September 2010#446
September 2010
#446
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 .
From a passenger perspective we are already extremely pleased with July & August figures. Of interest would be the fact that, at some point towards the end of August or early September, Puffing Billy will carry its 9 millionth passenger. We all need to be very proud of this feat - both from the volunteers in the early days to those of you who make the experience what it is today.
The end of last year's passenger figures recorded the second best on record, however we cannot sit on our laurels - all the indications are that 2010/2011 will be a tough year from a tourism perspective. We have the marketing mix right, however the old adage still applies: If we only knew which 50% of the marketing effort was right we would all be very rich, so a constant tweaking will be the order of the day if we wish to maintain the growth we have experienced over the last few years. Volunteer hours for the year are extremely high, with some 241,000 hours being recorded. This is the equivalent of 61 full time staff, and demonstrates the massive commitment that you all make in the running of the Railway.
At a recent presentation I attended, it was noted that some 65% of volunteers only volunteer when they are asked personally on a 1:1 basis. So, the question remains - are we missing out? Think of who is living around you or with you, and why not bring them along next time you come to volunteer, so that they can also enjoy the Puffing Billy experience. At the very least, bring them along to the Open Day on 3rd October so we can tempt them into joining the team here at the Railway..
Eamonn Seddon, CEO
Ray Leivers
As the winter rolls on, the Railway continues to benefit from uncharacteristically good weather and trains continue to experience better than expected loading levels. Related to this is another milestone in our history - during September we expect to carry out 9 millionth passenger since services resumed in 1962.
The Society's Executive met in August and some of the outcomes of the meeting were:
Jeff Goodwin
Many members and volunteers will be saddened to hear that Erica Kilner passed away recently, in fact just after the previous edition of Monthly News was mailed out. Erica was a member of the Society for many years and wife of the late Tom Kilner who had worked on the railway looking after our track for over 25 years. The Society was represented at the funeral and a wake was held at Gembrook station. Our condolences to Simon, Vicki and Brent, and their extended families.
Would members who have ordered binders for collection at Belgrave please note that they are now available for collection from the Reception Desk on the first floor of Belgrave station. (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm) There are quite a few orders waiting for collection.
This is to give early advice that this year's AGM will be held on Sunday 21st November. The meeting will take place at the Belgrave Masonic Hall, Bayview Road, Belgrave at 2pm.
If you are a member, l encourage you to come along and find out about your Society. If you haven't renewed your membership yet, now is the time to do so.
Further notices concerning the AGM will be mailed to all registered and paid up members during September.
Larry James, PBPS Secretary
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. Forms are also in the Hilton and the Volunteer Coordinators Office Please Note:- The forms are the purple coloured ones.
We have been directed that direct contact is any contact with a child that involves the following:
If you would like to have a chat or any help in completing the forms, please contact one of the team.
Susan L Ham
As the roster clerk shall be away from PBR from until early December the Engine Cleaners rostering shall be operated as follows:-
REMEMBER, Your efforts will be much more appreciated if you turn up on a day which would otherwise have had no cleaner. I can also assure you, you will benefit a lot more as well.
Please DO NOT turn up for a shift without first going through the above procedure. Thank you for your assistance.
John Thackeray
Thank you to all the people who responded to our query about Monthly News distribution. As a result, a number of volunteers, who do not require a hard copy of Monthly News, will be receiving theirs by e-mail for the first time this month. Since last month, we have reduced the numbers of copies to be posted by 70, saving on both printing and postage costs.
If at any stage you wish to change the way you are receiving Monthly News, send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au or contact the Volunteer Coordination Team at Belgrave.
Rosters are recorded in Volunteer2 for Duty Managers, Stationmasters, Booking Officers, Conductors, Refresh, Engine Cleaners and Guards/Signalmen. A daily report is being printed to assist the Stationmasters with the expected attendance of volunteers.
Do you know anyone who is interested in re-joining the railway as a volunteer? If so, it is important that, as well as speaking to the relevant roster officer or manager, that they speak with Sue Ham to ensure proper registration and recording in Volunteer2. This ensures that the Railway has up to date contact and emergency contact details for each volunteer, that the volunteer receives Monthly News and other communications and that volunteer information is retrieved, updated and available for rostering.
If you have any queries about Volunteer2 and its application, please send them to volunteering@pbr.org.au or contact Sue Ham and her team.
Volunteer2 Project Team - Anne MacLeish, Sue Ham, Rob Emmerson
Monthly News' deadline for the September issue will be Friday 20th of August 2010. This should enable us to get it to you on Monday 30th of August, or a day or two later.
Deadlines for the months shown are:
| October | Friday 17th September |
| November | Friday 15th October |
| December 2010 | Friday 19th November |
| January 2011 | Friday 11th December (early a/c Christmas.) |
September 1953 (57 years ago). Continuing the saga of the last train from Fern Tree Gully:- Following the operation of the last works train to the site of the Landslide on 24th August 1953, the three locomotives then located at Fern Tree Gully, (3NA, 6NA and 8NA) were given 'AB' exams in early September, then stored, which seems rather strange seeing services had been suspended. The final fireman based at Fern Tree Gully (Society Member Ian Barkla) assisted in` removing scrap, spare bogies and wheels and surplus stores onto rail trucks for transport to Newport Workshops and also assisted the 'undergear' repairer in doing a lift on 2NBC. Finally, he was instructed to clean up the running shed and was then transferred to North Melbourne from 12th October 1953.
3rd September 1928 ( 82years ago). The "Climax", having been built in U.S.A., but shipped in an 'un-assembled' state, was assembled at Newport Workshops, then transported to Moe. It ran light engine from Moe to Erica on its delivery trip to the Forestry Commission of Victoria. It remained in service until 1949. It became the property of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society in 1962. The Climax is currently undergoing restoration.
10th September 1928 (82 years ago). A new station between Cockatoo and Gembrook was opened. Originally just an unnamed stopping place, it was named Fielder from 5th February 1929
September 1898 (112 years ago). The first NA locomotive, (1NA built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia U.S.A) was placed in operation at Wangaratta and used on construction trains on the Wangaratta to Whitfield line. It was soon joined by sister engine 2NA. Both 1NA and 2NA were scrapped in March 1929 after a relatively short life of only 31 years. Whilst the NA locomotives were generally swapped around between the four narrow gauge lines, records indicate that 2NA only operated on the Whitfield line.
12th September 1854 (156 years ago). The first steam train ran in Victoria (and Australia) between Flinders Street and Sandridge (now Port Melbourne). A Supplement, produced by The Sun Newspaper to celebrate the Centenary of that event, and edited by David Burke, led directly to the 'Young Sun Specials' of late 1954 and to the formation of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society in June 1955.
Ron Peach
Thank you to those who have returned their renewal forms promptly. Thank you also to the many people who donated to Society projects with their renewals. Every donation is greatly appreciated.
Some direct bank payments have been received without identification. If you have not received your membership renewal package and paid direct to bank, please contact us or e-mail to membership@pbr.org.au to help us identify your payment.
Annual elections for the Society Executive are coming up. To be eligible to nominate, to second, to be nominated and to vote in these elections, you must be a financial member. Ensure your renewal is received and processed prior to the close off date in early October.
Nil report this month.
I would like to thank Geoff Duggan for updating the Puffing Billy Conductors Note Book.
I will be on leave from the 23rd August until the 21st September. During that time Rex Kingham will be looking after the Conductors and Booking Office rosters. All roster changes should be directed to pbr.passops.rosters@gmail.com or phone the Station Master if the change is urgent.
Peter Binks is currently in hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Jean Clowes
Please remember to return the First Aid Kits to the Safeworking Room upon completion of the day's activities.
Please Note that the departure times of Dinner Trains will vary for the next few months depending on the type of train and when it was booked. There will be departures at either 7.00pm, 7.15pm or 7.30pm but these will usually be shown in the roster. Please make sure that you note the departure time of your train. It will be a bit confusing for the next few months but this will only be until we standardise on a 7.15pm departure time from Belgrave. There will also be changes to the departure time from the Packing Shed. It will be standardised to a 10.30pm departure.
Many condolences to Simon and the Kilner family who recently lost their beloved mother Erica after a tragic accident. The railway was well represented at her funeral and our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.
Clearing of Environmental weeds between Nobelius and Clematis has been our main focus over the last month with additional attention to felling dangerous trees following the wild weather conditions
Moondarra renovations are closer to completion with the addition of some fresh new carpet - a much needed and long overdue improvement to the place. If you get the chance why not take a stroll over there and take a look. You may even like to enquire about staying there before or after your shift - please direct your enquiries to Sue Ham.
Our Gardening crew are now in possession of a storage shed, located near Moondarra, where they can store their tools and other gardening bits and pieces. Congratulations must also go to our partnership group, the 'Johns Hill Landcare' Group and their leader Vicki Boyle; who were awarded a community grant and as a result, have purchased another storage shed to be placed under Moondarra.
Thankyou to all those who applied for the position of Administration Support for our department; Di Gadsden has now been appointed to the role and we wish her well.
Jason Bell, Manager W&W
Please ensure that the power connections (on train and the extension leads) are arranged so that water does not collect in the sockets - by hanging them so that the plug enters from below. This will help to ensure that the power is not tripped off by the safety switches.
Please note that a fridge has now been installed in 5NBD. The fridge is fed on a dedicated circuit which is separate from the general circuits controlled by the Main Switch in the cupboard. Please continue to turn the Main Switch off at the end of each day's running to allow the batteries to charge fully.
Please also take every opportunity to connect the vehicle to the mains power - e.g. in the platform prior to departure of the lunch train etc.
The corrected plans have been returned to us and this phase of the project is now effectively completed.
Andrew Wheatland
Belgrave will be open on Saturday 4th September and Wednesday nights during September.
During July 2010, 27 people recorded 541 hours at Belgrave, while Emerald had 4 people record 111 hours, a total of 652 hours for the month.
Hugh Markwick
Redevelopment plans for the Museum at Menzies Creek have been approved.
Watch this space for further details in the coming months!
Construction of the rear wall frame complete. Awaiting cladding with sheet iron.
Reassembly complete ready for October 3rd open day
Firebox stay removal under way
Restoration complete
Work continues on NKS No.8's engine
Drive gear being assessed
Wednesday work nights:- every week from 5pm till 10pm.
Saturday work days:- 1 st, 3 rd & 5 th Saturday of every month.
David Baker, Manager
Work continues on the archiving of our photographic collection. .
Hugh Markwick
Nil report this month.
There has been a good response to this train. Seats have been selling well. This will be a good way to see a re-creation of how goods and produce used to be moved into and out of the Hills.
In another example of re-creation, Harry and Jack have been building up some pieces of the channel needed for the perimeter frame of the Climax locomotive. They start with a large I-beam and by the deft use of gas cutting equipment and welding gear will be able to make the appropriate sized and shaped channel.
This channel will replace badly corroded metal that was at the rear of the loco, under the cab and bunker. Crack testing on the cylinders has been done and they are in fine condition. It was good to have something that did not need major repair or replacement.
We have thus got to the back of the loco with dismantling and testing. This basically means that from now on work will be heading in the right direction - putting things back together!!
This good news does not mean that we don't need money. We still need to buy many of the bits to put back - such as the wheels and axles that were found to be faulty. Please keep your donations coming in.
Now would be a good time to look at the Climax locomotive. It has been stripped down nearly as far as it is possible to go. You will be able to see how the frame of a locomotive is composed; the perimeter frame, the cross braces, the fittings to hold things, the cylinders, etc. Everything has been laid bare. You can then come back over the following months and see the locomotive being built up to working condition.
John Conway
This event which was held at the end of July at the Paradise Hotel, Clematis, was a tremendous success. The Hotel put on a great spread of traditional Christmas food, the atmosphere was festive and thanks to John Hoy we all got there and back without any delay. We will run this event again in the future.
Coming soon - our annual film night, this year to be held in the sumptuous surroundings of the new auditorium at the Gemco Theatre, Emerald. Join your colleagues from Puffing Billy as we take another dip into the archives and look at the rich history of railways on film, from Australia and further afield over the last 100 or so years.
Tickets are only $15.00 each, including complimentary cheese, biscuits, wine and soft drink served during the interval.
Booking forms have been sent out already, but please contact Jeff Goodwin (jeffg1706@gmail.com) if you need another, or just for more information.
As various members of the event organising team have other activities planned, we regret to announce that this event has been CANCELLED for this year.
2011 Calendar of Events - coming soon. Watch this space!
For enquiries on any of these events, please contact Jeff Goodwin on jeffg1706@gmail.com
p class = "right">Jeff Goodwin on jeffg1706@gmail.com| JULY | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 75% | 68% |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 87% | 73% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 76% | 77% |
| Train kilometres for the month | 3,339 | 3,421 |
| Loco kilometres - steam | 3,294 | 3,354 |
| Loco kilometres - diesel | 50 | 114 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 78 | 78 |
| G 42 days for month | 0 | 0 |
| Carriage kilometres | 27,783 | 26,695 |
| Carriage Days for month | 738 | 691 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,389 | 1,168 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,529 | 1,521 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 45 | 66 |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 218 | 218 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 236 | 244 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 4 | 17 |
Bob Wilson
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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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