October 2010#447
October 2010
#447
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 I write this, towards the back end of September, we have received the news that our August figures are the best on record - this is despite the inclement weather, and the opposite trend being experienced by many of our competitors.
I have been on leave over the last few weeks and I spent some of the time visiting other tourist attractions, both in Tassie and Brisbane. What comes to light from these visits is the high level of "attraction" that we offer. It is reported many times to me about the friendliness of Puffing Billy, however in all of this we must constantly strive to improve. We have over a number of years, recognised the need for new infrastructure to improve the quality of experience for our customers - carriage sheds, engine sheds, refurbished coaches, cafes are all on the 'want' list.
We are now hopeful that all the work that has been going on in the background in the last couple of years will bear fruit in the next few months, and as a consequence, we can see the potential for change and enhancement of the customer experience. This will ensure that the Puffing Billy Railway remains the icon that it is, both nationally and internationally. As previously stated we now have the marketing mix right and this bodes well for the future for the Railway.
On a 'closer to home' note, please remember the Open Day on October 3 rd. Bring a friend and let's see if we can increase the number of volunteers working on the Railway.
Eamonn Seddon, CEO
At the July and August Board Meetings:
Ray Leivers
The next major event on the Society's calendar is the "Open Day", which is being held at Menzies Creek, Emerald and Belgrave on Sunday 3rd October. This is a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes as both the locomotive workshops (Belgrave) and carriage workshops (Emerald) will be open for inspection. In addition the museum at Menzies Creek will have a number of its exhibits out on display. There will be steam hauled rides at Emerald and Menzies Creek using the "Gasworks" locos and a special diesel hauled shuttle will operate between Menzies Creek and Emerald. If you would like to be a part of this special event, please contact your roster clerk and don't forget to tell your friends and family to turn up on the day and have a ride. There's plenty of free parking at Menzies Creek and Emerald and BBQs will be operating!
As the Society's AGM draws close, I would like to send a reminder to those Society members who have not renewed their membership to please do so no later than 13th October. Anyone who has not renewed by that date will be ineligible to vote in the forthcoming elections.
The Society's Strategic Planning Committee met in September and some of the issues discussed were:
Jeff Goodwin
We advise with regret the deaths of two long standing members of the Society. Colin Hart and Ella Hennell. Colin was a former Station Master, Conductor and Passenger Guide and member for 20 years and Ella, a Gold Pass Holder, worked for many, many years in our kiosks as well as doing many 'Narrow Gauge' mail outs and was a member from the very early days of Puffing Billy. The Society was represented at both funerals.
Our sympathy is extended to the families of both.
Larry James, Secretary, Puffing Billy Preservation Society
Come along, meet the Board, asked any questions you may have, get involved with the discussion.
When : Thursday 21st October 2010, 7.30pm
Where: Belgrave
RSVP to ensure we have an appropriate venue to christine.dixon@pbr.org.au
An opportunity exists at Puffing Billy Railway for a permanent part time telephonist position in our Customer Service Centre. This position offers 10 - 30 hours per week and hours of work can be between 8.30am - 6.30pm any day of the week, on a rostered basis. Your duties will include answering phones, reception duties, taking bookings and general office work.
Send your resume to Glenda Roberts, Puffing Billy Railway, PO Box 451, Belgrave, 3160 or email: glenda.roberts@pbr.org.au.
Applications close Wednesday 6 th October, 2010.
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.
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 help in completing the forms, please contact one of the team.
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 the many people who responded to our call for volunteers for the Open Day on Sunday 3rd October. Volunteer2 is being used to record all the responses and to produce the schedule for the day for non-rostered positions. Roster Officers are ensuring that all rostered positions are covered and all other people are in the process of being allocated a position/task for the day, as per their requests to volunteer. Please send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au if you would like to also offer your help.
When an event like Open Day takes place, many people are needed to ensure that the public enjoy the event and that they are safe throughout their time on the railway. Team Leaders have been appointed for Belgrave, Menzies Creek and Emerald to lead teams of volunteers in achieving this outcome. Many thanks in advance to everyone for your help.
E-mail will be used to ensure that volunteers on the day receive all the information required to enable them to undertake their tasks. People without e-mail will also be contacted separately. Please read all information about Open Day carefully and let us know if there is anything that you are unsure about or want more information about.
Changing your address/phone/e-mail - please send an e-mail to volunteering@pbr.org.au or contact the Volunteer Coordination Team at Belgrave, so that your details can be updated.
Volunteer2 Project Team - Anne MacLeish, Sue Ham, Rob Emmerson
1 October 1977 - 33 years ago. The Emerald Tourist Railway Board officially came into being. The original Board members were: A P (Lon) Wymond, R.S Phillips, J.A Robinson, J.A.Hearsch, P T Donahue, N.E. Wadeson and G.M.T.O'Brien. The official handover was delayed until October 29 to avoid some complex issues with the actual changeover. Two drivers were employed by the E.T.R.B, Lyn Helsby and Ron Peach with Maurice Barker as Operations Officer.
10 October 1953 - 57 years ago. Last train ran on the Wangaratta to Whitfield line. A bushfire had damaged a trestle bridge beyond Mohyu early in 1952 and from then on the weekly goods had terminated at Mohyu with light goods and mail being taken on to Whitfield on a gangers trolley. This was a totally unsound operation. The last goods ran to Mohyu and return on October 6 and the final train - a postal motor ran on to Whitfield and return on 10 October.
13 October 1954 - 56 years ago. An engine and guards van ran from Fern Tree Gully to Belgrave at 2.30pm and returned with all the rolling stock which had been left at Belgrave following the Landslide. It returned to Fern Tree Gully at 3 30pm. This was the last 'normal' Victorian Railways train to operate from Fern tree Gully. From then on, only trains sponsored by the Sun Newspaper, The Citizens Committee and the Puffing Billy Preservation Society (from June 1955) ran between Fern Tree Gully and Belgrave until the line was finally closed to all trains from 23 February 1958.
18 October 1975 - 35 years ago. Reopening of the line between Emerald and Lakeside. The first train was hauled by 7NA leaving Belgrave at 1.30pm, followed by the V.I.P train hauled by 6NA at 2.05pm. Unfortunately 6NA broke down at Emerald and 7NA was sent to bring its train on to Lakeside. Thus 7NA hauled both the first public train and the V.I.P train into Lakeside
18 October 1998 - Reopening of the Lakeside to Gembrook section of line thus completing the restoration of the Puffing Billy railway line.(But not of its Rolling Stock or infrastructure).
23 October 1914- 96 years ago. NA14 enters service. It is still in service on the Puffing Billy Railway some 96 years later.
Ron Peach
This year, we have seen a fantastic renewal rate. Thank you for assisting with this. All membership renewal packages have been sent out for renewals received by October 19 th.
If you have not received your membership renewal package and you paid direct to bank, please contact us on 9757 0708 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.
.It's Thomas time again and if anyone has any time available to work at Emerald it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact April
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.
April Williams
I would like to thank John Crisp and Rex Kingham for looking after the rosters while I was on leave.
Jean Clowes
The updates to the W.T.T. have been printed and will be distributed to all Safeworkers in due course. Those who are listed on the Guard/Signalmen and Loco Crew rosters for the last week of September (Commencing Monday 27 th September) and the following weekend (to and including Sunday 3rd October), will find theirs in the Safeworking Room or Hilton respectively. All the remaining copies will be posted out - with those on the rosters in the first week of October (from Monday 4th) having theirs sent out first. If you are on the railway on the Open Day (3rd October), please collect yours from the locations listed above.
One of the main changes has been the removal of 'blob' times at Menzies Creek and Emerald for 'Down' trains on Tables B & Y to reflect the requirement for trains to stay at Menzies Creek to allow passengers time to visit the Refreshment Room.
As some of you will be aware, Dinner Train departure times have been varied between either 7.00pm or 7.30pm depending on whether it's a week night or a weekend. Following the introduction of our 'themed' Dinner Trains, (Murder Mystery, Jazz etc.) it has been decided to standardise the Dinner Train (all types) departure time at 7.15pm from Belgrave, with a correspondingly earlier departure time of 10.30pm from the Packing Shed. In this interim period, when the departure time is likely to vary, I have shown all three departure times. The old times of 7.00pm and 7.30pm will be deleted with the next update of the W.T.T. as these will no longer be needed. Variations from the standard 7.15pm departure will then need to be shown in full in an 'S' Notice, such as for Weddings or Charters.
These are in the process of being updated and once this is finalised, these will also be printed and distributed. We are taking the opportunity to correct a few typographical errors and spelling mistakes as well as incorporating the changes to the Rules and G.I's. which are currently out via 'A' Circular. We also hope to update the signalling diagrams as necessary.
Rob Emmerson
Work continues with the 'bumping' of the track between Emerald and Lakeside.
Trees have also been a priority this month, with the weather taking down a few big ones and also leaving some 'hangers' which have had to be taken down.
A wood train was run recently, collecting wood from Belgrave to Cockatoo.
The Training Room is being fitted with a small kitchen area for the making of tea & coffee.
The steps leading from No.2 to No.3 Road are being designed and preparatory work has started.
The Packing Shed roof works (internal lining) has been started and will hopefully be completed shortly.
Any qualified safeworkers who are interested in doing a trolley drivers course in late October or early November please e-mail or phone me to advise their interest.
Jason Bell, Manager W&W
The bi-monthly meeting will be held on Saturday October 9th at 10 Kings Rd - 10am start.
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.
Andrew Wheatland
Belgrave will be NOT open on Saturday 2nd and but will be open on Wednesday nights during October. We WILL be open on Sunday 3rd October as part of the Open Day activities where there will be displays for the public viewing. If you are able to attend please ring the workshops and advise.
During August 2010, 31 people recorded 661 hours at Belgrave, while at Emerald, 3 people record 71 hours, a total of 732 volunteer hours for the month.
Hugh Markwick
An archival training session was conducted at Belgrave covering methods of archival treatment of documents. Also featured was the manufacture of storage boxes for our collection of Victorian Railways Weekly Notices so that they are now stored in an acid free environment.
We have received large donations of photographs for our archives which now require storage. We have received donations from Norm Wadeson and John Thompson. We also received a donation of documents and photographs from Lon Wymond.
We have been requested to provide a display of photographs for the Open Day on 3rd October and these will be on display at Menzies Creek. Please come and visit us. The theme of the display will be Fern Tree Gully
.Hugh Markwick
The next opening day will be on the PBR Open Day - Sunday 3rd October, 2010between 10.00am and 3.00pm. Then on Saturday 6th November 2010 and Saturday 4 th December 2010 between 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 Steve Holmes, Paul Nicholson and Gary Ryan, for their recent donation of books, magazines and other items.
Thank you to all who continue to support our efforts to Keep G42 Going.
Bruce West
Friday 31 st December "New Years Eve Train" - CANCELLED
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.
Sunday 13 th March, 2011 - Around the Valley
Our annual day out by bus to visit other heritage railways in Victoria. This time we plan to visit the Kerrisdale Mountain Railway, the Alexandra Tramway and our broad gauge colleagues at Healesville, the Yarra Valley Railway.
Sunday 17 th April, 2011 - Como Gardens
A day out for all the family. Join with your Puffing Billy colleagues and their families as we enjoy the splendours of the gardens, view the vintage cars in their museum and ride the miniature railway. A spit roast lunch will be provided.
June, 2011 - Theatre Night at the Gemco Theatre, Emerald.
Date & details to be confirmed.
"Graeme Breydon Memorial Film Night", Saturday August 27 th, 2011
Travel with us by train from Emerald to Gembrook as we gather to watch this year's offerings of railways from different locations and eras.
Sunday 25th September, 2011 - Point Cook
Join us as we travel by bus to the RAAF museum at Point Cook to see some of their aircraft in flight and for a tour of the museum. BBQ lunch provided.
Saturday 31st December 2011 - New Year's Eve TrainOur annual end of year celebration at the Packing shed.
For enquiries on any of these events, please contact Jeff Goodwin
p class = "right">Jeff Goodwin on jeffg1706@gmail.com| August | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| On-time running (OT - 5") | 78% | 70% |
| Locos docked on trains by due time | 83% | 85% |
| Carriage sets docked by due time | 80% | 84% |
| Train kilometres for the month | 2,976 | 3,209 |
| Loco kilometres - steam | 2,866 | 3,062 |
| Loco kilometres - diesel | 119 | 224 |
| NA locomotive days for month | 71 | 73 |
| G 42 days for month | 0 | 2 |
| Carriage kilometres | 24,936 | 24,374 |
| Carriage Days for month | 698 | 647 |
| Highest kms operated - loco | 1,263 | 966 |
| Highest kms operated - pass vehicle | 1,469 | 1497 |
| Highest kms operated - wagon | 40 | 100 |
| Scheduled trips run (one way) | 204 | 206 |
| Revenue trips (one way) | 219 | 222 |
| Non-revenue trips (one way) | 8 | 22 |
DH5 ran load and braking trial trips to Gembrook and return on August 5th and 28th.
On August 7, trains 38 & 44 were combined between Lakeside and Belgrave due to poor steaming with locomotive 8A. Train was then 8A & 6A with 18 vehicles for 139 tons.
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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