|
News and Updates 2010 Annual General Meeting 3237 North Coast Tour Part 2 Continuing on from part one of our tour after a successful weekend of shuttles at Grafton we departed for the Beef Week celebrations at Casino on Wednesday the 26th of May a near to time departure from Grafton saw us arrive in Casino on time after crossing the southbound XPT at Rappville.
The sound of a “P” Class belting up the various short sharp grades that dominate the Grafton to Casino section of the North Coast was something to be heard especially on the hill that runs up to Lawrence Road this location also being popular choice for Photographers and Observers alike. On arrival at Casino the train was divided with the running set and the 47 heading back to Grafton and return on an afternoon return trip something similar to a train that would have run in the 1960's and 70's as a Local Passenger or School Train. Our arrival at Casino gave us a chance to give locals a look at our steam loco thanks to the ARTC train Controllers we were allowed to stand on the platform for a short period whilst our stabling location was confirmed. This also proved to be a first for a long time or may be a last as well, we were to stable on the Murwillumbah Branch at Old Casino the first time a steam loco had been on the Branch since the Bi-centenary trains and again probably the first time a 47 had been out on the branch.
The running for the first few days went well with passengers filling most trains to capacity and one train on the weekday trips was entirely booked out by local school children who had apparently been studying railways for sometime before hand. The train trip being a finale to there studies. One of the teachers remarking that she had been using the trip as bribery for good behaviour in class, it worked as she had full class. Our weekend running was not without problems as our old lady (3237) ran a Hotbox on the rear drivers side of the pony truck as was said later and rightly so “ you wouldn't take your Hundred year old Grandmother on a 1600 km road trip and not expect something to go wrong”. In this case the hotbox was caused by the wool pack that provides part of the lubrication catching fire and melting the white metal in the bearing this reduced our train speed to 10 to 15 kmh with stops every couple of kilometres to relubricate what was left of the bearing as our train limped into Kyogle Loop. The 47 was hastily arranged to run light engine from Casino to retrieve our train and passengers most of which were understanding of the problem thanks to the LVR's on board staff keeping them informed of what was happening. The day did not finish there as we were standing in Kyogle Loop with a 32 class that was a failure. We shunted the loco to the perway siding later in the evening and stabled for the night after first getting the local fire brigade to top up our tender water supply. Whilst this was happening our team of fitters set about to make good temporary repairs to get us to Casino at the first possible window in traffic so after spending the night at Kyogle Loop we made ready to depart at daybreak with the Water Gin and ABN attached.
Our eventual departure time from Kyogle Loop was at 0948, which heralded the start of around four and half hours, and just over 31km of 10 to 15 kmh running stopping every couple of kilometres to relubricate the bearing. Onward to Casino crossing our own LVR train at Namoona and arriving in Casino at 1324 after shunting our train to the Branch we returned 3237 to one of her old homes into the Roundhouse at Casino. The plans for repairs were put in place in the planning stages almost immediately. The plan suggested being to interchange the pony truck from 3203 at Broadmeadow with the one from 3237 our thanks to the Office of Rail Heritage and the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum for their help with this part of the jigsaw. Whilst on the subject of help a great number of people need to be thanked for there help and support. As you read this repairs to 3237 have started and are being carried out and will be reported on as time permits my apologies for not having Part Two of the story done earlier but the ground work for the repairs has taken priority. Letter from Janelle Saffin, Federal Member for Page Rob Lougher 3237 North Coast Tour Part 1 The Lachlan Valley Railway's North Coast Tour is underway and the train has proven to be a popular attraction to the people of the North Coast with much interest being generated by the passage of our train. The train left Sydney on Thursday the 20/5/2010 with a load made up of 4701, 3237, Water Gin, 3801 Ltd's ABN, LVR's ABS, FHG and 5 Car Running Set with the first stop being Maitland to service the “P”Class with all going well the loco ventured onto the North Coast line for the first time in just over 44 years. 3237 was last on the North Coast line on the 16th of April, 1966 being photographed at Craven on this day on a rail recovery train that was eventually to work to Dubbo via Binnaway where the loco was set aside thus being the Last “P”Class to work on the coast in regular service. In another first for our Locomotives 4701 became the first of its class to work a train north of Martins Creek the 47's in later years of there working life with the various Government Rail identities were allowed to work as far as Martins Creek Ballast Quarry. As our train headed north water was taken at Dungog and Gloucester and onward to Taree for the first of our overnight stops. A close to time departure from Taree on Friday saw stops at Kendall and Wauchope where it was standing room only on the platform for the cross of the XPT from Grafton. The article from the Wauchope Gazette is featured below. Onward to our next stop Kempsey where again good crowds were on hand to see the arrival of our train incidentally a “P” Class was used on the train for the opening of the line at Kempsey and other special occasions.
Children as for the rest of the trip so far on the coast seemed to be the ones with the most interest in the train with one group arriving for want of a better term coupled train fashion on a rope. The Macleay Argus reported as follows
Our next couple of stops were only short to accommodate train operating requirements such as crossing other trains then on to Coffs Harbour where again good crowds were on hand to see our train into town as was the local press The Coffs Harbour Advocate which reported as follows. Departure from Coffs Harbour saw us heading for Grafton for shuttles from Grafton to Kyarrin and return on Saturday and Sunday 22 and 23 of May.
Many people joined the train on Saturday night for a dinner train to Casino hauled by 4701 with one family deciding to spend $248 to travel on the shuttles and the dinner tour to find that they had also won the competition for a free trip run by the local radio station. Links to coverage of the North Coast Tour You Tube 28 May 2010 - 3237 leaves Kyogle behind as it heads south to Casino on the last shuttle for the day. 30 May 2010 - Scenes of 3237 first departing Casino to the south, then tender first to the north. Monday 24 May 2010 The photos included below are a small sample of the weekends running and a detailed report will follow after the Casino running.
3237 School Holiday Steam trips to Gosford "> Part 2 – Sunday 11 April 2010
Trip Report The cancellation of the Lachlan Valley Railways trains to Gosford and Valley Heights over Easter thankfully didn't have a knock on effect to the weekend of the 10th and 11th of April. After recent successful steam and light engine trials 3237 was ready for the Easter running the forced cancellation of the services was disappointing however this was not the case the following weekend.
On Saturday the 10th of April with a train made up of a Water Gin, 4 cars, Guards Van and a 47 class attached to assist as required the train departed Eveleigh early for Sydney Terminal for our 9:35 am departure. 6th November 2009: In December 2008 the Lachlan Valley Railway first approached the Australian Rail Track Corporation regarding the future of the line between Cowra and Demondrille following the sudden and unexpected announcement contained within the State Government’s mini budget of November 2008 to close the Cowra to Demondrille rail line. The purpose of this letter was to inquire about obtaining a lease on the line so that we could maintain continuous access to the line between Cowra and Demondrille, and the NSW rail network. We eventually received a reply in February from the Rail Infrastructure Corporation that the future of the line is included with the Expression of Interest released by the State Government as part of the mini budget proposal. On Monday the 17th of August the Lachlan Valley Railway was notified that train services between Cowra and Demondrille would be suspended as of the 1st of September, effectively 2 weeks notice, quoting track condition. On Sunday the 23rd of August we operated a train from Cowra to Young and return with a load of children to watch the latest Harry Potter movie, along an “unsafe” track. The Lachlan Valley Railway is currently negotiating a “Licence Agreement” for the rail line between Blayney and Demondrille as well as the line between Koorawatha and Greenethorpe and we have been informed that this licence agreement should be very simple process. Once this agreement is in place we will commence operations between Cowra and Demondrille as soon as it is practicable to do so. This simple process is still ongoing. Most of our operating rolling stock is stored at a couple of places around NSW and we continue to operate a variety of tours from these locations. Our Museum at Cowra is still open on a daily basis. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Home - Ride the Trains - Learn About the Rolling Stock - News - Photo Gallery - Join Us - Contact Us |