Trying to sort out which TACL tractor is preserved at Puffing Billy.
In 'A Day in the Life of G42' pages 18 and 19, The Climax is pictured with a somewhat dilapidated TACL tractor.
Is this the one that is now restored, or is it the other mentioned on p19 that was still in active service at the mill in the early 60's.
I have LR168 Dec. 2002 regarding the launch of the restored TACL (great article) and note from 'On this Day ' site that it arrived at Emerald in December 1974.
However it was not moved with the Climax as that occurred on Wed 5th May 1965.
And if it is not the one still in active service in the early 60's where is it now?
It would be great to find out.
David.


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My interest is in rail (and trams) generally but I discovered that many pictures of timber tramways at interchange locations often show details of the "other" railway in the background that adds to our knowledge of that railway.

Also, as a self confessed book junkie, obtaining some of these marvellous books through being a member encouraged me. Not sure how long ago now but many issues of Light Railways ago. I have bought almost all the back issues that I could obtain but won't go near eBay for anything like that, in fact I won't have anything to do with eBay fullstop.

A recent visit (couple of years now) to FNQ brought me in contact with the cane railways, well over due for a return trip.

cheers
David in Avenel.

p.s. Apprenticeship days and being strapped for cash - yes I remember them well Bill.

BLI BLI wrote:

Hello all,

My interest started when I bought the book "Balloon Stacks and Sugar Cane" on the Fiji cane lines. How many others started from that book? Somehow I found out about the club in the late 60's once I had that interest defined.

Cheers
John

Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

I've joined LRRSA twice. The first time was in the 1960s whilst still at
high school. LR16 was my first magazine. After I started my
apprenticeship, the abject poverty forced me to not renew after two
years. The interest remained with me during my years in the wilderness.
When I saw a flyer for the then new book 'Powelltown' and the discount
on it for members, I decided to rejoin.

Regards,

Bill Hanks



From: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au [mailto:LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au] On
Behalf Of David Whiteford
Sent: Monday, 16 February 2009 10:53 AM
To: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au
Subject: RE: [LRRSA] How Did You Come To Join The LRRSA?



In the early and mid 1970s, as a teenager, I was purchasing Light
Railways from the bookstands on ARHS (WA) monthly tour trains. At that
time WA was well represented in articles and I was personally aware of
many of the port and industrial lines featured (Thanks Ian Crellin and
Frank Stamford among the writers). While I joined (and retained
membership in) some 'heavy rail groups', my interest in light railways
for research and reading pleasure has always been that bit greater and I
am sure that I had joined LRRSA well before the 70's ended. Light
Railways is still the only rail mag that I can guarantee to read cover
to cover.

Cheers all
David Whiteford
(W.A.)

________________________________

From: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au <mailto:LRRSA%40yahoogroups.com.au>
[mailto:LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au <mailto:LRRSA%40yahoogroups.com.au> ]
On
Behalf Of BLI BLI
Sent: Monday, 16 February 2009 8:20 AM
To: LRRSA Yahoogroup
Subject: [LRRSA] How Did You Come To Join The LRRSA?

Howdee,
This is a question borne out of our recent lively debate on the group.

How did you come to join the LRRSA in the first place?

For me it occured around 1993-4 after a visit, not surprisingly, to
Moreton Mill. It was the first time I ever saw sugarcane railways and
started a yearly obsession with that mill for me.
At the time I was unaware of the LRRSA.
I sent some photos to a couple of magazines, including Continental
Modeller in the UK. My friend Andrew, editor of CM, who told me about
the association after I mentioned a lack of information on them.

I subsequently joined and have remained a member ever since.

Whats your story?

Cheers
Brad

<http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97490433/grpId=18425433/grpspId=1740346731/
msgId=2652/stime=1234740027/nc1=3975891/nc2=2/nc3=3>

BLI BLI <alcogoodwin@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

Howdee,
This is a question borne out of our recent lively debate on the
group.

How did you come to join the LRRSA in the first place?

For me it occured around 1993-4 after a visit, not surprisingly, to
Moreton Mill. It was the first time I ever saw sugarcane railways and
started a yearly obsession with that mill for me.
At the time I was unaware of the LRRSA.
I sent some photos to a couple of magazines, including Continental
Modeller in the UK. My friend Andrew, editor of CM, who told me about
the association after I mentioned a lack of information on them.

I subsequently joined and have remained a member ever since.

Whats your story?

Cheers
Brad

I only became aware of LRRSA after it was mentioned on the Locoshed Yahoo group, most likely by Brad. I work for BlueScope Steel (previously BHP) at Port Kembla and supplied info on the Port Kembla operations to the group, although since the workshop operations were taken over by Goninan and the rail operations more recently by PN, my contacts have either been made redundant or retired and it is a lot harder to get info these days.
This info began being used in Light Railways and I started buying it at the newsagent. I then joined so I could buy the back issue bundles cheaper and to get the latest issues by mail. I still buy back issues I'm missing on ebay if the price is reasonable but there haven't been any recently.
I am interested in rail in general, not particularly light rail, but these days seek out light railways, especially cane railways, more than I used to. I have been to Fiji five times, and going again in July, but the most recent trip in 2007 was the first where I hired a car and actively looked for the trains, rather than just photographing them if I happened to see them.

Regards,
Chris

G'day All,



I have absolutely no idea how I actually came to the decision to join. I
feel it may have been as a result of one of the fund raising trips on the
Puffing Billy line to raise money for the Climax restoration or something
earlier.



Narrow gauge lines, obscure branch lines and trains other than mainline
operations have fascinated me since 1953 when my parents took me on a
holiday to North Queensland and I saw my first steam hauled 2' gauge cane
train. The decision to join was a good one.



I also read the magazine from cover to cover.



Cheers,



David R Axup

In the early and mid 1970s, as a teenager, I was purchasing Light
Railways from the bookstands on ARHS (WA) monthly tour trains. At that
time WA was well represented in articles and I was personally aware of
many of the port and industrial lines featured (Thanks Ian Crellin and
Frank Stamford among the writers). While I joined (and retained
membership in) some 'heavy rail groups', my interest in light railways
for research and reading pleasure has always been that bit greater and I
am sure that I had joined LRRSA well before the 70's ended. Light
Railways is still the only rail mag that I can guarantee to read cover
to cover.

Cheers all
David Whiteford
(W.A.)

________________________________

From: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au [mailto:LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au] On
Behalf Of BLI BLI
Sent: Monday, 16 February 2009 8:20 AM
To: LRRSA Yahoogroup
Subject: [LRRSA] How Did You Come To Join The LRRSA?


Howdee,
This is a question borne out of our recent lively debate on the group.

How did you come to join the LRRSA in the first place?

For me it occured around 1993-4 after a visit, not surprisingly, to
Moreton Mill. It was the first time I ever saw sugarcane railways and
started a yearly obsession with that mill for me.
At the time I was unaware of the LRRSA.
I sent some photos to a couple of magazines, including Continental
Modeller in the UK. My friend Andrew, editor of CM, who told me about
the association after I mentioned a lack of information on them.

I subsequently joined and have remained a member ever since.

Whats your story?

Cheers
Brad

<http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97490433/grpId=18425433/grpspId=1740346731/
msgId=2652/stime=1234740027/nc1=3975891/nc2=2/nc3=3>

--------------------------------------------------
From: "BLI BLI" <alcogoodwin@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 11:20 PM

How did you come to join the LRRSA in the first place?

I wanted the Members' Discount on Bushtram books!

David 1/2d
England

Howdee,
This is a question borne out of our recent lively debate on the group.

How did you come to join the LRRSA in the first place?

For me it occured around 1993-4 after a visit, not surprisingly, to Moreton Mill. It was the first time I ever saw sugarcane railways and started a yearly obsession with that mill for me.
At the time I was unaware of the LRRSA.
I sent some photos to a couple of magazines, including Continental Modeller in the UK. My friend Andrew, editor of CM, who told me about the association after I mentioned a lack of information on them.

I subsequently joined and have remained a member ever since.

Whats your story?

Cheers
Brad




** Railways & Industrial Heritage Society Phils Inc (Australian Chapter **
Preserving The Rich Railway History Of The Philippines.
We are urgently needing your help!
PHOTOS - STORIES - HISTORICAL ITEMS - MEMBERSHIP
****** http://anz.rihspi.org ******


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Hi Bob,
          I suppose I have pretty much given my views in this thread already.
  However I have never had any real cause for complaint, I have found every since issue interesting since the first day I subscribed back in the 90s and read them cover to cover.
 
  Its a shame more people don't take at least a little interest in railways overseas, there are some really fascinating operations out there.
  The overseas content in LR is interesting and hardly overwhelmes the Australian content.
 
Keep up the great work.
 
BRad

** Railways & Industrial Heritage Society Phils Inc (Australian Chapter **
Preserving The Rich Railway History Of The Philippines.
We are urgently needing your help!
PHOTOS - STORIES - HISTORICAL ITEMS - MEMBERSHIP
****** http://anz.rihspi.org ******











If any members of the LRRSA Yahoo Group have thoughts on the appropriateness
of this coverage, particularly the inclusion of occasional n ews items in
H&T from overseas, then the editors would be most interested to hear your
comments.

Bob McKillop
Heritage & Research editos, Light Railways

-----
.
















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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On the topic of what the LRRSA and its magazine 'Light Railways' covers, my understanding is that the Society encourages research into light railways, particularly those in industrial settings (which is why we somethimes get invovled in heavy iron ore haulage for instance), in Australia and in settings where there is an Australian link to the railway in question. Thus we also cover former Australian territories and the sugar lines of Fiji due to the involvement of the CSR there. Phosphate mining in the Pacific and Indian Oceans generally have an Australian link, while the Australian military were involved in light railway operations in Europe during WWI and in SE Asia (PNG and North Borneo at least) during WWII. Thus, the research carried out by LRRSA members can extend beyond Australia's boundaries and the results of this research is published in 'Light Railways'.

In the news sections, the 'Heritage & Tourist' section, for instance, follows up on preserved Australian locomotives and rolling stock that have gone to overseas railways and I occasionally run items from other countries where it seems that the event or subject being reported may be of interest to our local preservation groups involved in the restoration, operation oor display of industrial and light railway locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts.

If any members of the LRRSA Yahoo Group have thoughts on the appropriateness of this coverage, particularly the inclusion of occasional n ews items in H&T from overseas, then the editors would be most interested to hear your comments.

Bob McKillop
Heritage & Research editos, Light Railways

Frank,
         I have a great one of some bullocks hauling cane trucks on portable track in Fiji if your interested.
 
OK, yeah I am only joking :-)
 
Regards
Brad
 ** Trying to lighten things up :-)


** Railways & Industrial Heritage Society Phils Inc (Australian Chapter **
Preserving The Rich Railway History Of The Philippines.
We are urgently needing your help!
PHOTOS - STORIES - HISTORICAL ITEMS - MEMBERSHIP
****** http://anz.rihspi.org ******

BLI BLI wrote:

Even though I moderate around 15 gorups I rarely go to the front page
for a look and could only imagine that those members who get their
posting via email (as opposed to the website) would rarely see it as
well. If I had not mentioned the new photo, I wonder what percentage
of members would know about it a week later. Truth is it would be
very few and mostly those who chose to read directly off the web.

Few people probably go there to read messages, but one needs to go there to see new entries into the Files and Photos sections. The extent to which such new entries arise is of course very different across groups.

The LRRSA is currently having a new website professionally developed.

It will have an on-line shopping facility built in, instead of the
present difficult-to-use separate shopping cart facility.

As part of the project there is the opportunity to change the banner
image at the top of the website.

If any one feels they have a suitable image or would be able to
produce a suitable image, please contact me offline.

We are looking for something in wide landscape format, with an image
that draws the eye to the right. The image should complement the
Society symbol - and since the Society symbol (the Climax locomotive)
looks to past history, the banner should emphasise the modern image,
hence a current Queensland sugar cane railway scene would seem to be
appropriate. However a montage of different scenes might work.

Regards,

Frank

Following a request in a model railway group I have prepared an
outline side-elevation scale drawing of "Powellite", the Powelltown
tramway's Bagnall 0-6-0 loco Builder's Number 1965 of 1914.

It can be found in the Files section of this yahoo group:
Powellite_drawing version 0.pdf

Hopefully in the future I will add details to the drawing and make a
front elevation. However I don't use a CAD package, and for this
drawing I used Adobe Illustrator, a computer package which I find
quite user-hostile!

Regards,

Frank

**** Just typed up an extended reply to both Peter and Eddie before realising that Pete's was actually offlist (which I greatly appreciate). I have edited his reply out but am sending the remaining reply to Eddie ***

Brad

-----------------------------------------------------------------------


Hi all,
I am hesitant to let this drag on for fear that it may eventually get out of hand. I would normally have taken a step back now and kept a close watch on how it pans out.
However I feel two replies are in order.





<<<<<On the contrary, I suggest that is exactly what it would do, and
certainly it does so on some other groups, because it increases the
likelihood that a photo will indeed be seen - so that people can feel
rewarded even if they are not likely to win a competition.>>>>

I beg to differ.
Even though I moderate around 15 gorups I rarely go to the front page for a look and could only imagine that those members who get their posting via email (as opposed to the website) would rarely see it as well.
If I had not mentioned the new photo, I wonder what percentage of members would know about it a week later. Truth is it would be very few and mostly those who chose to read directly off the web.
Certainly ripping already contrinuted photos out of the archive for use would be a far easier approach and save a lot of time and may make for a little discussion on each, however people actively contributing to a subject and giving full details of their chosen shot, has always mean't more active involvement in my experience.

I would also suggest the display on a webpage of the runner ups and their full details after the winner to encourage even more participation.

However in view of the lack of response to the idea I will likely take your suggestion.
Thanks to everyone who has given their views on the photo, I never expected it would lead to such much activity on the group.

Its a hobby - lets all enjoy it.

Best wishes
Brad



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Some groups I belong to change the photo either on a weekly bases or monthly, those groups are modelling groups so the photo is generally the latest model built by one of the members, more or less like an accolade or pat on the back for a job well done.
Obviously this group isn't about modelling, but there would have to be thousands of photos out there somewhere, I use to fire on the Perry steam engine at Marian Mill back in 1974-5 seasons and can remember numerous times when photographers would be snapping away everytime we pulled another rake into the full yard as it were back then, a lot of them had movie cameras, I love to see some of the footage, likewise when I was a shunter at Ipswich North yard in the early 80's, I loved to see some of the footage filmed by various train buffs. Even nowadays there's always photographers snapping photos every season.
Cheers
Brian Millar
Qld. Aust.

--- In LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au, Eddie Oliver <eoliver@...> wrote:

Not to mention those of us who are basically interested in the railway
and its operation, and don't have much interest in either the
locomotives or the rolling stock.

Then there is another significant sized group within the LRRSA who
like to go and visit railways that aren't there!

That is, the industrial archaeologists whose main interest is in
railways and tramways that have long since disappeared.

They are a significant group because I gather that the LRRSA is the
biggest publisher of industrial archaeological material in Australia,
and (I am told) the only publisher to do that in a way that is
accessible to the general public.

The driving motivation behind the foundation of the LRRSA was an
interest in railway archaeology, everything else was secondary. The
subsequent publication of numerous books which were of interest to a
wider audience than railway enthusiasts (books like "Settlers and
Sawmillers" and "Rails to Rubicon" to name just two) gave the LRRSA
the financial strength to take the risky and costly move to upgrade
"Light Railways" in 1998, a move which turned out to be very successful.

That means animal powered railways (mostly horse, few were powered by
bullocks) are of interest to many LRRSA members. And there were
thousands of them - all over Australia, and they were important in the
operation of many industries.

Regards,

Frank

Hi John, I will experiment and see if we can get a web counter on there to measure traffic. Brad

John Browning wrote:

Perhaps it is easy to lose sight of what the lrrsa Yahoo discussion
group is primarily - a gathering place for those who already know
they are interested in "Light Railways" as defined by lrrsa.
A key outcome of this is to have a valuable on-line presence that can
attract new members and new readers of the magazine, a role shared
with the lrrsa web site.
It is interesting to wonder how many casual visitors arrive at the
group page. My guess would be that the vast majority of casual
visitors to the group pages are those who have found their way there
through a search - and so once again know exactly why they have come
there and what they are interested in.
In any case, the lrrsa group front page is very clear in stating what
people might find within.
My suggestion to Brad is that the Fiji bullock-hauled cane train on
portable track is an excellent front page picture for a little while,
but that generally speaking the front page should be of an Australian
scene and should be changed periodically to take in the breadth of
the society's interests, just as Frank does with the lrrsa web page.
It is good if the web page and group site complement each other, not
duplicate each other, and I think this has been achieved well.
As an experienced moderator of groups, Brad will probably have quite
a reasonable idea of the type and level of interest most represented
by those who visit discussion group pages such as ours. Sugar cane
may have its own more specialised groups, but I would wager that a
significant proportion of our newer members became interested in
lrrsa through sugar cane. As the cane industry is by far the dominant
user of "light railways" in Australia today, I'd suggest we need to
maintain a close eye on this industry.
I imagine that the reference to the "worthy leaders" of the Society
is to the elected individuals who have statutory responsibilities for
its strategic direction and management. I am not and never have been
one such. However, my observation is that they have been very
successful so far in making it a very successful organisation.
My understanding is that the "worthy leaders" do believe that it will
soon be time for another stocktake, as happens with every successful
organisation, and I understand that they will be consulting members
and stakeholders in a variety of ways.
Out there in the big bad world, discussion groups can tend to be
taken over by the "wrecker", the "wind up merchant", the loud and the
opinionated. It has been shown that most people who belong to a group
say very little, if anything, while antagonistic attitudes, rudeness,
and general shouting is a very effective way of driving away members
of the "silent majority" (for that is who they are).
That is why we control access to the group and have active
moderators. Thankfully, this guiding presence is nearly always
invisible, as it ideally should be - which is a tribute to the good
sense, good humour and positive attitudes seen in just about every
post. Our focus has been, and continues to be, the generous sharing
of information and the respectful sharing of ideas. Long may it
continue.
John Browning
co-moderator

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A Fiji shot belongs in a Philippine museum? Brad

Hunslet wrote:

Posted by: "BLI BLI"
<mailto: alcogoodwin@ yahoo.com. au ?Subject=
Re%3A%20Title% 20Photo%2E% 20%5BSEC% 3DUNCLASSIFIED% 5D> alcogoodwin@ yahoo.com. au
< http://profiles. yahoo.com/ moretonshay >moretonshay
Sat Feb 14, 2009 11:22 am (EST)
Howdee,
            I suppose it really
comes down to a persons personal definition of Light Railways.
** Who really should stick to his Philippine efforts :-)
** Railways & Industrial Heritage Society Phils Inc (Australian Chapter) **
Preserving The Rich Railway History Of The Philippines.
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _____
Which is where I would suggest the image belongs!
Hunslet.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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