March 2007#404
March 2007
#404
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 .
Andrew has advised that due to family and personal reasons he has decided to resign from the position of CEO of the PBR, effective 19th February.
Andrew joined us in February last year and quickly immersed himself in many key areas, particularly in Railway Heritage.
From your friends here, many thanks and good luck in the future.
From 19th February, our Chief Operating Officer, John Hoy, has been appointed as Acting CEO, pending the due process of recruiting and appointing a replacement CEO. John is working closely with the Management team, staff and volunteers to ensure continued daily operation of the Railway, in a renewed spirit of mutual support and goodwill.
Around 50 people attended the Information Night on 21/2, held at the Belgrave Masonic Hall.
A variety of current and future PB matters were discussed, including several arising from the floor as questions, suggestions and comments. One significant subject was the future venue for Information Nights, with 'somewhere in the mid-eastern suburbs' being a majority recommendation, in the expectation that more PB people would find it easier to attend.
Calling all formerly active volunteers.
Reasons for leaving don't matter - if you need to discuss an issue let us know and well find the appropriate person to talk to. You are needed!!
Don't forget the Staff & Volunteers BBQ at Gembrook on Saturday April 14th details elsewhere in this issue. See you there for a snag, a chop and a chat.
A position exists within the Workshops for an apprentice fitter and turner.
All enquiries to Alan Gardner on 9757 0733 or e-mail alan.gardner@pbr.org.au
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Peter Hiscock Chairman, ETRB | John Hoy Acting CEO | John Thompson President, PBPS |
I would like to advise that there is now a mail box on the door to the Volunteer Coordinator's office, with a sign "Volunteer Mail". This mail box is locked so only the volunteer coordinator has access.
Please note that with the volunteer function coming up and RSVP being due on the 10 th April, replies can be posted in this box.
I am now residing in the portable on the platform next to staff room. There is a sign "Volunteer Coordinator" on the door. If you need a new name badge or you have not received Monthly News, or would just like a chat and you are passing, just drop in for a visit and cuppa, or you can ring me,
This year a special heritage mixed train hauled by G42 will be taking us to Gembrook, so come along and enjoy the evening with us. All active volunteers and their immediate family are invited to attend. This event is free of charge and includes food and drink. It will be held on Saturday 14th April commencing at 6.45pm at Gembrook Station. For all our new volunteers this is a great way to meet fellow volunteers and staff and for Puffing Billy Railway to thank everyone for their support.
A special train will be departing from Belgrave at approximately 4.30pm with volunteers and staff collected at Emerald (for those who do not want to get home too late) to arrive at Gembrook at about 6.35pm. Travel options are:
The return train will depart Gembrook at about 9.00pm and is expected to arrive back at Belgrave at 10.30pm. If you would like to attend please complete the Booking Form which is included as an insert in this issue of Monthly News. Management and the Society are organising this function and will be serving behind the bar. You might like to bring a torch, a fold up chair and a warm coat for the return trip, as when the sun goes down it will be chilly.
R.S.V.P to Sue Ham via the booking form by 10TH April 2007. p>
As we are now well into summer and the weather is hot have been putting large containers of water in the fridge in the crew rooms at Belgrave and Lakeside, and smaller ones at Menzies Creek and Gembrook. We are asking for your help, please advise Sue on 415 or 715 when the reserve container is put in the fridge. We have also been donated water bottles from coke there are a limited supply so please reuse your bottle, if you would like one they are in the crew room Belgrave We would like to remind crews of the importance of hydrating. Sue Ham Thomas will be commencing on the 24th & 25th of February. We have many new stock lines, so anyone with children or grandchildren to buy for volunteer discount applies. Stock is still heavily discounted in all of the shops so be quick as it is going fast. April Williams Vic's Railway's - new release 2 hour DVD, RRP $49.95 Steam Media & Series 567 Rail Video have combined to produce a DVD featuring historic railway footage taken between 1991 and 1995 by the late Vic Greensill. A train driver, Vic was tragically killed in a level crossing accident at Trawalla last April. Many scenes in the history filled DVD are now unrepeatable. Filmed on a variety of different gauges in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, highlights include: Cheetham's Laverton Salt works 2' gauge, ICI Deer Park Explosives factory 2' 6" gauge system, SECV Yallourn electric railway, Brisbane suburbans - loco hauled & EMU, cane train action, 14 vintage trams cavalcade, multi unit diesels of many classes in all 3 states and a parallel run with 3801, R766 and K183 and much more. "2001 - The Victorian Year in Steam" 2 hours, RRP $49.95. This DVD is a re-release of the extremely popular VHS title from Steam Media whose reputation for excellence in rail videos is well known. Revisiting six years ago you will see 6A returning to service with its Lempor exhaust triple heading with 7 and 14A, the final run of 'The Climax' before restoration, Quadruple header with K183, R761, R707 & R766, VGR steam freight weekend featuring K160 and J549, K190 on the veteran car set, cabrides on Y112, K160 and Coal Creek 'Bundy', BPR Easter Extravaganza with many double and some triple headers. Twenty one different steam locos appear on 50 operating days. Well worth upgrading your almost worn out VHS copy! The next conductor training day will be on Saturday 24th March in the Belgrave Meeting Room commencing 9.00am. Please call me on 97570781 or email jean.clowes@pbr.org.au or contact Keith Trace 9530 6982 or email ktrace@optusnet.com.au to let us know you will be attending. We will be sending all staff a Roster Bulletin and Roster Information Update. Please complete and return to us your current contact details, roster preference and availability. Just a reminder that the Station Master / OIC needs to be consulted and decide how staff are relocated in the event of staff absences. Jean Clowes Thanks to those people who have volunteered their services to assist in the Great Train Race. As I mentioned last month, it takes over 300 volunteers to make this event run successfully, so if you have a family member or friend who is happy to volunteer for the day, please invite them to join you and we will arrange the relevant paperwork! One particular need is for a few to organise material in the preceding week, set up for the race on Saturday and pull down on Sunday. While most of the GTR tasks are for Sunday morning only, there are a few that need to be done beforehand and afterwards. Please contact Bill Russell to confirm your availability. Just a reminder that the Thomas dates in March are: Dan O'Connor would welcome any volunteer support for these days (especially conductors) and I ask that you contact Dan direct The PAVE (Performing & Visual Arts in Emerald) Festival takes place from Friday 13 to Sunday 22 April. Puffing Billy Railway is supporting this Festival and as a result we have been given two flags, an orange one which represents Autumn and a green flag which represents Emerald. The flags are approximately 3 metres x .75 metres. We have the opportunity to enhance and personalise these flags in a Puffing Billy Railway theme. So if you consider yourself something of an artist...or if you are handy with a needle and thread (or sewing machine).....you are most welcome to decorate a flag. The flags will be on display in Emerald during the time of the festival. Please call me on 9757 0716 should you like to do this. For further PAVE festival details visit www.pave.org.au.
Nadine Hutchins There are to be 2 meetings held to enable those wishing to continue as Safeworking Instructors and Examiners to be 're-examined'. These Meetings will be held on Tuesday 27th February and Thursday 8th March at Belgrave in the meeting room, commencing at 7.30pm. It is anticipated these meetings will go for no longer than 2 hours or so. Please contact Rob Emmerson if you wish to attend so that we have some idea of who will be there. If you are unable to attend, please also let Rob know and we can arrange alternative arrangements. I know that the Feb meeting may be after you see this in Monthly News, but advice of the Feb meeting has also been emailed out. All participants in last year's course have now finished and are all deemed competent to perform safeworking. I am sure they all look forward to contributing to the operation of the railway in whichever form they wish. The new course has commenced with 12 participants. Initially we thought we only had 7 takers but that number has now grown to 12. Some months of study and training awaits them and we wish them all the best in their work towards completing the safeworking course. Rob Emmerson Turnouts at Clematis, Packing Shed and Cockatoo have had minor maintenance carried out on them. The track has had a much-needed weed spray attack. Clearing up fallen trees and branches after recent storms has taken place. Painting of wing fences and the cutting of grasses around road crossings has occurred. The usual maintenance of tools and equipment has also been undertaken. There are plenty of vacancies for fire patrol drivers mid week, so do not be shy and call Andrew e-mail (email removed at owner's request). Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Trolley drivers - if you find or suspect there is a problem with your vehicle please report your concerns to Jason, Simon or Tom or the workshops at Belgrave. (Adam or Graeme). Whether it needs repairs or just looking over, please let some one know as a minor problem can soon become a major disaster as was the case with the road rail last month. If you damage a vehicle please inform one of the above so they can assess what action needs to be taken, even though it still runs it does not mean that nothing is about to go wrong. Minor maintenance has been carried out on Emerald and Menzies Creek kiosks. Work has continued on the new scullery area at Belgrave with only small tasks still to finish. The new gang shed has been erected and the concrete floor has been laid. Work has started on the car park area in Stanley Street next to the infrastructure office. The relocation of Andrew S into his new office area has been completed. The exterior of the Emerald station building has been sanded and repainted in true heritage colours. Weed eradication has occurred in Emerald yard. They have started on tidying up the down side of Emerald yard behind the Thomas building. Tom.Kilner Work will now focus on the Climax restoration. Hugh Markwick Reluctantly cancelled due to poor response. Travel by train from Emerald to Gembrook, hauled by 861 & 'Carbon' for the first of this year's film nights. Refreshments provided during the interval and photo stops scheduled during the train journey. Bookings are coming in for this event and seating - both on the train and at Gembrook is limited, so don't delay - book now. Look for the booking form with this edition of Monthly News. Travel by train from Belgrave to Emerald and visit the 'Gemco Theatre Company' and enjoy one of their plays. Dinner provided at the theatre. The second of this year's film nights will be held at Emerald (in the Thomas building, if available). Travel by train from Belgrave to Emerald with refreshments provided during the interval. Join your colleagues as we travel by bus to Healesville and enjoy a trolley ride and dinner as we make our annual visit to one of Victoria's other steam preservation centres. Out with Old and in with the New as we again celebrate New Year's Eve at the Packing Shed. Travel by train from Belgrave. Catering provided. For enquiries on any of these events, please ring Jeff Goodwin (evenings on 9785 7370.) Every Wednesday afternoon/evening and on the first Saturday of each month, there is the opportunity to assist on the Climax project by coming along to the Belgrave Workshop. There are many and varied tasks to be done. The jobs range in skill requirements from some to none. We can even teach you the skills to do some of the harder jobs. The work is interesting and it is great to work with a bunch of like-minded enthusiasts. Come along. You will be made most welcome. The Gasworks Trifecta is open for booking. The first part is on Sunday 29th April. Carbon (Locomotive 986) will be hauling its own train from Emerald to Gembrook and back. There will be ample opportunity for photos to record this rare outing of 986 by itself. Seats are strictly limited (only 2 carriages). The fare for this unusual outing is only $50 or $30 for under 17 year olds. Use the enclosed brochure to make your booking. Save money by booking all 3 parts. John Conway jfgconway@yahoo.comCool Water
Business Development Division
Shop Talk
Thomas the Tank Engine
Some new DVD's available
Passenger Business
Conductor Training Seminar
Head Conductors & Conductor Information Update
Staff Relocation
Special Events
Puffing Billy Preservation Society Great Train Race
Sunday 6th May 2007Day Out With Thomas
PAVE Festival in Emerald
Special Events ManagerOPERATIONS DIVISION
Traffic Branch
Safeworking Instructors
Safeworking Courses
Traffic ManagerINFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES DIVISION
Way and Works Branch
Track Maintenance
Fire Patrols
Trolley and Road Rail Faults
Buildings
Greencorps
Rolling Stock Branch
LOCOMOTIVES
ROLLING STOCK
CONTRACT WORK
LOCOMOTIVE WORKSHOPS
Wednesday Night Work Parties
Miscellaneous
Social Committee
Sunday 25th February 2007 - Winery Trip
Saturday 24th March 2007 - Wild East Film Night (Gembrook)
Saturday 14th July 2007 - Gemco Theatre Night
Saturday 18th August 2007
The 2007 'Graeme Breydon Memorial Film Night'Saturday 10th November 2007 - Healesville 'Night Owl' Trolley Ride
Monday 31st December 2007 - New Year's Eve Train
Climax Committee
Updated Monthly. Contents © 2006 by the P.B.P.S. for the E.T.R.B.
This service is provided for the Emerald Tourist Railway Board and maintained by Bill Russell.
URL: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/puffing.billy/monnews.htm
