September 2009#434
September 2009
#434
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 .
As we move into a new financial year our July figures, from both a revenue position and passenger numbers, were to budget; and our August figures to date are exceeding budget. My thanks go out to everyone in helping to control our expenses. The net consequence of this was a far better than expected result for the 2008-2009 financial year. In preparing for 2009-2010 financial year we will again have a number of challenges facing us.
We are being told that the economic revival is slowly beginning to happen. How will this affect us? - Will we see more people travelling abroad or more interstate trips and less local visitation to ourselves? - Or do we see a greater spend per head from our visitors as people begin to get more money in their back pocket - only time will tell. In light of this uncertainty our 2009-2010 budget has deliberately been set conservatively. We hope to exceed the budgeted revenue and budgeted pax whilst keeping a constant eye on the expense line.
Other challenges will also face us in this coming year. First there is a very widely reported "high risk" category for the Dandenongs in regard to fire danger - this can only do us damage. We are presently in talks with the major tourism bodies to determine what can be done to counteract this, however we must also be prudent in recognizing the potential risks. Therefore there will be a greater emphasis over the next few months on fire preparation in addition to the multitude of health & safety risks which need to be addressed - all of which will be designed to make Puffing Billy a safer place for both the staff and volunteers who work here and the patrons who visit us.
On the Business Plan front - work continues and Tourism Victoria is committing significant time and money to achieving the aims of our Business Plan. We will be holding an information evening on Wednesday 23rd September at 7.00pm, at the Masonic Hall in Bayview Road Belgrave, to present some of the ideas that have come together around the railway in regards to fleshing out a number of the projects within the Plan. This consultative process is important to us all and therefore I implore you to make an effort to attend this evening. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Eamonn Seddon, CEO
The Board considered the following in July:
Ray Leivers
Chairman
For those pundits of doom and gloom who have been predicting the future of G-42 you can all relax.
The G is currently stored awaiting space in the work shop to begin a very extensive D exam
Condolences to Rob McUtchen and his family following the recent passing of his Mother
How safe are you?? Just a simple reminder SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST - think and act safely
John Hoy
Would all volunteers please remember to print your name in the "Volunteer Attendance Book" book located in the Station-master's office at Belgrave. It is very important that you record your hours of duty, as this is needed to check voluntary hours provided in running the railway. Many submissions that we submit to Government and other agencies require this information. It is also important for checking purposes, if there is any query from our insurance company, should we receive a claim at a future date for an injury or medical condition.
If you are working at other locations, some have there own attendance book, e.g. Lakeside, but if you are unsure, simply pick up the phone and dial 721 and the Belgrave S.M. will record your name in the book.
Overnight accommodation is available for any volunteer who is working on the railway and the distance from 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 book and do not require the bed, or you need to leave early please contact us, as the bed may be required for other volunteers. If you need to get accommodation closer to your work day, please ring.
Shopping: we all have to do it, Ritchies have made available key tags and cards that can be used at any Ritches store in Australia, and we have plenty for everyone. By obtaining and then presenting the card each time you shop at IGA, 1% of the total goes to the nominated charity (or just say PB). They can be found in the Stationmaster office at Belgrave or we can post one out to you. Look forward to hearing from you.
The Railway has a policy relating to smoking, the board does not encourage smoking by staff and volunteer. Volunteers and staff who choose to smoke do so in their own time, and out of public view.
In order to provide a smoke free working environment the following are Designated Smoke Free Areas:
The time is drawing near; 2011 is not far around the corner where we will be required to have our Working with Children pass. If you have not already applied pre-filled in application forms are available from the stationmaster office at Belgrave.
We have been directed that direct contact is any contact with a child that involves the following:
If you would like any help in completing the forms please contact Sue on 97570715 or e-mail sue.ham@pbr.org.au
The next AGM will be held on Sunday 15th November 2009 and a separate letter will be posted to current financial members during early September. Part of this meeting is devoted to presentation of various awards such as Gold Pass and Certificates of Appreciation.
Would all members and committee heads start thinking about suitable members and volunteers who may be considered for such awards. Suggestions and nominations should be forwarded to the Secretary PO Box 451 Belgrave 3160 or by email secretary@pbr.org.au Please note that people recommended a for Gold Pass award must be members of the PBPS.
Thanks to those members who have indicated that they would like to assist in the membership area. Individual contact will be made shortly so that work can commence.
Larry James
Over 700 renewals have been processed. We apologise for any delay with processing of these, however we had to learn the job, as well as process each renewal. Outstanding renewals as at 14 th August have been processed and sent, with a few exceptions when we have been unable to match the payment with the member (direct debit payments without return of the membership renewal form). Renewal reminders are being sent - please contact us on membership@pbr.org.au if you have any questions. To be able to nominate, propose or vote at the annual election of office bearers, it is critical that you are a financial member as at the cut off date in early October. If you receive a reminder, prompt payment would be appreciated to ensure your membership stays current.
The Annual General Meeting is Sunday, 15 th November. Keep the date free.
Many thanks to the volunteers in the Booking Office who collected information from passengers about the means of transport they used to arrive at Puffing Billy. This question was asked from 20 July - 9 August (3 week period). Results were:
| Transport | Passenger # | % Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 2,589 | 77% |
| Train | 693 | 21% |
| Bus | 54 | 1.6% |
| Other | 22 | 0.4% |
This information will assist when analysing car parking requirements surrounding PBR as well negotiating special deals with the Public Transport providers for our passengers.
I am very pleased to advise that Laura Teyssier commenced with Puffing Billy on 3 August 2009 as the Marketing Assistant. Laura is studying a Bachelor of Business in Tourism Management at Victoria University and as part of the course requirements, she has to work one year in the tourism industry (known as Work Integrated Learning). Laura's role at Puffing Billy is full time and she will be based upstairs in the Belgrave Office.
Nadine Hutchins
Marketing Manager
Australian Steam, this twin DVD of approx 100 minutes covers preserved steam across the country including our own Railway and at $54.95 is real value for money.
The Challenger, Great action of Union Pacific's Challenger locomotive approx 85 minutes for just $44.95.
Country Branch Lines of Victoria Part 5 by Train Hobby, price $39.95 This book covers the Wahgunyah, Peechelba East, Oaklands, Katamatite and Cobram Lines.
Bruce West.
Menzies Creek, Lakeside and Gembrook all have had new coffee machines installed. I would appreciate your patient whilst the staff are still learning the ropes.
Thankyou
April Williams
I am on leave from the 24 th August until the 29 th September and during that time roster contacts are:-
Station Masters - Henry Brohier - email henry.brohier@people.net.au
Booking Officers - Alison Crawford - email to both the following email addresses Alison.crawford@pbr.org.au and jean.clowes@pbr.org.au
Both terminals now have new eftpos machines and printers. Receipts (when requested) are printed from these new printers. The only paperwork that prints from the printer/ fax machine is the end of day printouts from each terminal.
Winter in Melbourne - promotion finished on the 31 st August
Rejuvenation - Photographic Competition - pass holders only get a 10% discount. More details on the Booking Office notice board.
Regards Jean
Over the past six weeks, Passenger Carriages with Outward Opening Doors have been transferred to Emerald for door lock inspection and repair.
This program is almost complete with the last carriage expected to be completed by Friday, 14 th August.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Guards and Locomotive Crews for their assistance and co-operation with the transfer of the passenger carriages to and from Emerald.
Warren Mauseth
Acting Traffic Manager
What a quiet month it has been for news, only thing to be said is a reminder to all Trainers and Examiners to get your paperwork in promptly, especially this is especially important to those being examined as the quicker the three exam papers are matched up the sooner work can be allocated to the new appointees.
Kevin Stanes - Roster Clerk
,
Guards & Signalmen
Is now in use for reprofiling the DH31 wheel sets.
Belgrave will be open on Saturday 5 September, and will be open on Wednesday nights as per normal practice.
In July there were 643 hours recorded at Belgrave workshops and 51 hours at Emerald Car shops
Hugh Markwick
Currently we have been concentrating on re-sleepering in areas along the track. Including Pole 177 to Outer down home Lakeside, Landslide area, and down end of Cockatoo at pole 222.
The tamper has also been working in these areas and lining of the curves after the tamper has run through. Ballast is presently being dropped out where needed along the track.
Preparations for fire prevention are still going on along the track to reduce fuel for the fire season which is approaching very quickly. Once again I ask that any person who has time and is interested in doing fire patrols this season to start thinking about it. I am trying to get rosters started earlier this year to get a heads up on the preparations. So if any person has set dates that they will be willing to do, please send it through to me so I can start filling in blanks. You may think that I am jumping the gun a bit but I want to be well prepared for this season. Don't worry if you don't know yet, there still is time before the season actually starts.
Also a thank you to all the people who have replied to the call for certificates of competency that I have asked for, but there are still quite a few who haven't got back to me and I really need to know what people have and haven't got so I can organise some re-exams or certificates to the people who haven't been issued any.
Any person who is interested in doing a trolley course should also send a letter/e-mail to me so I can organise a course for late October or November. I have changed the course a bit and would ask that you contact me as I now have implicated that you go and do a few runs before the course so that you have knowledge of our fleet before you actually do the course. Any persons interested should contact me to organise some runs. I will need interested people to let me know by September the 20 th.
Jason Bell
jason.bell@pbr.org.au
Cataloguing of bound volumes of Narrow Gauge, & V.R. Newsletter as well as newspaper cuttings. More enquiries are being received for information from the archives. Research is being undertaken at the Public Records Office who holds information from 1885 which is being copied for holding in our archives. John Thompson has handed over artifacts and items that have been held in safe storage.
Hugh Markwick
| JULY 2009 | 2009 | 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 68% | 68% | |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 73% | 87% | |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 77% | 80% | |
| Train kilometres for the month | 3,421 | 3,433 | |
| Loco kilometres steam | 3,354 | 3,341 | |
| Loco kilometres diesel | 114 | 105 | |
| NA locomotive days for month | 78 | 66 | |
| G 42 days for month | 0 | 14 | |
| Carriage kilometres | 26,695 | 28,678 | |
| Carriage Days for month | 691 | 746 | |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,168 | 1,304 | |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,521 | 1,543 | |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 66 | 27 | |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 218 | 220 | |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 244 | 242 | |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 17 | 7 |
Bob Wilson
For this event we will travel on our own bus to Healesville where we will be greeted by our preservation colleagues who will lay on an enticing (or should that be bewitching?) feast for our dinner. This will be followed by a trolley tour through the haunted tunnel. An evening definitely not for the faint hearted!
Look for the booking form with this copy of Monthly News.
Our ever popular end of year event. Travel on the last train of 2009 and the first of 2010 as we welcome in the New Year at Melbourne's best value for money New Year's Eve event, held at the Packing Shed.
Booking form and further details next month.
For questions on any of these events, please contact Jeff Goodwin (evenings only, please)
 |
Updated Monthly. Contents © 2009 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 |
 |