November 2011

HRSA August Meeting Report

The meeting was held at Peterborough Rail Heritage Centre and thanks go to Horst and his team for their hospitality.

Boiler Code

The RISSB boiler code has been placed on the RISSB Web site and is available for general use by the T&H sector. Unfortunately access to the RISSB web site is less than easy hance access is being provided by a revamped ATHRA Web Site.

Work has commenced on a maintenance code for steam locomotives and will also pick up first generation diesel locomotives.

Lesson Plans

Lesson plans developed to date have also been placed on the ATHRA Web Site and are available for download by the T&H sector. These plans are generic due to the large variation in requirements from State to State and therefore need to be customised by each organisation using them. As an example the document relating to brakes provides for both vacuum and Westinghouse air brake systems and also provides for the driver to do the air test as is the case in Victoria or the Guard to do the air test as is the case in South Australia where there is no dedicated train examiner.

At the last ATHRA meeting is was agreed not to proceed with lesson plans relative to maintenance personnel as this is a task to be addressed by ARA.

Rail Safety

A number of changes have occurred in the SA Rail Safety office with both Phil Burrows and Wayne Robinson taking positions in other organisations. Nic Doncaster is currently acting Manager Rail Safety due to Derek Heneker being seconded to the Single Regulator task. We wish Phil and Wayne the best in their new roles.

Work is providing on the introduction of a Single Rail Regulator for Australia scheduled for 1 January 2013 with a number of areas still not resolved. This includes Drug and Alcohol testing and disciplinary issues surrounding a portative test and fatigue management. The latter is one which is very complex in the main line operations where crews sign on and off at all hours of the day and night.

SteamRanger has a fatigue policy of twelve hours maximum on duty and twelve hours minimum for before the next shift but even this may well require the maintenance of other records by roster personnel when the revised Act comes into place.

It was hoped that this would have been completed by now but workloads associated with other rail safety tasks has meant this project is lagging behind.

State Level Crossing Advisory Committees

Work is still proceeding on the development of a model interface co-ordination document for level crossings including stand-alone pedestrian crossings. The draft should include details as to who is responsible for what at a “normal” level crossing and who becomes responsible in the case of a need to upgrade a level crossing if traffic volumes on either road and or rail increase.

The Legislation is demanding on rail organisations who can be fined for failure to ensure they have systems in place but unfortunately the same does not apply to road authorities

ATHRA Awards

Whilst three was not a lot of support for the ATHRA Awards the entries that were forthcoming were good. Two entries were received for the ATHRA Excellence Award with the winner going to WA. Collie Group from WA were the winners of the Freight Vehicles Restoration Award whilst Warren Doubleday was received the ATHRA ARA Rail Safety Award for his work towards the single Rail Regulator project. More on the proposed conference and steam festival in the next Newsletter.

WATTRAIN

The dates for the next Congress were advised as being in early October 2012 with pre conference tours around Leeds and a post conference tour to Wales.

The aim is to have delegates stay in Leeds and travel to the congress at York due to the availability of better and cheaper accommodation.

It has been hoped that we may have been able to advise further details by now but this is not the case.

ATHRA Web Site

Like many Web pages the ATHRA set had fallen into a state of old age with a lack of updates and changes. Thanks to the efforts of Chris Martin ATHRA has been able to engage the services of a Tasmania Web Mistress Judy McKenzie to bring the Web site into the current year. ATHRA can be proud of what it now has on its web site which includes a map detailing the T&H locations throughout Australia.

The Web site has a section for ATHRA Members only where minutes and other ATHRA Executive information is stored and a general section for the use of everyone.

Of interest was a comment at the last HRSA meeting that our own site needs some updating and this will be attended to in the near future

OTHER

I have been advised that Chris martin, Vice Chairman of ATHRA has been given an Institution of Engineers Award for his work in setting up and presenting the annual Redwater Creek steam festival at Sheffield in Tasmania each March.  Congratulations to Chris for his efforts and also to the institution of Engineers for acknowledging the work of the T&H sector in Australia.

Not for Profit

The meeting was made aware of changes proposed by the Federal Government for Not for Profit groups which may well have a long term effect on the entire T&H sector. It is believed that initially this will not be the case however parts of our incomes may well finish up being taxable if changes are not made and adhered to. The meeting is seeking assistance through ATHRA to bring to the attention of the Federal Government the activities of the T&H sector.

In closing I wish to take this opportunity to wish the entire sector the very best wishes for Christmas and may 2013 be a happy and prosperous one – thank you.

Brian Busch,
HRSA President



Tram 352 and tower wagon outside the new shed at St. Kilda

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Group Reports

Cobdogla Report

The Cobdogla Stream Friends Society has relocated the turntable from Mudge’s Loop to just past Scotty’s Loop. This has been done to enable the Bagnall to operate in a forward direction over the entire length of the currently operational track. The turntable was operational for the October long weekend open day. The open day was busy with all trains filled to capacity.

Also on the open day, the Simplex loco “Peter” was commissioned by Peter Forward, our liaison with SA Water and for whom the engine was named. This loco still has the original Dorman diesel engine and has been

First one being 919 Wines who have recently won an international award for some of its wines. Food will be supplied by Backyard Breads from Cobdogla. Participants will receive a special Cobby Steam wine glass for the event.

A web site is currently under construction and it will have a facility on it to book tickets for the Train, Wine and Food evenings.
In the long term an area overlooking the lagoon will be levelled and grassed as a permanent events site. Future events are planned for

January 7th, February 11th, March 10th, October 13th, November 10th and Dec 8th. 2012

On a non-railway theme, the Society took its Fowler Z7 ploughing engine to the Waikerie Hit N Miss Rally in September. The winch on the engine was used to pull back the tractor pull sled after each tractor had attempted its pull. We also did this at the previous Waikerie rally and the method considerably speeds up the rate at which the vintage tractors can participate over the conventional method of hooking a large modern tractor to the rear of the sled after each pull.

St Kilda Report

The new tram shed framework has been completed and cladding is virtually complete as of Friday 18th of November

The shed, which is longer than the original but slimmer, protrudes into the yard a fraction with the bulk of it protruding into the back yard

The workshop pit as a result of the shed positioning is now outside but it is hoped, as money and time permit, we can have a new one constructed in the new shed

The electrically isolated overhead wires, which are currently either on the ground or on the roofs of the trams stored in the yard, will hopefully be installed. as far as reasonably practicable, this weekend

Government achievements in Tourism.

Online Booking system
SHRC’s Sound & Light Shows can now be booked and paid for - online - via the internet.

National Rail Museum

2011 Port Festival – huge success

The recent City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s “Port Festival” – held on Saturday and Sunday 8/9 October was a huge success.  Apart from the three major museums, SA Maritime, SA Aviation and National Railway Museum all providing “free” entry to everyone (through a commercial arrangement with Council), there was a long list of activities and events held all around the Port – day and night.  The following additional NRM organised features were the highlights:

• Steam train Peronne shuttles between NRM and SAAM
• Driver’s experience opportunities on Peronne and Red Hens
• An exhibition of posters from the NRM pictorial collection and a selection of promotional items
• Projection of old and themed posters in the theatrette

An over view of the record breaking attendance and train ride statistics for the two days were:

2011 DPTI Rail Safety Audit & Internal Audit

The Office of the Rail Safety Regulator conducted the annual compliance audit at NRM on 3 September.  Reviews of the NCRs from the previous year were assessed, in addition to new subjects.  As a consequence, two NCRs were raised – both associated with risk management and competence of operational personnel.

Inspections in mid-November.  NM 25 is undergoing further assessments relating to running gear, while steady progress has been made on Yx141, with a warm water hydro test having been conducted a fortnight ago.  Work has also continued on the tender frame.
NT76 AND NSU52 are operational but current track restrictions continue to limit the use of the NSU on the main line.
Brill railcar 106 sees a lot of use in regular services and charters and during the summer break, will enter the carriage department for much needed work on its roof.
The Coffee Pot boiler drawings have been verified and will be registered with Safe Work SA shortly.  Manufacture of the new boiler and the required funding are the next challenge!

Track
Much has been achieved this year involving a re-invigorated track gang with some volunteer help from Puffing Billy, particularly on bridge maintenance. The ex QR ballast regulator arrived mid-June and will required some work and change advice documentation before it will start to earn its keep. Our track manager and team have continued to significantly reduce the number of 5 mph TSR’s, and valued assistance has come from Transfield training teams.  Delivery of a new spot tamper (Matissa) is expected in December as we continue to mechanise our track maintenance.

General
A planning committee for our 40th anniversary in 2013 has been formed.  This will be a significant milestone for us.  Unfortunately, it appears unlikely that we will be able to participate in State of Steam 2012 in Rundle Mall, due to a lack of volunteers available during the April 2012 school holidays.

SteamRanger

Operations

Locomotive 621 was returned to service in early August after considerable boiler work which occurred due to a generous donation to SteamRanger. The locomotive had its 75th anniversary in early August and on 17th August worked a special first class train to

Locomotives

As indicated above Rx 207 is back at Mt. Barker for some service work before working the school holiday trains in January. 621 will also have some attention to weight distribution before going to Goolwa for the December January period. Work has restarted on Rx 224 tender now that the other to steam locos are back in service. Loco 507 transferred from Goolwa Depot to Mt. Barker on 3 November for its annual service and inspection and it is expected to return to Goolwa prior to the end of November.

Rollingstock:

Considerable service work was undertaken on carriages 503 and Finniss prior to their use in mid-August. Baggage 82 which has been undergoing a heavy overhaul returned to service and is now back at Goolwa.

Some work has also been undertaken on Centenary cars for their continued use of the Southern Encounter.

Fitted with a cab and bonnet mostly fabricated by John Reed. A dead man switch still needs to be fitted to the loco.

The Society has been running a number of extra trains over the past two months for the Riverland Rose Festival, for a car club and for our annual Twilight Halloween Train. Numbers were good on most trains.
Planning is well advanced for a series of Train Wine and Food evenings to be held on a monthly basis during the warmer months. The first event will be held on December 10th and numbers will be limited to 120 people or two train loads. The trains will be topped and tailed by both Simplex locos to speed up transit times. The events will be held along the track on a lawn area towards Scotty’s Loop initially. The wines will be supplied by local Riverland wineries with the

Trams outside can then come inside and work will then start on concreting the side sills and installing a concrete floor for the new workshop at the rear of the hew shed using the full shed width.

The machinery currently stored in the body shop can then be moved



Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre

Improvements
Sound installations occurred in 4 displays, i.e. W-Class Locomotives, 1944 1st Class Ghan sleeping car, 1923 Lounge car and the 1916 Meadowbank carriage, making it more enjoyable for customers and enhancing their experiences. Soon a sound installation will follow in the Diesel shed.

Within the Diesel Shed, a display has been erected to cater for the disabled people who can’t go into the carriages on display.  To give them an impression of how the inside of carriages looks like, a mock up carriage has been set up. The walls of the western side of the Diesel shed have been covered by Hessian, original Station signs have been put up and we are in the process of putting up a display suggesting a Petersburg railway platform.

After some disputes with some Councillors SHRC were successful to bring back the restored Kalamazoo into the Museum; in return a restored section car is going in front of the VIC replacing the Kalamazoo.

Performance
August/September/October 2011 delivered further increases in visitor numbers (between 25% and 35%) as well as in turnover (around 40%). The Sound & Light Show had to be put on up to 3 times per night due to the strong demand in September and October. By the end of October after only 4 months visitor numbers and turnover delivered already more than half of last year’s full year figures.

SATIC TOURISM AWARD
SHRC won a Bronze medal in this year’s South Australian Tourism Industry Council’s State Tourism Awards, in the category Local
The annual Internal Audit identified three operational personnel were undertaking activities without being able to provide their Authority Cards to the auditor when requested.  Instructions have been re-issued related to the importance of this requirement and the individuals contacted to highlight this necessity.

Level Crossing Interface Regulations

NRM has written to the Port Adelaide Enfield Council, requesting the need for it to enter into an Interface Agreement to comply with the new regulations – for the existing pedestrian crossing over operational tracks.




Pichi Richi

Traffic:
Our running season is tapering off now with the Brill railcar operating the Pichi Richi Explorer services during November.  Steam services finished on October 29, with the final Austral diner for 2011 attached to the Pichi Richi Explorer that day.  The October School holiday trains were well patronised and there has been a steady interest in charter train bookings this running season. However, there are still times when it is proving difficult to fill gaps in the roster, particularly on week days.  Our 2012 timetable is soon to be distributed.

Marketing
Committee work and special member meetings have continued as the Quorn Railway Heritage and VIC project develops, with recent acceptance of draft plans for internal modifications to the Quorn railway station.
Positive feedback has come from organisers and participants in the Southern Flinders Steam and Saddle ride.  The end of the 10 day trail ride coincided with the Pichi Richi Explorer on Monday October 3.  The Teddy Bears Picnic held at Woolshed Flat in the September holidays was also a big success with some improvements made this year.

Locomotive:
Operational steam locomotives at present are W22 & W934 had end of season wash outs at the end of October, in readiness for boiler.

Victor harbor. The consist included sleeping car Finniss and car 503 both of which had not seen service for some time. Tavern Car Bowmans and economy car 710 was also included in the consist.

Passengers partook of a cruise on Oscar W and lunch at Goolwa whilst those in economy class went to the hotel for lunch. The train then went onto Victor Harbor before returning to Mt. Barker.

The next day 18th August was the regular Southern Encounter and with much publicity around this train was soon full. A decision was made to include an extra car ex Mt. Barker and to bank the train from Mt. Barker to Philcox Hill then use Rx 207 which was at Goolwa to double head on the return movement. This was a great success and also co-incided with an event at Port Elliot to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the station building.

Since then 621 has worked all Southern Encounter and Highlander trains. In the meantime Rx 207 was based at Goolwa to work the school holiday Cockle Trains and a couple of charter trains. The school holidays proved a boon for SteamRanger with income up 47% over last year. Whilst a lot of this is due to the return of steam, the horse tram to Granite Island was not operating due to work on the boarding platform with barricades giving the impression that even access to the causeway was blocked even though it was not.

Rx 207 has now returned to Mt. Barker for service work in readiness for the summer school holiday trains. 621 still has two services to run (fore bans permitting) before attention is given to a weigh distribution problem which may be causing a bearing to run warm. It will be going to Goolwa to run the Christmas New year services.

A Southern Hills Special from Victor Harbor to Mt. Barker on 24 October was a sell out and another is planned for 26 November. Railcar 60 has also run several StrathLink services from Goolwa to Strathalbyn. Several charters have also operated.

Infrastructure

In early November the sleeper replacement program for the section Mt. Barker to Strathalbyn was completed whilst final work on ballasting of the Mt. Barker Creek bridge was also undertaken. This bridge has been the subject of a speed restriction for some time with repaints similar to that carried out on the Commercial Rd bridge at Port Adelaide being retired.

Re sleeper work is now being carried out in the Strathalbyn Finniss section. The gang responsible for this is based at Goolwa and has a lot of Centre Link volunteers associated with it.

ARHS 60th Anniversary

June 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the South Australian Division of the ARHS although the ARHS was already established in NSW and SA members were originally party of that group. Planning to celebrate the event is currently being considered by the Operations Committee.

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