April 2010#441
April 2010
#441
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 .
As Russ Bowen said - "What a difference a year makes". February results were best on record so thank you to all who contributed to the success.
On the Business Plan front, we are now in our third round of briefing various politicians and ministers and putting our case forward for State funding. It is however important that we start looking in other areas in an effort to add to the overall package, and to this end we will be seeking sponsorship from various organisations and firms.
Sponsorship is very much like selling, and therefore greater success will be had if we are not "cold calling". With so many volunteers, from all walks of life, involved in the Railway, some of you may have business contacts who could be introduced to the Railway, and the mutual benefits of a partnership. If you have, please call into the office and have a chat. Thomas the Tank Engine goes from strength to strength, and yet again, as each weekend progresses, we are seeing our best ever figures from a visitor perspective. So I thank all of you who have been involved; I appreciate it is not everybody's cup of tea but those involved are having a lot of fun.
Our themed evenings are also proving very popular and hopefully we will see additional ideas being tried out as the year progresses.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy Easter, and I look forward to seeing you all around the Railway.
Eamonn Seddon, CEO
At its March Meeting, the Board:
Ray Leivers, ETRB Chairman
The Railway was pleased to read in the media recently that Gold Pass & Honorary Life member and former committeeman, Reg Topp MBE, was awarded the "Australasian Railway Association's 2009 Rail Industry Award for Excellence" for his many years of service in the rail industry. Many congratulations Reg on your very significant award, well done.
We extend our very best wishes to Liz Sanderson (wife of Ian and sister in law to Bob) who is recovering from a stay in hospital. Hope you're up and about very soon Liz.
The Society Executive Committee is keen to develop our archives and add items of railway interest to enhance our archives. A dedicated team lead by Geoff Tasker meets, usually every Monday at Emerald Kings Road, with the enormous task of cataloguing the many thousands of items ranging from photographs to newspaper articles, books, publications, old correspondence and even committee minutes just to name a few. With this in mind, there may be members that have items at their home which are of significant historical value to the railway. Over the years, many members and volunteers have collected various items and stored them at home - mainly due to the fact that we didn't have an area to store or catalogue these items. Emerald is the current home of our archives and l know the archives team would be very pleased to receive any items that can be added to our history. If you do have something that you consider is of historical interest to the railway you may like to contact the Secretary by email secretary@pbr.org.au or ring Larry James on to discuss the items and how they can be forwarded to the railway.
Larry James, PBPS Secretary
Monthly News can now be received by e-mail (which saves the Railway in printing and postage costs) and can be posted or delivered to you at the Railway, if staff or regular volunteers. Some people also like the convenience of receiving Monthly News both electronically and in hard copy.
To change the way in which you receive Monthly News, please send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au with your request.
To update your address for Monthly News, and for PBPS members, Narrow Gauge, please send a message to volunteering@pbr.org.au.
You can also contact the Volunteer Coordinating Team on or drop a note.
The Volunteer Coordinator Team on volunteering@pbr.org.au or phone Volunteer Coordinator Team (VCT)
Introducing the team, over the pass couple of years, we have had a group of volunteers helping in the volunteer coordinating area; we thank those who have helped in the past, who have worked on special project while others on the day to day operation. In this Monthly News we would like to introduce the current day to day team.
Pat Cook has only been with us for a couple of years, but has been involved with many volunteer organisations, and brings a worth of talent. This year Pat is going on an extended holiday within Australia.
Julie DeHaan has been with the railway since March 1997, starting in the Refreshment area, Special events, working on the Lunch train: her depth of knowledge regarding the railway is priceless.
Ann Thackeray tried out conducting and moved to the Refreshment area, Ann has taken on all challenges, learning many new skills, encouraging other volunteers to be involved.
Hedwig van Haalen' s background in her home country was human resources, the knowledge Hedwig brings with her is invaluable and her wonderful humour enriches the group.
Please Note that the Volunteer Coordinator Team are volunteers.
The Volunteer Coordinator Team requires another member, on a Monday, if you have an interest in administration and would like to learn, please contact Sue on for an interview.
Belgrave & Lakeside Stations now have Water Coolers. Not only is the water COOL but it's PURIFIED and it's FREE. BYO water container to 'fill up' and 'top up'.
In addition, plastic containers of chilled water are kept in the Refrigerators at Menzies Creek & Gembrook Stations.
As you are all aware, winter is drawing near and the Influenza season is nearly upon us once again. This year the seasonal influenza vaccine includes protection against H1N1 - swine flu.
As a service to both staff and volunteers, the Board is offering free Influenza vaccinations to hopefully provide some protection.
The vaccination consists of a single injection during autumn. The vaccination is well tolerated with usually only minor local side effects. It does NOT cause a minor case of the 'flu, as is often (incorrectly) stated. It is highly effective in protecting against the epidemic flu, but will not prevent the common cold, an illness with lesser symptoms, which is often confused with the flu.
If you would like to receive this seasons vaccination Dr Steven Kaye will be attending at The Classroom Belgrave on Thursday the 22nd April 10 am to 11.30 am
If you would like a PB car sticker, please e-mail us.
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 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.
We are attending the City of Casey "You Can Do It" Youth celebrations at Arthur Wren Hall in Hampton Park.
To encourage young persons into volunteering, our stand will be directed at young people, showing them the valves of volunteering. If you are interesting in helping, please contact our team.
The time is drawing near; 2011 is not far around the corner where we will be required to have our Working with Children. If you have not already applied, pre-filled application forms are available from the Stationmaster's office. The forms are located next to the attendance book at Belgrave.
Please Note: - Purple, is the only colour forms that will be accepted from the end of March.
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, see one of the volunteer coordinators.
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 2010.
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.
A quiet month this month, with continuing work in data entry to update records, customisation of different areas of the Railway, each with varying needs and development of new Volunteer procedures.
Engine Cleaners are starting to use Volunteer2 to develop their rosters and record their times. Every week, John Thackeray, the roster clerk, sends out by e-mail a Volunteer2 pre-filled roster for the coming fortnight. In a recent covering e-mail, he pointed out that the roster was a bit 'thin' and within 24 hours, four shifts were filled and two other queries followed up. Some of the engine cleaners have also been actively recording their volunteer hours as they happen, and in fact, back to 1st January. For the month of March, up until the preparing of this article, 160 hours had been recorded on-line by eight volunteers. Other engine cleaners are adding their name to the printed roster on the noticeboard and all engine cleaners are completing the sign-in book in the usual way. Are you interested in being involved in helping others to use Volunteer2? Full training and course materials supplied, only small groups (up to 6), unfortunately only limited computers available in training rooms. 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.
Volunteer2 Project Team
Anne MacLeish, Sue Ham, Rob Emmerson
3NA enters traffic. It was the first NA built at Newport Workshops at a cost of £1900, but utilised parts supplied by Baldwin in U.S.A., who built the first two Na's. It ran works trains on the Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook line prior to the line opening on 18th December 1900. Over the years it worked from Fern Tree Gully, Colac and Moe. It entered Newport Workshops from 16th March, 1949 until November 29th, 1949 and was sent to Fern Tree Gully where it ran the Young Sun Specials, then, with 6A, ran the trains operated by the Citizens Committee (early 1955) and the early days of the Preservation Society (from June 8th 1955). It failed with a major defect and was withdrawn from service on 29th November 1955 being replaced by 7A which had come from the recently closed Moe - Walhalla line. It had run only 4828 miles since overhaul.
Having run a total of 337,106 miles 3A was held at Newport "For historical purposes'" then sold to the Lord Mayors Camp at Portsea. It was recovered from Portsea in April 1977 and is currently held by Puffing Billy in storage at Gembrook 'awaiting restoration'.
Death of "Jerry" the railway dog. As a stray dog, Jerry had been adopted by fireman Dawn at Fern Tree Gully and became famous for chasing/riding the train to Gembrook and return. Sadly, Jerry was killed by the engine near Cockatoo on Sunday 29th April 1934. The people of Cockatoo built a grave with marker where Jerry was buried. The grave was destroyed and lost in the1983 bushfire. After many years searching the site, it was found in 1998 and a secure marker was placed on the grave site in 2007.(For full story see Narrow Gauge February 1967.)
A vacancy has arisen in the accounts office in Emerald for an accounts assistant. The main duties will be accounts payable and payroll preparation.
A position description is being prepared to provide more details for the job. Suitable qualifications and experience will be necessary to undertake the position.
If you are interested you can register your interest by contacting Russ Bowen at the Kings Road office or russell.bowen@pbr.org.au.
YES, WE DO ACCEPT AMERICAN Dollars through all of our outlets. We only exchange Dollar for Dollar. Treat the American Dollars as if it were the same as the Australian Dollar. The exchange rate is minimal at the moment and the American tourist is just happy for us to take their currency. Please, if you have any queries or are unsure what to do, call me. I would be only too happy to explain it to you.
To stay open we need your help, even for a few hours a day.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to work at Menzies Creek, please call April Williams or Jon Medlin.
It would be the same type of work as at Belgrave and Lakeside it would only involve selling to the public, please call April
April Williams
250 minutes twin disc for just $34.95. Regular operations, steam safari, cross border tours, Bulawayo loco Shed, Garratts with guest appearances of South African loco's and lots more - all on this high quality DVD.
65 minutes for just $29.95. This twin program DVD is all about South Africa's 2 foot narrow gauge lines.
This program is about the 1st Narrow Gauge train in 1903 and the arrival of the first Garratts featuring the NG15 engines.
This program is all about showing off the might and power of the South African Garratts at work on heavy trains over lightly laid track.
60 minutes for, you guessed it, $29.95. This event was a hands-on event for enthusiasts from all over the world with up to nine of the Sandstone Railways engines operating at any time. This DVD includes footage of the successful world record attempt for the longest steam hauled, 2ft gauge train. Witness four loco's (3 of them Garratts) on a 48 wagon load estimated at 475 tons!!
Other titles are available in our Belgrave Shop.
Bruce West.
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 by email to jean.clowes@pbr.org.au
In recent weeks we have been sending out Weekly Notice via Volunteer2. Conductors & Head Conductors - Please let me know if you do not wish to receive it via email. There is a hard copy in the SM's office, so if you don't receive it via email, please remember to have a look at this when you come on duty. There may be information in the Weekly Notice that pertains to your duties.
Jean Clowes
Well this will probably be my last big trip away as the superannuation does not last forever. This year I am driving across the Nullarbor Plains to Perth via Esperance, a trip I've wanted to do for a long time. I've been to Darwin by road twice and once on the Ghan, and done the return to Perth about eight times on the Indian Pacific, but I've never driven across the Nullarbor Plain.
I'll be leaving on May 11th and the most important thing is that I'll be doing the roster on the run, which, due to the winter timetable, should not pose a problem. The only problem with communications I can see is crossing the Nullarbor and a few areas as I drive through Western New South Wales on my way to Brisbane. In past years I've asked people to think ahead to the coming months of June and July and this year will be no different.
It is very important that any Guards/Signalmen who have booked the forthcoming rail trip to Canada, to let me know so as I can put you on the "NO CONTACT LIST" for the period you'll be away.
I have some situations of note over the past month:
Now that practical training has begun with Course 31 Trainees, could all safeworkers remember that if there is a Signalman of duty at Menzies Creek, not to interfere with any levers without first asking permission, this is of the utmost importance at all times, especially if there are Trainees on duty. As well, please have regard for the Trainees and do not rush them so as to get away quickly.
There have been a couple of situations recently where the power has not been connected to an NAL carriage. Please remember that when you stable the Lunch Train Set or the Afternoon Tea Carriage that the power cord in connected to the supply, once food has been spoiled it cannot be re-sold resulting is an unnecessary cost to the railway.
Kevin Stanes, Roster Clerk
Guards & Signalmen
From the 1st April, the new Public Time Table will come into effect. The only change to the Time Table is that departure time of the last train on the Orange Time Table (from Emerald) has been changed to 3.45pm. This will mean a correspondingly earlier arrival at Belgrave of 4.20pm. Updated Working Time Table pages covering the altered Orange Time Table will be issued prior to the commencement of the Orange Time Table on 3rd May.
I will also be including an updated page showing the new DH locomotive as having been added to our locomotive fleet as well as correcting any other updates required.
Progress is also being made on updates to the Safeworking Rules & General Instructions, which will be issued once the updates are finalised. This will likely be closer to the middle of the year.
Rob Emmerson, Traffic Manager
Belgrave will be open on Saturday 10th and Wednesday nights during April.
During February 2010, 31 people recorded 505 hours at Belgrave, while Emerald had 2 people record 38 hours, a total of 443 hours for the month.
Hugh Markwick
The fire restrictions are coming to an end, but we are still obligated to run fire patrols when deemed necessary. We may still require drivers & assistants if the weather stays warm and dry. My sincere thanks to all who have been involved in Fire Patrols this season. Your efforts have been very much appreciated.
With all the track work that is lined up in the next month, we are looking for any volunteers who are willing to come out with the gang during the week. We are not getting many CORE workers at the present and any labour we can get we will be appreciated.
Hope you all have a safe and happy Easter Break and if the bunny leaves anything at your homes for me, please bring them in ASAP.
Jason Bell
| FEBRUARY 2010 | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 60% | 42% |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 72% | 78% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 69% | 71% |
| Train kilometres for the month | 3,859 | 3,333 |
| Loco kilometres - steam | 2,976 | 2,287 |
| Loco kilometres - diesel | 1,143 | 1,333 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 64 | 51 |
| G 42 days for month | 0 | 3 |
| Carriage kilometres | 32,586 | 27,583 |
| Carriage Days for month | 782 | 668 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,328 | 1,170 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,492 | 1,381 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 130 | 8 |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 224 | 225 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 252 | 236 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 17 | 10 |
Due to the summer weather conditions, most of the Gembrook services were diesel hauled. This was done due to running through the Wright forest beyond Lakeside.
Bob Wilson
I am away until Friday 9th April. During my absence, managerial matters should be directed to Ian Marks and day to day operations to Ian Newman or S&T depot answering machine.
A reminder that the next S&T Branch meeting will be held on Saturday April 10, 10am, 10 Kings Rd, Emerald.
Please be advised that ALL NALs are now wired for 240V power. These vehicles MUST be connected to the power supplies whenever possible. Whenever these vehicles are stabled adjacent to each other or to the power vans (5NBD & 2 NBC) it is only necessary to connect power to the up end most vehicle in the set and then ensure that the interconnecting connections are made. Power can be fed through the whole train from the up end if these vehicles are marshalled adjacent to each other. (e.g. At the Packing Shed, if these are the only vehicles in the consist, then it is only necessary to supply power to the up end vehicle and power will feed down through the train. A check should be made that the power plugs are properly connected and that the chargers [under the seats in the NALs] are actually charging their batteries. The minimum of a single red light on the NAL chargers will indicate that the chargers are working - the yellow and green lights will only illuminate when the battery receives sufficient charge.)
Andrew Wheatland
The Walhalla line officially opened on 3rd May 1910. On the Sunday 2nd May 2010, the people of Moe will celebrate the centenary of the opening. Puffing Billy is helping Moe celebrate the anniversary by having the Peckett in steam in the gardens beside the Moe Railway Station near the mural of G42 with other displays of interest. A brochure on the celebrations is enclosed with this edition of Monthly News.
Bruce West
The next openings will be on Easter Saturday 3rd April 2010 and Saturday 1st May 2010. The shop is open from 1pm to 3pm selling pre-loved books, magazines, videos, DVDs and memorabilia. The shop is located at Emerald Station, across the tracks, in the building behind the Emerald Car Shops facing the playground. Other times can be arranged by ringing Peter
Thank you to Chas Bevan and Ashley Greaves for their recent donation of books, videos, DVDs and magazines.
Thank you to all who continue to support our efforts to Keep G42 Going.
The G42 Collections Boxes have recently collected $68.00.
Bruce West
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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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