1. LRRSA@groups.io
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A comment on 50 years

Iain
 

Rod Smiths mention of Jack Mclean brought to my mind several occasions where
representatives of the Victorian Railways or V/line were sent off to delve
into Jacks wonderful collection of railway plans and diagrams to extract
information about their own railway which they had incautiously thrown out
years before as being non-essential!



As I recall Jack claimed his success as a navigator in the RAAF was because
when the aircraft got lost and followed the directions to find a railway and
follow it Jack usually knew which one it was, even in Canada.



Regards



Dr Iain Stuart

Partner

JCIS Consultants
Re: 50 years of LRRSA

Frank Stamford
 

Hello Rod,

Yes, it was an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), and happened around
the same time as the trip the photographs you are currently uploading
illustrate. It was the only time in the Society's history that I can
remember when things became sufficiently heated to have an election. And
that was an election for five members to form a Committee to write a new
Constitution. They met weekly until they had done it, presented it to
the AGM in June, and it was accepted!

I know considerably more about the wartime lift incident because I
subsequently benefited from the outcome. Les used to drive a motorbike
until he was involved in an accident at Camberwell Junction around 1930.
As a result of the accident he lost a leg. This seriously limited job
opportunities, so he became a lift driver. I don't know that he ever
drove lifts in VR Head Office, I think it was always in an insurance
office in the city. One day during World War II two military
intelligence people came into the lift and asked him whether there was
somewhere they could speak to him in private. He took the lift down to
the basement and switched it off and they told him they were involved in
developing a strategy to drive the Japanese out of Java and Sumatra, and
they needed to know everything they could find out on the railways
there. They had been advised that he was a probably a good source of
information.

Les's interest in railways was very wide ranging, and had been a long
term subscriber to a number of overseas magazines, and had corresponded
with people overseas. I think he had inherited his interest from his
father, and had also inherited a good railway library. As a result he
was able to give them a lot of information. In return they gave him a
copy of the report they prepared on the railways of Java and Sumatra.

The reason I know all this is because Les told me, and lent me the
report, which I found quite startling. It was very detailed in terms of
routes, and locomotive types, which were interesting beyond belief. The
reason Les had lent me the report was that I had told him that I
intended to visit Indonesia on the way to Europe in June 1968, and that
I could not find much reliable information on the railways there, apart
from a "Railway Wonders of the World" article of 1935, and a few
references to deliveries of steam and diesel locomotives in the 1960s.
So the report was extremely useful in giving me a background of what I
might find there.

It was an admirable characteristic of Les to be very helpful to young
railway enthusiasts if they demonstrated a serious interest.

Regards,

Frank

On 23/12/2010 11:03 PM, rnveditor wrote:

I have placed four more Cheetham Geelong photos into my album.
Photo 4: Keith Kings.
Photo 5: The teenager in the middle could well be Richard Dempster.
Photo 6: John Withers.
Photo 10: just admire the train.

I had seen Les on many trips (mainly ARHS), but the only time we spoke
was when he came up at the end of the agm (egm?) when we set up the
constitution committee, and congratulated me for steering through
nastiness to come up with an optimistic and practical solution.

Jack McLean had an interesting story about Les, dating from WWII.
Because of his leg impairment, Les was working as a lift operator in
VR's head office. One day, federal police came in and whisked him off.
Les's railway collection included maps which were seen to be of
importance for Australia's war effort, and they wanted to get access
to the information. I can't recall the country, but it could well have
been Ireland.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Frank Stamford <frank.stamford@...> wrote:
...this was to be Les's last rail enthusiast trip before he
died on 21 March...
Re: 50 years of LRRSA

Roderick Smith
 

I have placed four more Cheetham Geelong photos into my album.
Photo 4: Keith Kings.
Photo 5: The teenager in the middle could well be Richard Dempster.
Photo 6: John Withers.
Photo 10: just admire the train.

I had seen Les on many trips (mainly ARHS), but the only time we spoke was when he came up at the end of the agm (egm?) when we set up the constitution committee, and congratulated me for steering through nastiness to come up with an optimistic and practical solution.

Jack McLean had an interesting story about Les, dating from WWII. Because of his leg impairment, Les was working as a lift operator in VR's head office. One day, federal police came in and whisked him off. Les's railway collection included maps which were seen to be of importance for Australia's war effort, and they wanted to get access to the information. I can't recall the country, but it could well have been Ireland.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Frank Stamford <frank.stamford@...> wrote:
...this was to be Les's last rail enthusiast trip before he
died on 21 March...
Latest LRRSA mini-tour - the Dutton Bay Tramway

John Dennis <jdennis@...>
 

Sometimes we all get a bit too serious...

The LRRSA ran a highly successful mini-tour on Monday December 20, to
the Dutton Bay Tramway. The tramway will be running its last train on
December 28, and a special train was supplied to provide the members
present with a tour of the line. The Dutton Bay is a prime candidate
for LRRSA interest, being a private, industrial, narrow gauge railway,
although the gauge of 9mm might be considered a little too narrow for
some. :-)

Members present were Frank Stamford, Mike McCarthy, Grant McAdam and
John Dennis, with three guests along for the ride.

There's a couple of photos of this day, plus another "farewell" tour
run a month earlier, on this Railpage thread:

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11359668.htm

Cheers,
John
==========================================================
John Dennis jdennis@optusnet.com.au
Melbourne,Australia Home of the HOn30 Dutton Bay Tramway
and the Australian Narrow Gauge Web-Exhibition Gallery
Dutton Bay URL: http://members.optusnet.com.au/duttonbay
WebX http://members.optusnet.com.au/jdennis/ng_webex.html
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Frank Stamford
 

Hello Rod,

You are coming up with some very interesting pictures.

The one showing Les Poole at Cheetham saltworks, Geelong, is
significant, as this was to be Les's last rail enthusiast trip before he
died on 21 March. From the time he became aware of the VLRRS's existence
he was a great supporter of what it was attempting to do, and had
membership number 10.

Barry Stewart was a member, he had membership number 50.

We were living in interesting times in the VLRRS at the time that trip
was run...

Regards,

Frank

On 23/12/2010 12:10 PM, rnveditor wrote:

At Easter 1968 I was in the bush with a different group, and missed
the Powelltown exploration hike.
The Whistlestop day was Sat.25.5.68; I was in NSW and missed it.

That now jumps to Sat.1.3.69.
My photos show this as four visits in one day:
Bus to Geelong, and start with Cheetham (included a ride)
Belmont Common: possibly for lunch
Back to Laverton for Cheetham
Finish the day at Altona explosives sidings

There will be a lot of photographs to scan, and I have jumped to one
out of sequence to get started, and kept it at full size.

Far left: Keith Kings, ?, ? (possibly our host), Les Poole
Front of trolley: David Hennel, Andrew Hennell, John Withers
Rear of trolley: Possibly Barry Stewart bending over, but I can't
recall him being a VLLRS person, usually ARE.
Behind the trolley: Steve Martin beside Frank Stamford
Far right: Ralph Cleary with a camera

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Re: Poverty Point bridge (Walhalla)

Frank Stamford
 

It is good to see this bridge has been redecked.

You can find some information about it in Light Railways No.28 page 20,
No.29 page 7, and very good photographs of it (before it was redecked)
in LR No.33 page 25. In a later issue of LR, which I cannot locate in a
hurry (possibly around No.55), there is a phograph of a helicopter
delivering redecking materials.

In 1969 there were rumours the bridge was going to be blown up by the
army as an exercise. I don't know whether the rumours were well founded,
but the LRRSA took action to bring the bridge's historical significance
to attention to prevent such a thing happening.

Regards,

Frank

On 23/12/2010 10:58 AM, rnveditor wrote:

Thanks Rod,
I won't need them personally, but they could be placed in an album in
the group's photos section (you have to get there via the Yahoo website).

When I was fairly new to VLRRS, people talked of the bridge in hushed
tones: nobody was sure that it existed. It was erected in the factory
yard (South Melbourne?), then each part was numbered and the whole lot
was taken in by packhorse from Toongabbie: the bridge predated VR's
Walhalla line. One senior rembered seeing the painted numbers on the
pieces in his early exploration (1930s or 40s).

I found it in 1971, by bushbashing down from the road and landing at
just the right spot.
A second attempt a few years later was less successful: I landed to
far downstream. My group waded up the river and reached the bridge.

When it became part of the alpine trail, the approach trails were
cleared on each side.

On a weekend of exploration based on staying at Rawson, LRRSA walked
in from the VR and road Thomson bridges: up Mormontown Track, then
along the former tramline to the bridge.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Rod Hutchinson <r.hutchinson@...> wrote:
...I may have some photos if you would like...
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Roderick Smith
 

At Easter 1968 I was in the bush with a different group, and missed the Powelltown exploration hike.
The Whistlestop day was Sat.25.5.68; I was in NSW and missed it.

That now jumps to Sat.1.3.69.
My photos show this as four visits in one day:
Bus to Geelong, and start with Cheetham (included a ride)
Belmont Common: possibly for lunch
Back to Laverton for Cheetham
Finish the day at Altona explosives sidings

There will be a lot of photographs to scan, and I have jumped to one out of sequence to get started, and kept it at full size.

Far left: Keith Kings, ?, ? (possibly our host), Les Poole
Front of trolley: David Hennel, Andrew Hennell, John Withers
Rear of trolley: Possibly Barry Stewart bending over, but I can't recall him being a VLLRS person, usually ARE.
Behind the trolley: Steve Martin beside Frank Stamford
Far right: Ralph Cleary with a camera

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Re: Poverty Point bridge (Walhalla)

Roderick Smith
 

Thanks Rod,
I won't need them personally, but they could be placed in an album in the group's photos section (you have to get there via the Yahoo website).

When I was fairly new to VLRRS, people talked of the bridge in hushed tones: nobody was sure that it existed. It was erected in the factory yard (South Melbourne?), then each part was numbered and the whole lot was taken in by packhorse from Toongabbie: the bridge predated VR's Walhalla line. One senior rembered seeing the painted numbers on the pieces in his early exploration (1930s or 40s).

I found it in 1971, by bushbashing down from the road and landing at just the right spot.
A second attempt a few years later was less successful: I landed to far downstream. My group waded up the river and reached the bridge.

When it became part of the alpine trail, the approach trails were cleared on each side.

On a weekend of exploration based on staying at Rawson, LRRSA walked in from the VR and road Thomson bridges: up Mormontown Track, then along the former tramline to the bridge.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Rod Hutchinson <r.hutchinson@...> wrote:
...I may have some photos if you would like...
Re: Poverty Point bridge (Walhalla) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Rod Hutchinson <r.hutchinson@...>
 

I have crossed the poverty point bridge during the late 90'a or early 00's, I may have some photos if you would like.

Very interesting piece of history.

Regards
Rod Hutchinson




AFAIK, the bridge had lost some/all of the timber decking.
On my 1970 and 74 hikes, before it was part of the hiking trail, I located the bridge, but didn't cross on the girders.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

From Wed.22.12.10 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'

Bridge to a golden era reopens
The Walhalla tramway bridge has reopened after the repair of damage caused by the Black Saturday bushfires. Also known as the Old Steel or Poverty Point Bridge, the 50m span, 15m above the Thomson River, was built 110 years ago for the tramway supplying timber to Walhalla during the gold mining era These days it is surrounded by Baw Baw National Park, and serves to remind bushwalkers hiking the 650km Australian Alps Walking track from Walhalla to Canberra, of Gippsland's rich goldmining history.
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Roderick Smith
 

I have added the last four of the Ballarat tram tour.
photo 37 shows two of the ARE quartet.
photos 38, 39 & 40 included John Withers (rear view at the cab; two views leaning out of the door).
He not only attended VLRRS/LRRSA tours, he used his Landrover in the early days of Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society (now Ballarat Tramway Museum) to retrieve components, including dragging rails.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Poverty Point bridge (Walhalla)

Roderick Smith
 

AFAIK, the bridge had lost some/all of the timber decking.
On my 1970 and 74 hikes, before it was part of the hiking trail, I located the bridge, but didn't cross on the girders.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

From Wed.22.12.10 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'

Bridge to a golden era reopens
The Walhalla tramway bridge has reopened after the repair of damage caused by the Black Saturday bushfires. Also known as the Old Steel or Poverty Point Bridge, the 50m span, 15m above the Thomson River, was built 110 years ago for the tramway supplying timber to Walhalla during the gold mining era These days it is surrounded by Baw Baw National Park, and serves to remind bushwalkers hiking the 650km Australian Alps Walking track from Walhalla to Canberra, of Gippsland's rich goldmining history.
Theft of Railway Safe-working Instruments from Railway Museum

Frank Stamford
 

Hello all,

The Australian Railway Historical Society Victorian Division has asked that the message below be given the widest possible publicity.

I hope they are successful in retrieving these instruments and the other items.

Frank.

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

AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
VICTORIAN DIVISON INC. A0033223H
ABN 65 533 143 834
IMPORTANT NOTICE
TO ALL WITH AN INTEREST IN RAILWAY HISTORY

At some time in the latter part of the week ending 18 December the was a burglary at the ARHS Vic Div Inc Railway Museum in North Williamstown

Entry was forced into the signal box and the following items were stolen
Two Block Instruments
Two Lamps
Two Staff Exchange Boxes
One Staff Instrument Bell

From the manner in which these objects were selected and removed, it is evident that the thieves were aware of the significance and value of the objects. As they are both bulky and heavy, it is unlikely that they can be transmitted to buyers by post
The Police were notified on Saturday 18th

The Council of ARHS Vic Div Inc is determined to take all steps possible to recover the missing items and to assist the police in dealing with those responsible.

To make this possible, we are seeking your assistance to discover any information related to the theft and/or the stolen objects.

It is probable that the objects may be offered for sale we would encourage you to:
Circulate this message to all members of your organisation/business and associates, as soon as possible.
Circulate this message on any electronic net works you belong to.
Be alert to any one offering the objects for sale
Be alert for any one who has suddenly added such items to their collection
Maintain a watch on EBay and any other means of electronic sale.

Whilst we do not want your to expose yourselves to any risk, or to alert the thieves that we are on the lookout, we would certainly encourage you to discretely try to discover the identity of the people responsible and pass it advise us.
A telephone number, email address may be all we need for the police to identify the culprits.
Please advise us and/or the police if you have any suspicions or specific information.

Over the next few days this message will be sent to VicTrack, ARHS Divisions in other states, Signal Record Society, ARE, All Stall holders at the Great Railway Swap Meet, ATR, ATHRA, Railway Museums, Tourist Railways, Model and Miniature Railway groups, Auction Houses dealing in Railway ephemera, Mainline steam operators, Australia Customs.
Contact Us Direct
Phone: Ian Jenkin 03 98224940, or mobile 0420 554 288.
Email jenkin4@aardvark.net.au

Ian Jenkin, Vice President ARHS Vic Div Inc On behalf of ARHS Vic Div Council
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Roderick Smith
 

Today's episode: three photos aboard Ballarat 37.
Given the sequencing, they must have been of the VLRRS portion, but the only VLRRS passenger whom I can recogise is John Prideaux (photo 35, standing, with tie). IIRC, John was treasurer at the time. I wasn't treasurer until later.
The quartet seated in the centre saloon were ARE types: Wayne Mills, Greg Dixon and Chris Dack; the obscured one just has to be Peter Clayton.
Perhaps the cooperation extended not only to sharing trams, but sharing passengers because ARE had too many bookings?

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Re: Light railways in Port Macquarie area

bll_hnks
 

Chris,
At Harrington there is the harbour break-wall which utilized a tramway to bring down stone quarried at Crowdy Head. From memory the tramway formation is now a walking track. At the northern end where the stone was quarried you used to be able see remnants of the tramway and the quarrying. I haven't been there for many years. I didn't get to have a close look at the break-wall end.
The beach at Crowdy Head is delightful and you can walk on the headland itself.
Regards,
Bill Hanks

From: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au [mailto:LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au] On Behalf Of Chris Stratton
Sent: Sunday, 19 December 2010 2:50 PM
To: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au
Subject: [LRRSA] Light railways in Port Macquarie area



I'll be staying in Port Macquarie with the family next month and was
wondering if there are any light railway remains in the area worth looking
at. They would need to be easy to get to and not too far away. Bulahdelah
and Mayers Point would be too far away, but the Kendall area would be OK.

Regards,

Chris
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Roderick Smith
 

I have made a start with the Sun.3.3.68 Ballarat tram tour.
This was described in Autumn 68 LR 23.
The first stage used four-wheel tram 21; the second stage used bogie tram 37.

From my tour file:
* Sun.3.3.68: VT. B85-ABU43-BL13(Pioneer)-BL12(Enterprise)-BV8-BV7-BV6-BV19-AV32-BV3-BV18-BV1-BC15 Melbourne - North Geelong - Ballarat - Melbourne. This was the first use of BL12 in VT since restoration. An R was planned; the B was used because of fire danger. There was a tram convoy for all passengers from the station to the gardens & return. (Apr.68 DD p32 item).
* Sun.3.3.68: ARE (58) Ballarat tram tour of the complete system. 37 & 21. There were 34 passengers; travel to and from Ballarat was on VT.
A forward run via North Geelong hints at about an 11.30 arrival in Ballarat.
I didn't mention the LRRSA tour. Clearly, VLRRS and ARE exchanged trams mid afternoon. What isn't clear: did the two travel in convoy all day, or did they go different ways, and met at a rendezvous later?

The first two photos don't contain many recognisable people, but possibly Ian Stanley is included. The third shows John Prideaux on the footpath. I suspect that it is in the second half, and VLRRS 37 is blocked from view by ARE's 21, being crossed.

I continued west on my motorcycle to photograph the declining days of steam in the Nhill area. I still had a week left before university resumed.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Re: Light railways in Port Macquarie area

Chris Stratton
 

Thanks Bob, I'll look up those articles.

Regards,
Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au [mailto:LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au]
On Behalf Of Bob McKillop
Sent: Monday, 20 December 2010 8:46 AM
To: LRRSA@yahoogroups.com.au
Subject: Re: [LRRSA] Light railways in Port Macquarie area

Chris Stratton wote on 19 December:
I'll be staying in Port Macquarie with the family next month and was
wondering if there are any light railway remains in the area worth looking
at.
They would need to be easy to get to and not too far away. Bulahdelah and
Mayers Point would be too far away, but the Kendall area would be OK.

It would seem that there are some relics in the Kendall area - see LR 131
pp
11-20; LR 133 pp 21-23; LR 145, p 28; LR 150 p 36; and LR 159 p 28. You
will also
have the opportunity to ride on the recently re-opened Timbertown
Heritage Railway at Wauchope (re-launched on 15 December).
Bob McKillop
Heritage & Research editor, Light Railways
Re: Light railways in Port Macquarie area

BM
 

Chris Stratton wote on 19 December:
I'll be staying in Port Macquarie with the family next month and was
wondering if there are any light railway remains in the area worth looking
at. They would need to be easy to get to and not too far away. Bulahdelah
and Mayers Point would be too far away, but the Kendall area would be OK.

It would seem that there are some relics in the Kendall area - see LR 131 pp 11-20; LR 133 pp 21-23; LR 145, p 28; LR 150 p 36; and LR 159 p 28. You will also have the opportunity to ride on the recently re-opened Timbertown Heritage Railway at Wauchope (re-launched on 15 December).
Bob McKillop
Heritage & Research editor, Light Railways
Light railways in Port Macquarie area

Chris Stratton
 

I'll be staying in Port Macquarie with the family next month and was
wondering if there are any light railway remains in the area worth looking
at. They would need to be easy to get to and not too far away. Bulahdelah
and Mayers Point would be too far away, but the Kendall area would be OK.



Regards,

Chris
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Roderick Smith
 

I have now scanned the last three people photos from the 'Bump in a bus' day, and placed them in my Roderick Smith album in the group's photos section. I can't identify the people. Clothing can be a clue, but the tones and similar nature of clothing being worn are not helping.
I am not going back to the Rubicon day to scan any more, as I didn't take many, and they are not people photos. As at midyear, I had only one camera, and it had expensive colour slides in it. By the end of the year, I had bought a second camera, and usually ran one with colour, and one with b&w.

I may have some of the 3.3.68 Ballarat tour. That was a Vintage Train to Ballarat, and there were LRRSA and ARE charters, and probably ones by VT itself to take passengers to the gardens. For the first time, fire-danger bans resulted in the train being diesel hauled instead of steam hauled. I was there on my motorcycle, and was continuing further west.

I missed the hike (Easter?), and I believe that I missed the Whistlestop inspection: I went privately, on a different occasion.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
Re: Fifty years of LRRSA - events and activities - Revision 2

Roderick Smith
 

I am having an after-lunch coffee, so I have uploaded the next few while I am sipping.

I scanned one more of Rubicon, but have cropped rather than shrunk, in a vain effort to identify the participants. The front left could be Ian Stanley.

13 at Powelltown; I can't guess the photographer in view.
14 at Powelltown; I can't guess the foreground member; but John Withers's moustache is distinctive in the medium distance.
15a at Powellton, looking for recently-tipped bogies and other items which had been intact only a few months earlier when Frank had visited.
Eight participants: John Prideaux, Trevor Penn?, ?, John Withers, ?, ?, ? (obscured at rear), ?

The changeover from electric to diesel was to be 30.6.93 last to 1.7.94 first, but electric operation lingered through July and into August.
Electric still in use as at 19.8.
Diesel in use by Sun.5.9.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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