May 2007#406
May 2007
#406
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 .
We apologise that the Volunteer Strategy and the outcomes of the Volunteer Survey have not been implemented quicker. Discussion at the Society Executive meeting determined that the Membership Group will work with the CEO to integrate the two reports and then get them implemented as soon as possible.
Our sincere thanks to all the volunteers who have helped out in recent busy weeks. Whether you worked over Easter when all trains were full, worked on Thomas or helped out over the school holidays where we appear to have carried record numbers, thanks a lot. It was good to see volunteers from all sections of the railway at Volunteer Day at Gembrook on 14th April. There were volunteers who work on the trains (both senses), track etc., those that maintain our phones and computers (often in the middle of the night), some gardeners, shop workers and our man who does the licensing of our land. The train ride offered and the meal was a small token of our appreciation. Thanks also to the organisers under the guidance of Sue Ham.
An opportunity recently arose for Alan Gardner to work with Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board developing technical standards and Codes of Practice, in Canberra. This is a secondment for two years after which it is expected that Alan will return to Puffing Billy. This is a great opportunity for Alan and we wish him all the best and look forward to his return having achieved great experience.
The Society has also agreed to engage a contractor to convert a lot of the old footage held by the railway into a DVD format to help restore it. This work will be carried out over the next six months.
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Peter McL. Hiscock Chairman, ETRB |
Ray Leiverws CEO |
John Hoy Chief Operating Officer |
John Thompson President, PBPS |
Well this time of the year has come when I head off into the blue yonder for a couple of months. This year I am heading to Adelaide on the "Overland", then to 'the Alice' and Darwin on the "Ghan". From there I'll fly to Perth and after traveling around the South West Coast I'll head back to Sydney on the "Indian Pacific". Whip up to Brisbane to see my grandchildren then head back to Melbourne and our railway. Along the way I'll be visiting the Pichi Richi and the railway and tramway museums in Adelaide. Perth will be interesting as I have never seen any of the transport offerings there, so my tour book is full.
This brings me to the fact that my position as Roster Clerk will be vacant for about 10 weeks and it would be a good chance for someone interested in this type of work to gain experience. I will be doing the same as last year by setting up the Rosters in advance so all that was needed was to fill the monthly gaps before publication and the ongoing monthly maintenance.
By the same token I will be asking each and every one of you to consider looking ahead for July, August and September when I telephone you as I prepare the June Roster.
If anyone is interested could you please telephone me on 0420 946 362 before the 9th of May. This is so I can work on some aspects of the June Roster and to guide an interested person through what has to be done.
Kevin Stanes
Guards & Signalman's Roster Clerk
A big thank you to all those who responded to my email and volunteered their services for the Great Train Race. The roster is nearly full. Puff People are marvellous. The only down part were those people who said that they could not help because they would be in Bavaria, Britain and other foreign climes. (At least they could have offered some baggage space so you could go with them. Ed.)
Some of those whom I emailed asked me to change their email addresses or other details. Unfortunately, I cannot, even with the best will in the world. Privacy legislation says that you must contact the Society's Secretary requesting any changes. He will then instruct the membership officer to make the changes you request. The law is designed to stop individuals making malicious changes to your records. See Dan's contact details: secretary@pbr.org,au.
Bill Russell
Head Conductors and Conductors are reminded that they are responsible for the public address announcements at Menzies Creek and that the announcements should be made from inside the station building. The PA system microphone located in the white phone box on the platform is also provided for giving messages to customers. Safeworking duties can be quite demanding and accordingly we need to remind everyone that there is a second microphone located on the far side of the room away from the signal levers and other apparatus.
Jean Clowes & John Hoy
A big thankyou to all Refresh staff for their wonderful contribution to the Railway over these busy school holidays, it has been much appreciated.
We have a lovely selection of beautifully perfumed body lotions and other assorted crŠmes and soaps etc.
Bargains to be had, our T-Shirt range has been marked down to make way for our winter range. Be quick while stocks last.
April Williams
After much delay and having to produce many 'S' notices to cover the trains operating over the first two weeks of April, I have put together an Interim Time Table, which has been issued as 'S.051/2007 on 18th April 2007. This has Timetables N, O and Y in it and shows the new Train Numbers.
Please Note that I have added the new train numbers into as many of the Rosters as I could, so please check your roster for the new train numbers.
I will try and have a large number of copies of the Interim Timetable down in the Safeworking Room for you to pick up a copy. If there are none there, please let me know so that I can copy some more. If you are not on the Circular Distribution list and would like a copy via email, please also let me know and I'll send one out to you via email.
Our Safeworking Course is in full swing and many of the Guards & Signalmen will have taken one of the trainees with them for practical training. I have not always contacted the Guard or Signalman to let them know that they have a trainee with them. Please accept my apologies - I have been busy trying to get S Notices and the Interim Timetable completed.
If you arrive and find a trainee waiting to go out with you, please assist them by showing them as much as you can and let them do as much of the work as you can - only this way will they get the full benefit.
Rob Emmerson
Work will now focus on the Climax restoration.
Hugh Markwick
The numbers have been replaced on this re-painted exhibit.
Set out below is a summary of the work carried out at Menzies Creek over the last few months. This information is submitted by David Baker.
Side rod bearings have been white metalled and turned to suit, painted and fitted.
New side rod nuts have been manufactured by Stan Gunn and fitted (pinning still required which will happen in next few weeks.)
Exhaust cover cleaned and painted.
Gauge glass cock valve mountings repaired (Rowan Millard) (Rowan did this work on a recent visit to Australia during his holidays)
Refurbished gauge glass covers. New gauge glass drain pipes fitted.
Back head repainted. Fire box doors overhauled
Blow down valve & Turret valves overhauled.
Injector steam valves & Safety Valves o/h (still to be set by work shop staff).
Pressure gauge isolating cock u/s, new one obtained and fitted (Ron Gunn).
Ash pan sand blasted, repaired and painted.
Fusible plug socket in crown sheet - retaped thread due to a lot of wastage, also changed from 14tpi to 11tpi to make standard with Puffing Billy Railway.
New injector over flow pipes manufactured.
Injector steam pipes lagged.
Coal bunker lid manufactured, Coal bunker door handle manufactured.
Electrical conduit repaired.
Number and border repainted on sides of tank.
Some repainting of cab.
Cleaning out of water tank.
New gaskets for water tank balance pipe.
R/h sander box o/h (Stan Gunn).
Steam pressure gauge o/h (Stan Gunn).
Main bearings machined and re-shimmed.
Side rods crack tested (passed). Side rods polished.
Under frame and buffers repainted.
Regulator lever polished.
Regulator lock fitted (second level museum key).
Stones generator o/h, ex14a new exhaust pipe fitted (original is unserviceable at this stage).
Head light o/h (front).
Cylinder covers removed and cylinders cleaned and painted (silver).
New insulation fitted to cylinders cover repainted.
Cylinder drain cock o/h.
Smoke box fire cemented.
Lubricator o/h.
Running boards repainted.
Some touching up of body paint work.
New fusible plug yet to be manufactured by work shops. Once this is done, a hydro test will follow and if all is well then steam test will follow. Ron Gunn will be around to set safety valves on this day
This machine is under going a though inspection in preparation for its accreditation.
This item is still making slow progress with all timber work completed brake rigging retro fitted the body has also been painted in VR machinery red.
A portion of 1888 Krupp rail has been mounted on varnished timber for future display. This second hand rail was used to build the railway in 1900. This rail is typical VR narrow gauge rail. Rail donated by Peter Stowell.
Also some shed cleaning and sorting mainly in the garden shed to allow for storage of the ride on mower
We would like to thank Ron Gunn for his technical advice on No.4.
We have pleasure in welcoming three new volunteers: Brenton Hands, Virgil Wright and Rick Wolter.
As you can see from David's report, a huge number of many small things have been done to maintain the Railways historic exhibits over recent months.
John Frost
Work has been on in earnest moving into the new gang shed located behind the offices in Stanley St. All plant and equipment are now located in this building.
The car park has been all but completed next door to the building, with a top and lower level.
The house (Aura) at Menzies Creek has had a major face lift with replacing some weather boards and repainting the whole outside. Minor repairs have been carried out on Belgrave station and Menzies Creek kiosk.
The scullery at Belgrave is completed inside with minor repairs to be finished outside.
We have had major burst water pipes at Belgrave, Menzies Creek, Lakeside and Gembrook. It must be due to the drought and the ground is thirsty.
The Emerald project is continuing. The old toilet block has been rebuilt and painted, now it is in a safe condition it won't fall on anyone walking past.
They are busy doing landscape work near the entrance gate behind the supermarket, the area will have garden beds, low retaining walls, a pretty wandering path through it all, and appropriate shrubs planted throughout.
Three large and dangerous pine trees have been removed from this area.
Have finally finished. To the drivers and assistants who helped out this season a mighty big thankyou for your huge effort. You are to be highly congratulated on your continued support, dedication and professionalism on a job very well done. A big thankyou to Andrew for doing a terrific job of rostering.
Tom.Kilner
S&T will continue with the power supply to the new gang shed and the improvements etc. to the telephone / computer networks at Belgrave in the coming month.
We have commenced the barrier fencing at the down end of the platform and along with ladders for the 2 wooden posts, this will also keep us amused during the coming month or so.
With the Annual DOI audit fast approaching, we are ensuring our house is in order having deferred some maintenance during the recent construction works at Menzies Creek.
Andrew Wheatland.
We have just completed laying a strip of asphalt along the edge of Korumburra platform to finish off work done previously
We have successfully tendered to re-deck part of a footbridge across the tramway tracks, railway tracks and roadway from Swan Street to Brunton Avenue near Richmond. This job has started and will continue into June. - Help wanted - phone John Shaw on 0427 352 416
We have successfully tendered to remove Somerton Signalbox from Somerton to Moorooduc which will occur in June. - Help wanted - phone John Shaw on 0427 352 416.
We have a contract to manage the refurbishment of a bridge over the Curdies River near Timboon (Western Vic). This project will be principally done by local volunteers under our instruction and supervision but Puffing Billy bridge volunteers would be welcomed. - phone John Shaw on 0427 352 416.
We have just finished some consulting work to the Hotham Valley Railway in WA relating to bushfire damage to all six of their timber bridges. It is possible that we will be contracted to repair some or all of them and if that happens we will need some workers who would like to spend some time in the West. - phone John Shaw on 0427 352 416.
John Shaw
[There used to be an advertising slogan "Join the Navy and see the world.". Here is a variation - "Join our Bridge Gang and see Australia". Ed]
Thanks to Ashley Grieves who provided some history on the Walhalla line, also thanks to Peter Binks for providing photographs he took some years ago.
Many thanks to the anonymous person who donated an album of photographs taken of the Packing Shed set up for a function.
The Archives Group has weekly working days at Kings Road every Monday, with an 11.00 am start, the group includes Geoff Tasker, Ted Godwin, Emile Badewy plus Chas Bevan. The group is progressing well and would appreciate any assistance from interested parties.
Hugh Markwick
A Night to Remember! How often these days can you enjoy a night at the theatre, complete with dinner and train fare and still have change from $50?
Join your Puffing Billy colleagues when we travel on our own train from Belgrave to Emerald and visit the famous Gemco Theatre Company and enjoy one of their plays. Dinner is provided in the theatre as part of the package. Look for the booking form with this edition of Monthly News.
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
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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 |
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