January 2010#438
January 2010
#438
Published by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society
in conjunction with the Emerald Tourist Railway Board.
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 .
Firstly I want to thank those who have responded positively to our Fire Danger Index Response. As a consequence I would like to add that every effort will be made to contact those on duty via email and through normal channels, in addition to the ring in numbers that have been provided. With all the work that has been carried out by many people on behalf of the Railway, and from an organisational training and preparedness point of view, I firmly believe that Puffing Billy is the best prepared for the coming fire season than we have ever been.
On a passenger traffic note, November passenger numbers were on budget with revenue anticipated to meet budget. Our Steam & Cuisine product demand is getting stronger on a day by day basis and the themed evening night trains are proving to be a huge success, with a number of evenings next year already sold out.
On the business plan front, we await news on our ERC bid. As part of the consultative process, a draft Corridor Plan will be produced for comment - please look out for this in and around the railway.
As we approach '6 train running' our normal requirements for additional volunteers is high: So, if you can spare an extra day please get in touch with your appropriate roster officer. Your support would be much appreciated.
Hopefully this edition of Monthly News will reach you before Christmas, so I take the opportunity to once again wish you and all your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.
Eamonn Seddon, CEO
We spent most of the November Board Meeting reviewing the performance of the Board and Railway. From this it was decided that we should:
In addition, the Board:
Ray Leivers, Chairman
The team that collates, edits, proof reads, prints, envelopes and posts Monthly News to you, wishes you the compliments of the season. A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you all. May 2010 bring you twice what you wish for others.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Howard Gration who passed away recently. Howard was a regular guard and signalman on the railway for many years and we will miss his cheery nature.
We have also just been advised that Leo Duncan passed away recently. Leo was a weekday SM for many years prior to his 'retirement' from PB some years ago. We also extend our sincere condolences to Leo's family.
Larry James
Puffing Billy's annual "Thank You" to the staff and volunteers will be held at the Gem Community Arts Centre (formerly the Gemco Theatre), Kilvington Drive, Emerald on the evening of Saturday 27th February 2010. The event is free of charge and open to all current PBPS volunteers and ETRB staff members together with their family and friends.
A special train will run from Belgrave and Menzies Creek to Emerald and return.
As car parking at the theatre is limited, we would ask you to leave your cars at either Belgrave or Menzies Creek station and travel to Emerald by train.
For enquiries regarding this event, please contact Jeff Goodwin on at jeffg1706@gmail.com
Another busy month for the Volunteer2 Project Team. We have designed the on-line application form and prepared data for transfer into the Custom Fields and Qualifications area of Volunteer2. These will be loaded for use by the Volunteer2 company. Following Project Team training (still 3 sessions to go), we have started to load Activity information into Volunteer2 and used December roster information to trial this data. Early trials have shown the e-mail communication and mailing label production from Volunteer2 will meet all our requirements.
Please advise any changes to your personal information, such as address or e-mail details as soon as possible to the Volunteer Coordination Team at Belgrave, send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au
Volunteer2 allows Puffing Billy to choose how people are allocated to roster positions. We are planning to use the system for many critical jobs in the same way that rosters are developed at present. The Roster Officers will prepare the requirements for the monthly roster, including how many people are needed on what days. Approved and Qualified volunteers can offer their services for a particular day either by talking to the Roster Officer or by indicating an interest on-line. For most Rosters, no person will be allocated to a job until the Roster Officer has approved the assignment. Sometimes, we have jobs that do not require any prior training, for example, Car Park Attendants in the busy months. In jobs such as these, the Roster Officer can choose to have all volunteers who express an interest immediately approved, without the need for Roster Officer input.
Please send in your questions for the February Monthly News by leaving your question in the Volunteer Mail Box on Belgrave platform or by sending an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au
Next year's Great Train Race will occur on Sunday May 2nd. Bob Cochrane will again be acting as Roster Officer and will commence seeking volunteers for this important fund-raising event, early in the New Year. Some people have already indicated their availability and have requested that they perform the same functions as in previous years; some others have requested a change of duties. Bob is particularly keen to hear from new volunteers or those who may not have worked at this event in the past. All offers of assistance or enquiries in regard to rostering are most welcome and can be addressed to Bob by email at robtcoch@melbpc.org.au
Matt Collopy, Special Events Manager
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Refreshment Staff for their valuable contribution over the past year, it has been much appreciated. I wish you all a very Happy & safe New Year.
April Williams
Our fares will change on the 26th December and most conductors will have received the new fares inserts via email if not they can be collected from the Station Masters office. Unfortunately the fares have not been rounded to the nearest $ or 0.50 cents so if you are caught short of change please just round the fare down and note it as a "shortage" on the summary sheet. Please remember that each conductor float has an up to date book included.
Our fares will change on the 26th December and all the new fares are in the computer. My apologies for the fares that now have 20, 40, 60 and 80 cents which I appreciate is a pain. I will make sure when the fares change again in April that we will round to the nearest $ or 0.50 cents.
Regards, Jean
Signalmen and others are reminded of the need for extra vigilance in the operation of the motor driven points at Menzies Creek, now that Fire Patrols have recommenced. As the trolleys are not track circuited, Signalmen MUST ensure, by physical observation, that the trolley has completely cleared the area of the points before returning the applicable signal to stop and operating the points.
Although the Monthly News will be with you before the Christmas break, I do hope you all have a great time and catch up with family and friends.
We have been lucky with the recent mild weather and hope it continues for a bit longer. With the approaching summer weather the forest will begin to dry out, and this is the time we must be on guard. Recently I had the privilege of being invited to attend the a fire awareness seminar held by Don Marshall and was very impressed by the presentation; and left with the view that management has taken all the precautions possible.
As we move through December into January there are still a number of shifts to be covered so I'd appreciate if any person interested could call on the Guards Mobile 0420 946 362 or via email to kevinstanes@optusnet.com.au; please keep in mind that I will be in Moama from Monday 14 th December and over the Christmas period, and there may not be anyone to answer the phone or take a message at my home phone.
As well, assistance is still needed at Lakeside during the Green TT, so I'd like to hear from any interested persons.
Once again have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
.Kevin Stanes, Roster Clerk - Guards & Signalmen
Belgrave Workshop will be not be open on Saturday or Wednesday nights during January.
During November 2009, 36 people recorded 574 hours at Belgrave, while Emerald had 3 people record 73 hours, a total of 647 hours for the month.
On behalf of Adam, Graeme and Trevor we wish every one a happy Christmas and a great New Year. Many thanks to everyone for their efforts over the last 12 months, they are greatly appreciated.
Hugh Markwick
Firstly from our department we hope that every body had a great Christmas Break and the New Year is good to them. All the best for 2010.
Presently on my updated trolley driver list, I have about 80 people who I have no evidence that they have or have not been issued with a certificate of competency. I stress the importance of needing a copy to have on file. An e-mail telling me if you have one or not would be great so I could note this on my list and amend it ASAP. Thank you to all that have passed on a copy of theirs or told me that they have never had one.
Lineside clearing has started and is progressing well. The fire restrictions for the entire railway have been called on as of the14th December 2009. With the weather changing its mind every week as it doesn't know if it is summer or winter, we are still trying to fill the rosters for fire patrols every day. If any one has some dates available as a driver or assistant please call me or e-mail firepatrol@pbr.org.au. I know that we do cancel them with short notice at times, but there are days which we can't predict what is going to happen overnight.
All people from the trolley course held in October have passed, and they will need to see me to be issued with a key and their certificate. Let me know a time and day when they will be available to pick them up.
Cheers, Jason
Our perennially 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. Travelling on our own train, you can enjoy a convivial evening with family, friends or your Puffing Billy colleagues. Dinner is provided, along with musical entertainment before we return to Belgrave, pausing en-route to welcome in 2010 with a glass of something bubbly at Menzies Creek.
There are still a few seats remaining - for last minute enquiries or bookings, please contact Jeff Goodwin, jeffg1706@gmail.com .
For questions on any of these events, please contact Jeff Goodwin jeffg1706@gmail.com
| NOVEMBER 2009 | 2009 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 66% | 60% |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 81% | 74% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 76% | 68% |
| Train kilometres for the month | 4,487 | 4,496 |
| Loco kilometres steam | 4,281 | 4,335 |
| Loco kilometres diesel | 504 | 368 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 92 | 80 |
| G 42 days for month | 0 | 12 |
| Carriage kilometres | 36,039 | 38,475 |
| Carriage Days for month | 859 | 903 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,429 | 1,320 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,659 | 1,551 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 8 | 0 |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 238 | 266 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 293 | 334 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 23 | 8 |
Bob Wilson
Cataloguing of items continues, while more donations have been received. There have been several requests received for access to the archives, including one person doing research for a Masters degree. A seminar was attended run by the Royal Historical Society on Disaster Management and Post Disaster Conservation.
Hugh Markwick
Nothing much to report at this time other than to wish everyone a Safe and Prosperous 2010. Thanks for your contributions during 2009.
Andrew Wheatland
Suitable timber for decking has now been sourced and work now awaits delivery of this. We expect the work to be completed in the new year.
Reports from the tramway say that the new reversing triangle we built is operating very well. Some minor work that we have undertaken to do has now been deferred to the new year.
John Shaw
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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 |
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