February 2008#415
February 2008
#415
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 .
Long serving Board and Society member John Hearsch advised he was not renewing his Government appointment to the ETR Board following his term's expiry in December 2007.
John has a number of business and personal commitments and has found allocating enough time to everything he is involved with quite a stretch.
John's history with this organisation goes back to 1957 so he is one of our genuine 'greybeards'. Over the years he has made a significant contribution to the governance of this organisation.
He won't be lost to us all together as he intends to remain a Society member and will be available to assist on matters as requested.
Chris is set to join the ETR Board as the Government appointee to replace John Hearsch. Chris currently works for the Department of Infrastructure and has had an extensive rail background. He was one of driving forces behind the 70th birthday celebrations for the Spirit of Progress - welcome Chris.
The end of January is approaching. If you haven't registered by January 31st your current ticket may be invalid. You can log on to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au and follow the prompts.
Further questions to either John Hoy, Adam Black or Warren Mauseth
Existing certificates will expire over a 5 year transition period. Once you have a copy of you re-certification please ensure a copy is sent to John Hoy - Rail Safety Accreditation Officer at Belgrave.
If you are interested, this is your last chance to apply. Applications to John Hoy please.
Tentatively Sunday April 6th at Gembrook. More details to follow. Mark this in your diary now.
Popular Ways & Works Manager Tom Kilner has had significant surgery and is currently on the mend.
Our thoughts are with Tom and his family and we look forward to an early return. [We are making a mess without you Tom!!]
Alterations to the upstairs meeting room have seen a wall built which separates the counter end from the rest of the room. The photocopier and steel cabinets have been moved out and the room is now a designated meeting room. The TV & DVD player have been mounted on the wall and there is the fixed and moveable 'white boards' available. Tea & coffee etc. can be made & access gained to the upstairs offices without disturbing the meeting room occupants.
Recently an external company has been contacting PBR volunteers, PBPS Members, Staff and travelling customers (across a broad range of train types) in regard to their 'loyalty' to Puffing Billy. The results were quite surprising (in a good way) and have provided us with a 'benchmark'. We will now set about improving the areas where our customers and volunteers etc feel we need to improve. The company will contact people at regular intervals to gauge how the improvements are working.
The results of the survey will be available via a news sheet to be published shortly.
One of the first improvements to be implemented will be a Weekly Notice, which will contain items of information of a more 'immediate' nature not suited to a 'monthly notice' such as Monthly News. Please refer to the item in the Traffic Branch section for information on how this will work.
| Peter Hiscock Chairman ETRB | Eamonn Seddonn CEO | John Thompson President PBPS |
Congratulations to the following recipients of the 40 year Service Badge. These people have been involved with the Puffing Billy Preservation Society for over 40 years and have watched the Railway grow into the "Puffing Billy" that we know today.
The 40 year badge recognises over 40 years of continuous financial membership of the Society based on the current membership records that were started in July 1961. With the recent material received by the Archives, we will be able to update our records with earlier information later this year. The Membership Group has worked over the past few years to collect the data, to design the badge and to distribute them. Other levels of service are being recognised in future months.
Leonard Allen, Brian Baulch, Ronald Bridger, Gavin Clark, Mark Fiddian, Graeme Harding, Keith Hartley, Peter Hastie, Graham Knight, Leonard Levin, Tony Mardsen, Ian Marks, Jon Medlin, Ian Naylor, Doug Newberry, Roger Peake, Lance Perrin, Andrew Reynolds, Richard Robinson, Thomas Rosser, Nancy Russell, Bruce West, Len Whalley, Bruce Whitehead, Otto Wolf
Ian Bowering, Russell Bunn, Peter Butler, Wesley Callender, Ross Connor, Mal Davidson, Murray Felstead, Greg Finster, John Fitzsimons, David Hennell, Andrew Howlett, David Kruger, John Lawrence, Graham Manson, Max Raynor, Bill Russell, David Russell, Eric Sibly, Jack Stock, Grant Woolcock
William Barber, Clive Brooks, Norman Cross, Graeme Herbert, Keith Kings, David Knuckey, Rob McUtchen, Bernard Osterman, Trevor Penn, Adrian Ponton, John Prideaux, Lindsay Rickard, Orm Slater, Frank Stamford, Allan Watson
Chas Bevan, Graham Bradshaw, Dale Budd, Graeme Cleak, Arthur Evans, Greg Goold, Bill Hanks, Elizabeth Longford, Alan Maggs, Warren Mauseth, Phillip Parker, Don Potts, David Rawlings, John Robinson, Gavin Shakespeare, David Von Stieglitz, Don Wheatland
John Beckett, Ralph Cleary, Dave Conlan, Graeme Daniel, Roy Esnouf, J.M. Kelly, Ken Kermonde, Jeff McDonald, Bob Sanderson, Ian Sheehy, Ian Shepherd, John Sheridan, James Thomson, Gerard Verstoep, Ian Whitehead, Peter Zegenhagen
Phil A'Vard, Barbara Baillie, Peter Barry, Col Benson, Murray Breach, Bernie Broughton, John Bugg, S. Chaffey, Freda Chitty, Allan Clark, Colin Cutler, John Davies, Lindsay Davies, Ron Dow, Frederick Farhall, Rolf Frank, John Frazer-Allen, John Gardner, Arthur Griffiths, Richard Hall, John Hearsch, Arthur Hill, Erik Jochimsen, Raymond Kelly, John Kerley, Kevin Mathisen, Alan McDougall, Peter Neve, Paul Nicholson, David Paroissien, Noel Patrick, Ross Perkins, Peter Ralph, Greg Robinson, Frank Rose, John Scott, Colin Sheils, Ian Stanley, Denis Steinhauser, Geoff Tasker, Derrick Thompson, Reg Topp, T.J. Tottenham, Norm Wadeson, Duncan Waite, Alan Watkin, Graham Watsford, Gavin Young
Jim Atkins, Ian Barkla, Peter Charrett, Lindsay Crow, Mel Elliott, Ted Godwin, Peter Harcourt, Ella Hennell, Reg Jackson, Alexander MacKenzie, John Malcolm, Don Marshall, Phil McCallum, Tom Murray, Bob Shires, Cliff Simmons, John Stephens, Kevin Taig, John Thompson, Barry Thomson, Lon Wymond
Our thanks to Bernie and Ann Holmes for this list.
As we are now in summer and the weather is hot. We have been putting large containers of water in the fridge in the crew rooms at Belgrave, Lakeside and Gembrook and a smaller one at Menzies Creek. Please advise Sue on 415 (her mobile) or 715 when the main container is emptied and the reserve container is put in the fridge.
We would like to remind crews of the importance of hydrating during hot weather.
Sue
We are delighted to advise that a new Valentines Day event has been organised. Thanks to the talents of Di Gadsden and Paul Golding, the Valentine Special will be departing Belgrave Station at 7.00pm and returning at approximately 10.15pm.
An exciting new menu is available which will be consumed onboard our First Class carriages whilst enjoying the breathtaking views of Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne city lights. Disembark the train at Emerald Lake Park for a romantic stroll around Lake Treganowan.
Your date will be impressed with the atmosphere, flattered by the attention and delighted with the gift hamper received upon departure. Normally priced at $99.00 per person, including three course meal, beverages and special treats throughout the evening, Puffing Billy Preservation Society members and volunteers will receive a 10% discount.
To reignite the passion back into your life book now by calling our Customer Service staff. Further details are available via www.puffingbilly.com.au.
Yes, it's nearly that time of year again and I know Bill Russell is keen to start putting together the roster for the big day. If you are available to volunteer your services either in the lead up to, or on the day of the race, we would welcome your assistance. Along with the standard railway operations and roles on the day, we have additional tasks that require volunteer support including:
It takes approximately 300 volunteers to pull together this major fundraising and publicity event for the Railway so please contact Bill on email at bill.russell@optusnet.net.au to advise your availability.
The 2008 autumn season of the Day Out With Thomas activities will take place in Emerald on:
As with most PBR activities, the success of this event is hugely reliant on the support given by volunteers, so please contact me by email at nadine.hutchins@pbr.org.au to discuss your involvement.
Nadine Hutchins,
Special Events Manager
You will have noticed that during 6 train running we changed the location for checking passenger tickets to along side the old station building. The reason we set up these temporary barriers and made these changes:-
With the handing out of queuing tickets were able to more accurately allocate the available capacity of the train. Passengers with the appropriate ticket were able to move along the platform to board the train.
Our booking staff were then able to sell tickets for the next train and passengers for that train were able to move into the shop, visit the toilet and have access to tables and chairs on the platform. This reduced the wait in the queue for our customers and hence a more pleasant experience.
We will be continuing to check tickets at this location and establishing more permanent barriers. Trains will also be regularly stopping further down the platform (towards Menzies Creek)
If you would like to discuss these changes with me please email jean.clowes@pbr.org.au
Please could we help our cleaning staff by using the handles on the top and bottom of windows when closing them. Some times people are using their hands to push up the windows or grab them at the top and the end result are lots of unnecessary finger marks to be cleaned off. Our cleaning team will appreciate your help in this area.
This reminder is not to suggest that booking clerks are not neatly attired for the role but we are endeavouring to establish consistency in appearance for our customers.
Jean Clowes
To all Refreshment Staff, a big thankyou for all of your hard work over the six train period, it all ran like clockwork, which is a credit to you all.
We still have some tins of shortbread biscuits left at the special price if anyone is interested.
Thomas time is fast approaching again and if you are able to spare some time to work at Emerald, it would be much appreciated. Dates for March: 1st & 2nd and 15h2> & 16th. Could you please call April
.Thank you,
April Williams
Following the trial of altering the location used for checking tickets, Guards and Drivers are requested to dock/stop carsets so that the 'up end' vehicle is not beyond a point level with the 'toilet' sign on the white post just past the Up end of the old station building at Belgrave. This will initially apply on days when Time Table B is in operation but will eventually apply on all days. The idea of this is to allow the area of the platform up to the toilets & old station building to be utilised for passengers to sit and wait for trains without being expected to show their tickets every time they go in or out of the barrier gates. It is planned to further alter fencing and verandah roofing to improve the 'covered area' in the future.
A suitable circular will be issued with the altered stopping location and some general instructions regarding this shortly. This will then be carried over into the Local Instructions for Belgrave.
Guards are requested to make sure that they turn on the main switch in the front Guards van (2NBC) as well as the one in the rear van (5NBD) when operating a Dinner Train. This is to ensure adequate lighting power for the NAL's at all times. Keeping the batteries charged will 'keep the lights on'.
Please also take every opportunity to charge the batteries in both vans. Doing so with the main switches 'off' will ensure the maximum charge into the batteries.
It is also important that Guards (and others involved with shunting) place the batteries on charge when the vans are stabled and also make sure that the doors & windows are closed and locked to prevent theft.
Safeworking Course No.29 will commence in early February and the trainees will be required to complete some observation runs during the course. Guards are asked to gauge the trainees ability and then allow them to do as much of the work as possible, appropriate to their level of skill. Only by getting their hands dirty will they learn. If any Guard has any enquiries in regard to this, please contact either Rob Emmerson, Greg Michael or John Morice.
As an aid to providing more timely advice of additional or unusual items that come up and because of their immediacy are not suitable for Monthly News, it has been decided to issue a notice on a weekly basis to advise of these things. It will contain items for all branches of the Railway - not just Traffic Branch. It is hoped to include details of Special Trains, Track Work locations etc. etc. The plan is to start issuing the notice on a Friday morning. The Weekly Notice will then nominally cover the period Friday to following Thursday.
Items for inclusion in the Weekly Notice should be forwarded to Rob Emmerson via email (rob.emmerson@pbr.org.au) and should be sent to Rob no later than 3.00pm on the Thursday. The Weekly Notice will be published on the Friday by about 10.30am and will be distributed both in hard copy and electronically.
Wednesday Night Work Parties.
Work now focussing on the Climax restoration.
Hugh Markwick
| DECEMBER | 2007 | 2006 |
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 29% | 45% |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 60% | 72% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 62% | 68% |
| Train kilometres for the month | 4 562 | 4 429 |
| Loco kilometres steam | 4 744 | 3 915 |
| Loco kilometres diesel | 286 | 822 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 71 | 61 |
| G 42 days for month | 29 | 19 |
| Carriage kilometres | 43 041 | 42 212 |
| Carriage Days for month | 1 002 | 964 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1 712** | 1 292 |
| Highest kms operated -pass vehicle | 1 649 | 1 621 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 87* | 6* |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 260 | 261 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 297 | 296 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 12 | 4 |
* Excludes 21NQR which operates as a passenger vehicle
** Based on my data, loco 7A broke the record for the most number of kilometres run in a month. Previous highest was 1701 kilometres operated by 7A in December 2001.
NRT1 ventured onto the main line on 8 December to take two NQRs from Emerald to Clematis and back on a S & T Christmas luncheon..
Bob Wilson
Sorting and filing continues, incoming donations are being recorded, classified and filed.
If you are having a clean out, please do not throw anything that we can utilise, but contact Geoff Tasker so he can obtain useful items.
If anyone has a spare 'compactus' needing a good home please contact Geoff.
The Archives Group has weekly working days at Kings Road every Monday, with an 11.00 am start. The group is progressing well and would appreciate any assistance from interested parties.
Hugh Markwick
Work is proceeding well with the boiler. Some hydrostatic testing has been done to check the rivetting on the foundation ring. The front plate for the smokebox is being worked on so that the smokebox can be rivetted to the front course of the boiler.
Bookings for the Footplate Experience Trains are looking good for this year - we even have a booking for 2009.
John Conway
What a day we had on 15th January! Lots of young and not-so-young Volunteers working along the zig-zag pathway. Farmer John Hoy was driving the tractor. Eamonn Seddon was getting around in his YV best - old and dirty - clothes. The white rail fence was cleaned and painted. Weeds were pulled out, bushes pruned and mulched. The old cyclone wire fence was removed and construction of a new, wooden rail fence was started. The Gardening guys and Way &aqmp; Works were all there helping. It was a great effort by all concerned. Make sure the you take a look at the work next time you are at Belgrave. Well done to all !!!
John Conway
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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. URI: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/puffing.billy/monnews.htm |
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