June 2010

HRSA May Meeting Report

The May HRSA meeting was held at NRM on Saturday 15th May

Generally there has not been an opportunity to arrange a suitable time for meetings of the sub groups although considerable work was out into the organising and running of State of Steam in April. There has been a phone meting of those involved in the insurance group and it is hoped that rates for forthcoming year will remain close to those of the current year – good news.

RISSB has issued yet another Rules Definitions document. Much has already been put into the previous document by the Rules Group to ensure that those definitions contained in the external documents do not conflict with what the T&H sector uses. In most instances there are additional definitions which groups need to pick up for their use. Advice has been received that the RISSB Boiler Code is close to being sent out for final acceptance after a long period in preparation.

This, in part, has been brought about by the differing standards in use throughout Australia and the inability to have uniformity for all without creating some major problems for others. When the document is released members will have about three weeks to make any comment before the document becomes the Standard. Discussion took place about the new requirements for First Aid in the Workforce and the effect on the T&H sector groups including those who are only Museum Operations. For example if you have a ticket office open for business someone in attendance needs to have a fist aid qualification.

The requirements for first aid in workshop areas changes dependant on the availability of an ambulance (full time as against volunteer staffed) and the time required to get to a hospital along with the nature of work being performed. Track works are also affected especially where machinery is involved. This new Act and its associated Regulations come into force in December and it will affect all groups.

The review of medical standards is still under review at a national level however I am advised that the NTC is not prepared to change or lower standards for Tourist and Heritage operations but has at long lat recognised the cost impost on the sector. What are they going to do about it? An ongoing topic for ATHRA.

Reports President’s Report

The period since the last HRSA meeting has been a fairly active one even though there has not been a meeting of the HRSA Executive or other groups due mainly to the organising and running of State of Steam. A separate report has been sent out for discussion at the meeting about the event just held and issues which need to be considered for any future event. HRSA needs to consider and make a decision on the benefits of State of Steam and if in fact it wants to go ahead in 2012.

I also attended the meeting of ATHRA held in March 2010 in Tasmania. This meeting was held with the Board meeting solely as a Board on day one then as a joint meeting with other attendees the next day. Some issues were by their very nature discussed twice. The success, or otherwise, of this structure will be the results of the September 2010 meeting – will there be actions achieved or will we still have a succession of outstanding items? If ATHRA wants to be seen as being an active part of the T&H structure then there is a need to “actions achieved”.

HRSA will need to continue with meetings of the Marking group if we want to achieve the aims which were discussed when the organisation was restructured in 2009. Also the Executive needs to meet mid term and I take responsibility for this not having occurred in the past three months.

At the ATHRA meeting there was advice that the RISSB boiler group are still working through all of the submissions made with a need to take into account “past history” in each of the States and the inability to be able to say “there can be only one way”.

As soon as information comes to hand it will be distributed for further comment Another major task has been Lesson Plans however Warren Doubleday, who has been leading the charge is currently overseas and has not a lot of progress at this stage. HRSA does however need to discuss at some length the issue of qualifications for trainers as detailed in the ATHRA report.

Peterborough Rail Heritage Centre

1. STAFF: Tour Guides – 8 active (1 of whom is still in training and another 1 still on sick leave) and 3 reserve; Volunteer workers – 7 active, 1 Works Supervisor and Work for the Dole – 2 active.

2. TOURS: April 2010 has produced a 49% increase in tours compared with April 2009 results. The Sound and Light Show is now also kicking off with constant enquires coming in. During the times of operation we had an, an average occupancy of 80% so far for the S&L show.

3. RAIL ACCREDITATION: No response has been received from DTEI at the time of preparing this report.

4. CONTINUING UPGRADE: on going.

5. RIDE ON TRAIN: The ride on train purchased from Geralka has been inspected and tested (not on track) and only needs a few replacement parts. The carriages have been sanded and are now waiting to be painted.

Pichi Richi Rail Preservation Society

Traffic:
Our operating season commenced in March with two Brill services. Steam operated trains commenced at Easter with excellent patronage leading into the school holiday period. The dry conditions also meant we required fire patrols

On Anzac day our ‘troop train’ with a load of military vehicles was again a great success with some 200 passengers and 3 flat cars with military vehicles in the consist. In early April we had our first significant Motor Inspection Car MIC126 special hire bringing 3 passengers from Port Augusta to Quorn. Hopefully the first of many for this unique vehicle.

Marketing:
Our marketing officer Lisa Pearson has finalised her marketing plan for 2010 which as endorsed at the last executive. PRRPS members actively participated in State of Steam in Rundle Mall. A successful Steam Up event was held at Quorn over 24th to 26th April. Having two locomotives in steam plus a diesel at times led to a busy train controller.

Locomotive:
Accumulation tests were successfully completed in March and we have 4 locomotives, NM25, W22, W933 and W934 all with current certificates. NM25 is continuing to give some problems with bearings so the W’s are carrying the brunt of the work at the moment. Restoration on Yx141 is continuing with the cab now fitted. A small crack was repaired in the left hand cylinder casting. A Positive Aging Grant for $17,250 from the Office for Aging has been approved for the restoration of Yx141 tender. Drawings for the new fabricated boiler for the Coffee Pot have been approved. The next step will be to engage a local contractor, probably the Pt Augusta Power Station for this work.

Track:
The annual track walking inspection was undertaken in March / April concentrating on Quorn to Mundallio crossing. Several areas have been identified requiring urgent work. Development of a track database to list and prioritise the work required will enable the society to ensure our track resources are effectively allocated where they will work best. Our first load of steel sleepers has been delivered, and in addition we have received some 1500 second hand sleepers ex the Port Adelaide viaduct.

Unavailability of effort to undertake track work continues to be a problem and it is likely we will need to employ a paid track gang to deal with some of the priority areas.

Carriage:
Work is continuing slowly on refurbishing car LIGHT. Restoration of Car 5 is also continuing with significant work on the underframe. PRRPS will be acquiring new special harness equipment to enable work to be undertaken at heights including carriage roofs.

PRRPS AGM
The AGM of Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc was held on 24 April: Geoff Annear was elected as President for a further year.

National Rail Museum

TransAdelaide Operational Interface

A new Interface Co-ordination Plan and Operational Interface Procedure have been executed between ARTC and TransAdelaide, for the joint track connection near Port Adelaide Junction. A new multi-gauge turnout and realignment of the TA/NRM interface is currently being completed. This turnout has a genuine multi-gauge (broad, standard, narrow) on the straight leg and broad only on the curve leg. This new rail infrastructure will result in an additional 100m head shunt room of narrow and standard gauge shunt movements and train running by Peronne.

Celebration of 30 Years of TransAdelaide 2000 class ‘Jumbo’ Railcars
On the weekend of Sat/Sun 22/23 May 2010, SA History Week, NRM will be holding a special event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the TA 2000 class railcars, in addition to a celebration of 85 years of urban railcar transport. SAR 55 class No.8, 75 class No.41, Blue Bird 257 will be joined by Trans Adelaide two-car 2000 set - all on display.

The 2000 series will be open for inspection. Also NRM will be operating its three car Red hen railcar set for rides both days. A new photographic display of Adelaide urban railcars will also be available for viewing.

Thomas Tank Engine – July 2010
The annual 9 day event will see the usual double heading of Bub and Bill on a ten car 457mm gauge train, Peronne on its narrow gauge train, and the Red Hens on the broad gauge.

SteamRanger

On the operational side SteamRanger has continued with its Sunday and Wednesday Cockle Train with trains each day over the Easter and school holiday period. Patronage has been mixed with some excellent weekday trains whilst at they same time several have also been very poor. The Easter period was down on last year with Easter Sunday being a “down day” despite almost record sales for the first train ex Goolwa – it then went dead and even the market people were coming over wanting to know what time the next train as they too had no one.

The Strathlink for the Anzac weekend proved most popular with this movement being operated by Brill 60 and centenary car trailer, Our Southern Encounter and HighLander services are schedule to operate from the beginning of June through to mid November.

The Fleurieu Railfest is being held between Goolwa and Victor Harbor on the weekend of 29 and 30 May using 958 and brill 60 with trains crossing at Middleton. In mid October 2010 SteamRanger is promoting a tour from Townsville to Mt.Isa on the Inlander then bus to Karumba Point with a ride on RM 60, and old AEC QR railmotor at Normanton. Next day back to Normanton and on the Gulf Lander to Croydon. More bus travel to Cob bald George then back to Forsayth for the are are Savannalander to Mt.Surprise and Cairns.

The last day is rail gold class back up the range to Kuranda and bus onto Mossman and Port Douglas for a ride on Balley Hooley before returning to Cairns from which passengers find their way home. At present we have 26 passengers with a few rooms left at some of the accommodation locations enroute.

SteamRanger has hired out both tapper and ballast regulator for a period of time prior to their use on the Victor Harbor line. Part of the agreement is for the Company to provide operators for the machines during their forthcoming use on SteamRanger’s track hance overcoming a major problem of no experienced operators. A considerable number of sleepers have been replaced particularly in the Goolwa to Victor Harbor section with sleeper supply being an issue due to the reliability of the suppliers truck and general availability of hard wood sleepers

On the locomotive side 958 has been fitted with a new radiator due to the old one disintegrating and non availability of spares. Some work on 507’s fan clutch has also been undertaken with assistance from former AN staff from the Motive Power Centre – so much for quality and records of alterations made during the life of these locomotives.

We have purchased a working 400 class red hen from Limestone Coast and a non operational unit from YP Rail. The later will be used as an Arts display area at Strathalbyn with underfloor equipment being taken for spare parts. Both 412 and 428, our operational 400 class units are now back running on full power following repairs.

Rx 207 is still in pieces although now becoming more of a one piece as many new machined parts for the tender are installed and numerous bushes and pins all renewed are place don the locomotive to supplement the new tyres and other work.

A lot of work has been undertaken to establish the work required to return 621 to active service including testing of tube plates for thickness and measuring the required lengths for tubes and flues. Costing details currently being sought and finalised however it would appear that an overseas supply may well be half of the cost of an Australian purchased product.

Discussions are continuing. SteamRanger has made a number of changes in its work structure mainly at Mt.Barker Depot. Peter Charlson is the “Depot Manager” looking after volunteers, supplies and allocation of work. Ian Johnston is in charge of major projects whilst we are about to engage a steam fitter – a person from Queensland who comes on board in about 6 weeks.

SteamRanger also has a new HR Manager who is tackling a number of issues with volunteers Like a number of other HRSA members SteamRanger was part of State of Steam in Rundle Mall from 15rg to 18th April with a number of volunteers manning the stand during this period.

St.Kilda Tram museum

No report available due to the work load on readying tram 118 fro launch on 23 May

Cobdogla

Easter was very busy for the railway, ,the trains ran all day with mostly filled seats. The P.W. wagon is being fitted with drawgear and buffers and checked before entering service.

This will be a valuable addition to the maintenance train. It has been decided to up grade the main line before further work on the extension to Loveday.

State of Steam The Bagnall Engine “Margaret” was transported to and from Adelaide with no ill effects. All our volunteers enjoyed the experience of meeting the public and answering questions. Thanks to all concerned. The Society considers taking the Bagnall to Adelaide for State of Steam was a very worthwhile undertaking. These has been an enormous amount of publicity generated for the Society.

The Simplex loco Farleigh received a new set of brake blocks recently and its annual service. This loco is in frequent use during tours of the museum. The cab for Simplex Peter is being completed to the stage where it will soon be fitted to the loco.

The engine and chassis have been painted and a new drawbar pin fabricated to replace a missing one. Track maintenance is being undertaken with the emphasis on inspecting fishplate joints and tightening bolts as required. The Society is investigating hydraulic Jim crows and a sleeper remover and inserting machine to assist with track maintenance.

Archive Newscasts
Newscast 10 - August 2011
Newscast 9 - March 2011
Newscast 8 - Nov 2010
Newscast 7 - Sept 2010
Newscast 6 - June 2010
Newscast 5 - May 2010
Newscast 4 - October 2009
Newscast 3 - August 2009
Newscast 2 - June 2009