (No, not a 'little old lady' - Ed.)
Price: $10,500
Phone Alan Gardner
A reminder that the next S&T Branch meeting will be held on Saturday June 12 th, commencing at 10.00 a.m. As usual, the venue is 10 Kings Road, Emerald.
A reminder to all operators: "wait for the beep" before replying to a radio message. The "beep" is provided to indicate that the other person has finished speaking and that the repeater station is ready to receive your transmission. If you attempt to transmit before the beep, the first part of your transmission will be lost and invariably you will have to repeat your message.
We have recently modified some of the internal parameters in the new telephone equipment. This has resulted in a far more stable and reliable telephone network - especially to Lakeside. We would like to thank you for your patience during the initial installation period and trust that you will appreciate the improvements in availability. This is part of our overall upgrade and we will continue to work on other areas in the near future.
The lower shelf in the train radio battery cabinet at Belgrave has recently had the chargers replaced. Please check that the indicator light glows red when first returning a battery to the cabinet and only take out a battery for use if the indicator is glowing green.
The upper shelf remains as previous ("red" - charging, "flashing red" - available for use).
We are pleased to record a clean bill of health with respect to S&T apparatus and maintenance during the recent D.O.I. Audit.
The indicator lights for the permissive signal were relocated to above the block shelf and also converted to 12 Volt operation recently. Other works are continuing and the Outer Home Signals are about to be commissioned. An "A" circular will be issued at the appropriate time.
Andrew Wheatland.
With the closure of the carriage workshops at Emerald it is proposed that the Lineside Attractions Division becomes the responsible body for this building and for the Division to set up a high quality museum and displays in the shed as part of proposals to develop further the attractions of Emerald township and make Emerald a possible winter destination.
To this end we will need to have some dual gauge track laid in the shed and yard which will allow us to display both 2'6" and 2" gauge engines in the shed from time to time and run them on selected days. It is also hoped to build discrete display modules in the shed and for these displays to change to keep the Museum fresh. This will allow all divisions of the railway to mount displays as required on aspects of their work and for the railway's treasures to be put on display for the first time. We now have 51 years of memorabilia from the PBPS to draw upon and the railway itself is now 106 years old. This proposal will be further developed.
The repainting of this historic 5'3" gauge wagon is continuing. However, as our work clashed with the Thomas Events, we decided not to work at Emerald over those days and we lost the best painting days of the year so far. As it is so cold and wet now working out in the open at Emerald, we will not be able to revisit the wagon to continue painting it until the spring.
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 yourself 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). Do not forget, it is your Museum.
The work on RMP is at an advanced stage with the motion dismantled and the rods receiving attention. The frame and the rods have now been painted and most of the rods reset on the wheels. Some bearings need attention and a new key has to be made for the connection from the drive to the wheels. We have set a deadline for its completion in 4 months time.
We are looking at completing this shed as a storage shed for the trolleys and placing doors on the shed in the near future. We have been using the shed in its present from to rebuild 8NKS and the new frame for this trolley is nearing completion. The Motor needs work on it before it can go back in the frame. The wheels are new as the old wheels collapsed.
The restoration of this boiler is to commence shortly. We are investigating whether it will be possible to transfer this unit and a selection of engines to Emerald once the former Carriage Sheds are available.
John Frost
Work! Work! Work! There is plenty for everyone. We have a good group of keen and skilful people coming along on Wednesday evenings, Saturdays and during the week. Even the crew from Cerberus come along. A big THANK YOU to all these workers. There is still room for more people. Come along and get 8A out of the Workshop. Opportunities are there for you to learn all sorts of skills.
John Conway
Our next workday is on Tuesday 27th June. Meet at Belgrave at 9:00 am. We will finish at about 3:30 pm. Wear clothes that don't mind getting dirty. Lunch will be provided. Please let me know if you are coming along.
John Conway, jfgconway@yahoo.com
For those who missed the news, the boiler is back! It is safely sitting on a truck in the Belgrave workshop. Plans are being drawn up for its new smokebox and it will soon be painted to protect it from rusting. Feel free to drop by the Workshop and ask the friendly staff to show it to you. It isn't often that you will get the chance to see a riveted tapered boiler.
Many orders for the Crew kit boxes and the Locomotive toolboxes have been received and these are now in production. For those who want one, we will have some available shortly. Let me know what you want.
The Footplate Experience Trains are running well. There are still opportunities available for bookings this year. See the Climax page on the Puffing Billy website to book.
John Conway
If you make your donation to 'Keep G42 Going' prior to the 30th of June, you will be able to include it in your 2006 tax return. All donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible within Australia.
The 28th of June marks the 80th. anniversary of your original entry into service at Moe. The 30 th June unfortunately marks the 44 th anniversary of you closing the Colac to Beech Forrest line.
Selling pre loved books, magazines, videos, DVDs and memorabilia. The shop is located behind the Emerald Car Shops in the Thomson Building facing the play ground. The next open days are Saturday 3 rd June and 1 st July. Other times can be arranged by ringing Peter Medlin.
With winter now upon us, it may be time to look at your book and memorabilia collection and consider donating those that you no longer require to "Keep G 42 Going". Please let Peter know if you can help us
We would like to thank Kevin Eisfelder and Bruce West for their recent donations.
The donations from our Red collection box in March were $15.00. Thank you to all who continue to support our efforts to Keep G42 Going.
Bruce West.