March 2010#440
March 2010
#440
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 .
Passenger figures for January reached budget despite the railway's closure on the 11th January. Considering the issues we had with VicRoads signage the previous and following days, our revenue budget for that period remains on track. As I write this, February has started well, and we hope this performance will continue with the run up to Easter.
As mentioned last month with our strategy in attracting the younger volunteers, we have now set a date for our first weekend foray into this area (15th and 16th May). I urge you all to support Sue Ham and her team in their endeavours to make this weekend a success - our long term future depends upon it.
For a long time it has been a wish of the management to create a better market for schools visitation. The opportunity of our Discovery Centre being built over the next few years requires that we are 'market ready' for this occasion. As such, I am forming a small working group to develop a schools program based around the national curriculum studies. I am therefore looking for ex-teachers who may be willing to participate in such a group and to play a part in building this important sector of our market. Please get in touch.
With the support of the Society, we are now looking at the planning of a heritage weekend here on the Railway. Could I again ask any of you interested in participating in the organisation of such an event to please get in touch.
Eamonn Seddon, CEO
The main items resolved were:
Ray Leivers, Chairman
PBPS Members would have received in last few days a mail-out giving details of an open forum to discuss the proposed amendments to the Constitution. Just a reminder that the meeting will take place on Wednesday 17th March from 7.30pm at the Belgrave Masonic Hall in Bayview Road.
The Executive Committee welcomes submissions from members. If you wish to submit an item for discussion and resolution the item should be emailed to The Secretary at least 2 weeks prior to the Executive meeting so that it can be circulated to the Exec members. This will give them time to read the item and make an informed decision in readiness for the appropriate meeting night. Any submissions should come fully explained and where expenditure is involved, a detailed costing is required and where the source of funds will be coming from.. The more information that is provided to us makes the decision making process much easier. The email address for The Secretary is: secretary@pbr.org.au
Meeting dates for the remainder of this year of the Executive Committee are; Monday April 12th, Monday 21st June (one week later than usual due to Queens birthday), Monday 9th August, Monday 11th October and Monday 13th December.
Larry James
The Membership Committee is expanding and is seeking the services of a member who would like to take on the role of Minutes Secretary. Please indicate your interest to membership@pbr.org.au by March 10th.
Thank you to members who have sent e-mail addresses to membership@pbr.org.au. If you change any details (such as phone, address or e-mail) please let us know as soon as possible - forms are available from the Station Master, Customer Service and Volunteer Coordinator.
A reminder to members about the great deal that is available for travel using your special Member's Travel Voucher for the ' Steam & Cuisine'or'Devonshire Journey'. The vouchers are valid until early December. Bookings can be made by calling our lovely customer service ladies on 9757 0700.
Over the past month, we have been spending significant time in customising Volunteer2 to meet the needs of the different parts of Puffing Billy, and we are doing this by working with key roster and admin people. This process will be ongoing for at least the next 1-2 months, as we gradually work with each coordinator in the Railway.
During customisation, we train specific roster/admin people on how to use Volunteer2 and associated procedures in their area. They, in turn, develop confidence in the new tools before training their volunteers. The first training of volunteers occurred in late February, with others following as soon as specific areas are ready.
We are continuing to develop the communication side of Volunteer2 and will be moving to using Volunteer2 for Weekly Notices and other regular documents over the next few weeks. If any committee leaders are interested in using Volunteer2 for communicating within their committee, please contact us on volunteering@pbr.org.au
As requested in last Monthly News, if you are interested in being one of the volunteers to be trained early on use of Volunteer2, please send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au by Wednesday 17th March.
We are also looking for people who are skilled in adult training/communication and confident with use of the internet to assist the process of Volunteer2 training. If you are interested in helping with this short term project, please send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au or contact Sue Ham on 9757 0715 by Wednesday 10 th March.
If you wish to update contact details, how you receive Monthly News or other information, please do one of the following:-
Volunteer2 Project Team
- Anne MacLeish, Sue Ham, & Rob Emmerson
Applications should be in writing and should be addressed to Jason Bell. Applications will close on March 31st.
John Hoy, Manager Operations and Engineering
To reduce double handling of orders for overalls and work shirts, these will now need to be paid for at the time of ordering. Please complete a Uniform Order Form, include your payment and pass onto Fleur Barrell or Jean Clowes.
New prices have recently come in for overalls and shirts, and this includes having your name embroidered on them. The new prices are:
| Bib & Brace Overalls | $65.00 | Coveralls | $75.00 | |
| Action Back Overalls | $70.00 | Shirts | $45.00 |
Regards, Jean Clowes
The decision has been made to cease the daily operation of The Devonshire Journey product. As a result, the following actions will be taking place:
If anyone has any queries or concerns regarding this product change, please contact Nadine Hutchins, Marketing Manager on 9757 0716 or nadine.hutchins@pbr.org.au.
If you have some spare time and would like to volunteer to work in the Retail areas at Thomas, could you please call April on 9757 0782. It will be very much appreciated.
The dates are as follows: February 27th, 28th, March 13th, 14th, 20th, 21 t, 27th & 28th.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to work at Menzies Creek, especially on weekends, please call Jon Medlin or April Williams on 9757 0782.
April Williams
Following the recent passing of Brian Thompson, I am inviting expressions of interest for the volunteer position of conductor roster officer. The position requires computer/internet access, a certain degree of computer literacy with 'Word' and 'Excel' and a liking for interacting with people. For more information or a copy of the position description please contact me on 9757 0781 or by email to jean.clowes@pbr.org.au.
I have a new black print cartridge to suit the following Brother printers - DCP-135C, DCP-150C, MFC-235C or MFC-260C. It's free to a good home.
At Belgrave where we have a Station Master to depart trains, all conductors need to be on board the train with the doors shut before the SM can give the okay to the Guard to depart the service. At out-stations where there is a Station Master on duty the same applies as at Belgrave. At out-stations when there is no Station Master, only the Head Conductor should be on the platform to give the tip to the Guard before boarding the train, all other conducting staff should be on train with the doors closed.
At out-stations where there is a Signalman (but no Station-master), the Signalman should advise the Guard or the Head Conductor when all safeworking is complete so that they can then depart the train as detailed above.
Jean Clowes
Sorry about last month and no report. Bill Russell must have been in a total state of shock. Sorry Bill, I'll try not to throw you out of gear again.
The festive season has come and gone and this year we excelled ourselves yet again. For December there 158 shifts and for January 130 shifts making a total of 286 Shifts. It was a great effort by all and I'd like to send a special thanks to each and every one of you for a great job done. Sunday 31st January was a Day of Total Fire Ban, which became an emergency when a grass fire started not far from Emerald. After some deliberation it was decided that Train 33 should proceed to Lakeside and bring back passengers who had travelled there on previous trains. My thanks to all who operated this service under trying conditions, again showing the professionalism of our safe-workers.
On Sunday the 7 th February along with some friends from Brisbane, I paid a visit to the Bellarine Peninsula Railway where I had the pleasure of meeting Geoff Everett, the Vice President, and Marketing Manager Emma who made us very welcome. Before our planned trip to Drysdale Geoff offered a complimentary trip to Lakers Siding where we were shown over the new carriage shed. Wow - this a massive place, so big in fact that you could play a game of football inside.
Inside this massive shed are stored locomotives and a collection of carriages, some locomotives like the West Australian "V" Class are close to operating again, but the "S" Class from the West is a little further away, and the Fyansford Garratt. The carriage collection is very interesting with some in various stages of restoration. At the Drysdale end of the shed [the main entrance] there is a massive area for a machine and works area. After this wonderful we were taken back to Queenscliff to board the train to Drysdale where the magnificently restored former South Australian loco T251 took charge of the proceedings. On the way back to Queenscliff, Geoff phoned ahead and asked that the train be held for some V.I.P. Guests; Gee that made us feel very important.
After a great trip to Drysdale, Geoff met us on the Queenscliff platform and invited us to do a tour of the locomotive workshops. Here we saw several locomotives in various stages of maintenance and re-builds, including Pozieres. After a very hectic day we headed back to Belgrave; but I fully intend to pay another visit in the near future and many thanks to Geoff for giving his time and making our day one to remember.
Recently I was very dismayed as I overheard a radio conversation where some of the details appeared to have nothing to do with the operations. Most concerning was the time the radio was in constant use, being tied up for approximately 5 minutes of non-operational conversation. It should be remembered that the radio network is an emergency vehicle only and not one to tell your life story; the major concern is that, had there been a real emergency, there would have been great difficulty in finding air space, thereby possibly placing a life in danger.
Kevin Stanes, Roster Clerk
Guards & Signalmen
Guards are requested NOT to prop the safeworking door open and then walk away. If you have deposited your bag in there, propped the door open and walked away, you leave yourself open to having your personal belongings stolen, not to mention the problems if a safeworking authority was also stolen.
It happened some ago and a Guard lost his guards bag and all its contents. None of it was ever recovered, so the Guard in question has had to buy another bag at an exorbitant price as they are not cheap these days.
Rob Emmerson, Traffic Manager
Belgrave will be open on Saturday 6 th and Wednesday nights during March.
During January 2010, 14 people recorded 293 hours at Belgrave, while 1 person record 5 hours at Emerald, a total of 298 volunteer hours for the month.
Hugh Markwick
Currently we have had the wood chipper out and about clearing fouling trees along the line, tidying up station yards, level crossings for vision and taking out environmental weeds and saplings along the area. The boys have been in Wrights forest area from Lakeside to Bridge 8 and have done some fuel reduction works in the areas.
The current fire season has been good to us with a very low number of fires along the line. With the weather not knowing what it is doing has been a blessing in disguise.
A thank you to all the people who have helped out with fire patrols over the past few months your time and efforts are greatly appreciated. The trolley fleet has kept up with us this year with a few problems that have arisen, luckily we have been able to get on top of these issues quickly with the work from W&W and also from the assistance of the Workshop guys.
Cheers, Jason Bell
A large diesel driven air compressor has been donated to the Museum.
Injector pump replaced.
ABT hill has been removed.
Has been cleaned and has had the paint touched up for the forthcoming Thomas shows.
Engine and gearbox drained of water, conservation work being carried out.
Fire Box has been needle gunned and wire wheeled to allow thickness testing of Inner firebox.
Have been both cleaned out of all non-relevant items and are being assessed for conservation works.
David Baker & Greg McLennan, Managers
A day out with your friends and colleagues from Puffing Billy. Join us for a day out on our own bus to travel on trains of different gauge at Queenscliff and Mornington. Food and drink are provided together with ferry travel across the bay.
Definitely one for all the family.
This event is selling well, but some tickets are still available. For bookings or further details, please contact John Conway on 03-5968-4083.
An evening with the 1812 Theatre Company in Ferntree Gully. Watch for the booking form, coming shortly.
. A rare opportunity to travel by train to Clematis station as we visit the Paradise Hotel for some mid-year festive fare.
Join us for our annual film night at the Gemco Theatre, Emerald.
Your favourite event, back by popular demand. Travel to the Packing Shed as we farewell 2010 and welcome in 2011.
Jeff Goodwin
| JANUARY 2010 | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 66% | 45% |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 81% | 73% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 62% | 63% |
| Train kilometres for the month | 4,002 | 4,596 |
| Loco kilometres - steam | 3,048 | 3,692 |
| Loco kilometres - diesel | 1,550 | 987 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 71 | 69 |
| G 42 days for month | 0 | 14 |
| Carriage kilometres | 39,439 | 43,157 |
| Carriage Days for month | 934 | 960 |
| Highest kms operated loco | 1,024 | 1,123 |
| Highest kms operated pass vehicle | 1,579 | 1,501 |
| Highest kms operated wagon | 43 | 48 |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 266 | 308 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 269 | 316 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 11 | 6 |
All services were cancelled on Monday 11th January due to extreme weather conditions.
There were two total fire ban days during the month. From Wednesday 13 th January, all trains beyond Lakeside have been diesel loco hauled and that will continue until further notice.
Bob Wilson
Yes - it's that time of the year again. I will be away from Wednesday 17/3 until Friday 9/4 inclusive.
During my absence, managerial matters should be directed to Ian Marks (465) and day to day operations to Ian Newman (462 or S&T depot answering machine 650).
A reminder to all personnel - When reporting radio faults on the train (vans) please remember to include the Battery Number on the IDR. This assists greatly in determining the possible cause of the fault. Also remember to include the date please.
Andrew Wheatland.
Servicing requests from interested parties re: Narrow Gauge history. Requests to inspect the JCM Rolland photograph collection. Cataloguing and scanning of the ticket collection.
Hugh Markwick
The Climax boiler has passed its steam test! There were a few very minor leaks but they will be easily fixed by lapping the regulator valve a bit or caulking around a stay. A major part of the project has now been completed and can be ticked off. After a few more cycles of heating up and draining, the boiler will be stored dry until the time arrives to install it on the frame. Thanks to Adam, Jack and Harry for all the work that has got us this far.
Just on $299,000 has been spent on the project to date. (This does not take into account volunteer time and effort.) The Climax Committee would like to thank everyone who has donated money or effort to the cause. We are now getting very close to seeing the fruits of our efforts.
During its working life, the locomotive broke a number of axles. The cause of these breakages has now been worked out. New designs for axles and wheels to overcome the problem have been made by Harry Hibgame, John Brady and their team. Cracks have also been found in the crank web where the crankpin went through. These parts all need replacement. We will shortly be announcing a major fundraising effort to buy these essential parts.
Climax and 861 embossed biscuit tins are now available from both Menzies Creek and Gembrook Refreshment Rooms. These tins make great gifts for all ages. When you drop into to buy a tin or two, take the time to grab a cup of tea and a biscuit, sit down and enjoy the sights and sounds of our railway.
Just a reminder about the conference for modellers of narrow gauge railways. This is being held on our own NG railway at the Packing Shed on Sunday 18th April. This will set new standards for conferences, as the attendees can get a very close look at what they are modelling and get to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the originals. Bookings are going well so sign up soon if you want to attend. All profits from the event go the Climax Appeal.
John Conway, jfgconway@yahoo.com, 5968 4083
 |
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 |
 |