Railway_Digest__February_2018

February 2018
TM
Signalling & Infrastructure:
Torrens Junction
North West Frontier – revisited
Fine dining on Bellarine Railway’s Q Train
Gold Coast light rail stage two opens early
Published monthly by the Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division)

TM
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Bruce Belbin
Assistant Editor Shane O’Neil
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Contributors
Tony Bailey, Ben Chatwin, James Chuang, Alan Graham, Peter Hower,
John Hoyle, Philip Jeeves, Geoff Lillico, Vaughn Moore, David Whiteford.
Arc Infrastructure, Australian Financial Review, Bombardier Transportation,
Braidwood Times, The Burnie Advocate, Byron Echo, The Canberra Times,
CBH Group, City of Mount Gambier Council, Goulburn Post, GrainCorp,
The Hobart Mercury, International Railway Journal, Newcastle City
Council, The Newcastle Herald, Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, Public
Transport Authority of Western Australia, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional
Council, South Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment
and Conservation – Ian Hunter MLC, South Australian Department of
Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, Sydney Morning Herald, TasRail,
Transport for NSW, VicTrack, The West Australian, Western Australia
Minister for Transport – Hon Rita Saffioti MLA, Yarra Trams.
www.constructionadvisor.com.au , www.forrestfieldairportlink.wa.gov.au
www.portstrategy.com , www.transport.act.gov.au
February 2018
Volume 56, Number 2
Signalling & Infrastructure:
Torrens Junction
February 2018 • $10.00
North West Frontier – revisited
Fine dining on Bellarine Railway’s Q Train
Gold Coast light rail stage two opens early
Published monthly by the Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division)
Features
North West Frontier – Revisited 26
Readers may recall Alan Graham’s account of his 2014 Pilbara trip,
published in the April 2015 edition of Railway Digest. In his closing
remarks Alan hinted that another visit might be possible if the right
circumstances permitted. By mid-2016, after renewed contact with
long-time good friend Greg who continued to be employed by the
Fortescue Metals Group as a locomotive driver, thoughts of returning
to the Pilbara became more compelling. In this month’s RD we present
part one of Alan’s account of the marvellous adventure that resulted.
Gold Coast light rail stage two opens early 32
In contrast to the late and controversial delivery of two other south-east
Queensland rail projects, the Redcliffe railway and New Generation
Rollingstock EMUs, stage two of the Gold Coast light rail (known as
the G:Link or simply the ‘G:’) opened ahead of schedule on Sunday,
17 December 2017. The opening celebrations commenced with the
5.29 am departure of Bombardier Flexity 2 No.05 with the first public
tram service from Helensvale station. John Hoyle was there.
Regulars
Rail Industry 4
Railway people 6
News 8
Signalling & Infrastructure 40
Preservation and Tourist 46
– Fine dining on Bellarine Railway’s Q Train 46
– Moss Vale Sesquicentenary 53
– Byron Bay solar train 56
Readers Write 57
Cover: In the late afternoon light of Thursday 7 December 2017,
ARG Goninan/GE units P2508, P2509 and P2512 haul 5725 Up
Perenjori to Geraldton loaded ore train around the sweeping curve
approaching Chintapee Road at Bringo, WA. John Scott
Back cover upper: CSR 012 and CSR 001 lead 47 vehicles of SCT train
6MB9 towards the lower bridge on Cullerin Bank between Fish River
and Cullerin on Saturday 16 December 2017. CSR 012 was built as
BK 002 for Bradken, but has operated for SCT for about a year. It
has only recently been repainted and renumbered. The numbers in
particular have a different typeface to those on CSR 001. Peter Clark
Back cover lower: It hasn’t taken long after the Christmas/New Year
break for the GWA grain train crews to get back into the swing of
things, because the harvest is well under way. GWA007, ALF22 and
GWU006 are putting maximum power to rail as loaded Wolseley
‘grainie’ 2184 slogs it out on the Callington climb on Wednesday 3
January. Malcolm Holdsworth

Rail industry
5th International Railway Summit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The above event was held in the Shangri-La Hotel, in Malaysia’s
capital city over three days, 15-17 November 2017. The
conference focused on the issues of Social and Economic
Sustainability for Rail Transport and was attended by 250
delegates, representing a significant cross-section from 100 countries.
The summit was hosted by IRITS Events, in association with the
International Union of Railways (UIC) and Huawei Technologies. All
the big players were in attendance with representatives from all the
Malaysian railway systems, Chinese delegates representing suppliers,
railways, metros, European operators, vendors, leaders and experts.
On the first day of the summit, 40 rail industry professionals were taken
on a tour of KL’s Light Rapid Transit, Ampang Line and a visit to its
Operation and Control Centre.
The increased use of digital technology was a focus of the summit,
showing how it is transforming the rail industry. A central theme of the
conference was that there are huge challenges that the rail industry
must face. It must become the land transport mode of the 21st Century,
with the mobility of rail being its backbone for an effective, integrated,
multimodal transportation system. It has distinct advantages over its
competitor, road transport in terms of capacity, safety, reliability and
environmental acceptability, which need to be emphasised emphatically
over and over again to achieve the dominance its warrants. Freight traffic
is expected to increase by a factor of three by 2050 from 112,000 to
329,000 billion tonne-kilometres. Global passenger transport will more
than double between 2015 and 2050, from 50,000 to 120,000 billion
passenger-kilometres with a major focus on urban and intra-city mobility.
Massive urbanisation over the coming decades in developing countries
will be a certainty. In 2050, 66% of the world’s population will be urban,
up from 54% in 2014. A major issue though is the lack of infrastructure in
developing countries which will need to be addressed.
From an Australian perspective, the talk by Tony Frazier, GM
Operations Services, Interstate Network, Australian Rail Track
Corporation was of particular interest. The ARTC network, consisting
of 8,500 kilometres serviced by 1,200 staff, handles 450 trains per
day from Brisbane through Sydney, Adelaide via Melbourne and
Broken Hill and across the continent to Kalgoorlie. The network will
expand with the construction of the Inland Railway from Melbourne
to Brisbane via western NSW. It will be 1,700 kilometres long, using
1,200 kilometres of existing tracks and will include a 6.38 kilometre
tunnel in the Toowoomba Range. The Kagaru to Toowoomba section
will be delivered through a Public Private Partnership. From Gowrie
(west of Toowoomba) to Kagaru a distance of 133.6 km, 100 km will
be greenfield line, there will be 11 crossing loops to cater for 1.8 km
trains, 8.5 km of tunnels, including the abovementioned Toowoomba
Tunnel, 11 viaducts totalling eight kilometres, 51 bridges totalling four
kilometres. Construction will take four years with the first trains to
operate in 2024/25. Double stacking operation will be available as will
axle loadings of 25 tonnes at 80km/h, with future proofing for 30 tonnes
at 80 km/h.
The conference was well organised and staffed, utilising an excellent
venue with very good facilities and transport connections. KL is a vibrant,
exciting, growing city and it is tackling its transport issues with considerable
foresight, fully aware of the potential transport nightmares that can afflict
those places that don’t plan properly for the future, such as Bangkok
and Jakarta.
Shane O’Neil
Top: Norman Frisch, Chairman of the eLTE Industry Alliance and Marketing Director, Transport Sector, Huawei, leads the Digital Railway
Transformation Panel Discussion, late afternoon on Day Two.
Centre: The large Huawei display at the Summit, which featured interactive displays and, of particular interest to a country such as Australia, a display
of equipment that can be used for controlling remote grade or level crossings utilising solar panels. Huawei was a major sponsor of the Summit.
Above: The hard-working team of IRITS Events staff from left to right: Akshata Kamath, Chandini Saikia, Raluca Boroianu-Omura, Anuja Raut
and Vasena Kularatna-Rodgers at the information desk on Day Three. All images Shane O’Neil
4
RAILWAY DIGEST

Rail industry
Aurizon quits interstate intermodal services
Rail freight operator Aurizon has exited the interstate intermodal
business, running its last revenue trains between Perth, Adelaide,
Melbourne and Brisbane in the week commencing Monday 18
December 2017.
The profitability of Aurizon’s intermodal business has been in doubt
for some time and the decision to quit the business was announced on
14 August 2017 after a comprehensive freight review.
It is believed that most of the traffic previously carried by Aurizon has
moved to rival operator Pacific National. Subject to regulatory approval,
Aurizon has signed a binding agreement with a consortium of Pacific
National and Linfox to sell its Queensland Intermodal business, and a
separate binding agreement with Pacific National to sell its Acacia Ridge
Intermodal Terminal.
The sale transaction is expected to be completed by June 2018.
With only six months left under the Aurizon banner, GE/Goninan unit 2837 hauls Mackay to Acacia Ridge Intermodal Y776 southbound on
the Yandina to Nambour section at Kulangoor on Sunday 24 December 2017. Ray Miller
Downer EDI to deliver New Intercity Fleet network
modifications
Transport for NSW announced on Monday 4 December that Downer EDI
had been awarded the contract to deliver station and signal modifications
across the suburban and Intercity network in preparation for the arrival
of the New Intercity Fleet from 2019.
Some existing rail infrastructure needs to be upgraded to accommodate
the New Intercity Fleet. This includes:
• Platform extensions,
• Modifications to infrastructure within the rail corridor, including
the installation and relocation of signalling and overhead wiring
structures,
• Trackwork,
• Installation of balises (an electronic beacon or transponder placed
between the rails as part of an automatic train protection system)
and car markers; and
• Installation of CCTV, public address systems, lighting and station
furniture, where required.
“The New Intercity Fleet will provide customers with more comfortable
and reliable journeys between Sydney and the Central Coast, Newcastle,
South Coast and Blue Mountains,” said a Transport for NSW spokesperson.
“These are new state-of-the-art trains and as with any new technology,
we need to make some minor modifications to the stations and signals
across the network which will include platform extensions, overhead
wiring adjustments and train location technology. The modification
work will commence in early 2018 and where possible be completed as
part of the existing rail maintenance schedule and track work weekends
so we can minimise the impact on the travelling public.”
One controversial feature of the new trains, that are being manufactured
by Hyundai Rotem/UGL, is the use of fixed seating rather than reversible
seating which has been popular with NSW commuters.
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FEBRUARY 2018 5

Rail industry
Bombardier to supply additional VLocity railcars
Bombardier Transportation will build and deliver an additional 27
VLocity diesel multiple unit (DMU) railcars for Transport for Victoria
(TfV) and the Victorian State Government, bringing the total fleet to
264 vehicles (88 x 3-car sets) in passenger service by 2019, making it by
far the largest DMU fleet in Australian rail history. The total value of the
contract is approximately $146 million.
“We are delighted to deliver these award-winning trains to Victoria’s
Railway people
TasRail Chair Bob Annells retires
Long serving TasRail Chair Bob Annells retired from his position on
Wednesday 6 December 2017.
He was elected to the inaugural TasRail Board on 23 November 2009
and held a number of pivotal positions since the Company’s inception,
including Executive Chairman, Non-Executive Chairman, Chair of the
Governance and Remuneration Committee, and Member of the Capital
Projects Committee.
Highlights of Mr Annells’ tenure include above rail freight growth,
dramatically improved safety record, standardisation of rollingstock,
introduction of the Advanced Network Control System and the track
infrastructure investment program.
Mr Annells has been replaced as TasRail Chair by current director
Samantha Hogg, who brings 25 years of experience in executive
management across the resources and infrastructure sectors and
broad Australian and International experience in finance, marketing
and strategic projects. She resides on a farm in northern Tasmania and
holds positions on a number of Tasmanian and other Boards, including
Chair of Tasmanian Irrigation, Non-Executive Director of Hydro Tasmania
and Non-Executive Director of MaxiTrains Industries Limited.
Ms Hogg has been a Non-Executive Director of TasRail since August
2015. Her most recent executive role was as Chief Financial Officer of
Transurban, through a period when the business grew to become a top
20 ASX company.
Ms Hogg is also
a fellow of the
Australian Institute
of Company
Directors.
Bob Annells and
Samantha Hogg
Mark Bailey new Queensland Transport Minister
Following the 25 November 2017 Queensland election, that saw the
Palaszczuk Labor Government returned to office, Mark Bailey was
appointed Transport Minister. The post was previously held by Deputy
Premier Jackie Trad who is now the Treasurer. Mr Bailey was formerly
Main Roads Minister and he retains that portfolio alongside Transport.
He was elected as the Member for Yeerongpilly in January 2015, an
election that unexpectedly brought the Palaszczuk Government to power.
Following a redistribution his electorate became Miller.
The Beenleigh/Gold Coast railway and most of the Yeerongpilly –
Corinda line pass through the electorate. Railway stations at Fairfield,
Regional Rail Network in partnership with the State Government, TfV
and V/Line” said Andrew Dudgeon, Managing Director of Bombardier
Transportation in Australia. “These trains will provide an improved
travel experience for passengers, and help address the mobility needs
of a rapidly growing population. This order demonstrates confidence
in our VLocity vehicle platform which was designed, engineered and
manufactured in Victoria, for Victorians.”
Yeronga, Yeerongpilly and Moorooka,
together with Pacific National’s Moolabin
freight terminal at Tennyson, are located
within the electorate.
Mark Bailey
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6
RAILWAY DIGEST

News
First Canberra light rail vehicle arrives
The first vehicle for the ACT light rail network arrived in Canberra
under police escort at 2am on Wednesday 14 December 2017 following
an overnight road journey from Port Kembla to the ACT light rail
maintenance facility in suburban Mitchell.
Built in Spain by CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles),
the light rail vehicle (LRV) travelled from Spain to Australia aboard the
68,000 tonne vehicle carrier Hoegh Berlin.
The December arrival is the first of 14 LRVs to be used on the Capital
metro network. Each vehicle is 33 metres long with a capacity for 207
passengers – 66 seated and 141 standing. Storage space for four bikes is
also provided.
Australian Capital Territory
Media was on hand to record the arrival, with video shared on the
Transport Canberra website.
However, soon after arrival the vehicle was vandalised in a graffiti
attack, which Canberra Metro chief executive Glenn Stockton described as
disappointing. “Of greater concern is that members of the community
have accessed a live construction site, which puts them and others at
risk,” he said.
The graffiti was removed on Thursday 15 December at “modest cost”
to Canberra Metro.
As a result of the vandal attack additional security has been installed
at the Mitchell facility including CCTV cameras and double fencing.
One of the new light rail
vehicles manufactured by
CAF seen on a transporter
at Marulan enroute to
Canberra on the evening of
Tuesday 12 December 2017.
Russell Bryant
News
New South Wales
NSW Draft Freight and Ports Plan released
The NSW Government is seeking industry feedback on a draft plan that
identifies key freight priorities to deliver a more efficient freight system
across NSW.
The NSW Draft Freight and Ports Plan contains actions and future
directions by Government and industry to move goods in an efficient,
safe and environmentally sustainable manner.
The plan identifies six priority areas;
• Strengthening freight industry and government partnerships,
• Increase access for freight across the road and rail network,
• Protect existing freight precincts and ensure sufficient future land
use,
• Facilitate introduction of technologies that reduce freight costs
and impacts,
• Reduce the regulatory burden on industry; and
• Ensure safe, efficient and sustainable freight access to places.
NSW Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey said the
freight industry plays a vital role in the movement of $200 billion a year
in goods across the state. “Our major commercial ports at Port Botany,
Port Kembla and Newcastle are managing increasing volumes of imported
and exported goods, requiring faster, more efficient road and rail access
with our Sydney and regional NSW markets”.
The percentage of container freight moved by rail has increased from
14 per cent to 21 per cent.
“We need a strong plan to ensure that our farmers, miners and
industries can respond to all opportunities, delivering successful outcomes
for the NSW economy and local communities”, Mrs Pavey said.
The draft Plan has been released to encourage feedback from industry,
local government and members of the community to develop the Final
Plan. The Plan, when finalised, will guide future developments for the
freight sector, acknowledging the opportunities and challenges as a result
of issues such as technology advancements and increased urbanisation.
The Final Plan will outline the NSW Government’s priorities and
actions, and will include firm targets and key performance measures
developed in consultation with the community.
The Plan is available at future.transport.nsw.gov.au
Feedback and formal submissions are encouraged until 25 March.
8
RAILWAY DIGEST

New South Wales
News
Newcastle Council approves rail corridor rezoning
On Tuesday 12 December Newcastle City Council approved the rezoning
of the city’s former heavy rail corridor despite strong objections from
Greens councillor John Mackenzie, who said there was no evidence the
land would not be required for future transport needs.
The decision paves the way for a mix of open space, university buildings
and residential and commercial development on the 1.53 kilometre
strip of land between Worth Place (located approximately 300 metres
west of the former Civic station) and the Newcastle station site.
Cr Mackenzie was the only councillor to vote against the plan
and the only councillor to speak on the issue other than Lord Mayor
Nuatali Nelmes, who moved the motion to support the rezoning.
Cr Mackenzie said after the meeting that he accepted the decision
of the council, the issue had been “divisive in the community for far
too long” and it was time for a “truce”.
“It is critical from this point that we move forward collaboratively to
make this decision deliver genuine revitalisation outcomes, in terms of
university expansion, social housing and open space”, Cr Mackenzie said.
However, during the meeting he was critical of a report from council
staff on the rezoning, saying it was open to accusations of bias and left
the council’s decision open to legal challenge. The report said that 394
public submissions and 137 form letters had objected to the rezoning,
while 226 submissions and 46 form letters had been in favour of it.
Cr Mackenzie said the report had “miscategorised” the 137 submissions
as form letters, and he took exception to a section of the report that
said those in favour “expressed excitement about the development of
the university precinct”. “We need objective, formal information, not
speculation on people’s emotional state,” he said, noting there was “no
corresponding speculation” on the emotions of those against the proposal.
Cr Nelmes cited the results of a council-commissioned survey of
955 residents by ReachTEL, which she said showed almost 60 per cent
of people supported the rezoning while 34.7 per cent wanted the
land retained as a transport corridor.
Cr Mackenzie rejected the survey’s methodology and results,
describing it as “push polling”, a marketing technique designed to
sway opinion under the guise of a survey.
Cr Nelmes praised the council for securing concessions from the
state government during the rezoning process, including an extra
$150 million for public domain, a more sophisticated light-rail design,
affordable housing and an integrated transport plan. She said the
council had lobbied forcefully on urban transformation, and that work
was producing significant economic development.
The rezoning clears the way for the NSW Department of Planning
& Environment’s final approval to change the land use along the
former rail corridor to:
• Education between Worth Place and Civic,
• Mixed use, including affordable housing, between Civic Station
and Merewether Street,
• Public recreation at Civic and from Perkins Street to Newcomen
Street,
• A mix of dwellings, retail, commercial and public recreation from
Merewether Street to Brown Street; and
• A tourism zone at Newcastle Railway Station.
SSR’s empty grain train 4343, with Clyde/EMD unit C510 leading BRM001, C506, G513 and a rake of BGKF/BGVF converted grain hoppers,
charges through Awaba station on Thursday 28 December 2017, bound for loading at The Rock in southern NSW, returning to Newcastle
two days later as Train 3444. Matthew Proctor
FEBRUARY 2018
9

News
New South Wales
EDI/EMD units LDP002, LDP007 and LDP009 haul 7MB7 Aurizon Melbourne-Brisbane intermodal freight, near Tahmoor, on Sunday 19
November 2017. With Aurizon’s exit from the intermodal market, six LDP units will be moving to SCT. Mitch Campton
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Australian Railway History
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TM
Jim Stokes’ account of the Upper Derwent Valley
line in Tasmania opens the February Australian
Railway History. Part 1 of Ron Webb’s article
describes his journey as observer on a freight
train from Enfield to Broadmeadow on the night
of 18 August 1970. Lance Bryant was the driver
on two 46 class electric locomotives to Gosford.
Greg Blackwell complements Frank Johnson’s
January account of his time as Divisional Engineer
at Narrabri with his article describing his journey
from Moree to Inverell and return on diesel
railcar HPC 401 on 26 November 1976. Colin
Bull documents his time as a school teacher
supervising students on Blue Mountains
school trains between 1969 and 1983 in a
short Explorer item.
AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY NSW DIVISION
FOR ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RAILWAYS
in this issue:
TGR UPPER DERWENT VALLEY LINE
Early days and safeworking
TO BROADMEADOW AND BOOK OFF
Part 1: DELEC to Gosford
MOREE TO INVERELL BRANCH
A Diesel Railcar journey in November 1976
Journal of the Australian Railway Historical Society
10
RAILWAY DIGEST

New South Wales
News
Light rail construction
in Hunter Street,
Newcastle was reaching
an advanced stage
when photographed
by Peter Sansom on
Thursday 27 December
2017.
GrainCorp opens upgraded Cunningar site
GrainCorp officially unveiled its upgraded grain receival site at
Cunningar near Harden in southern New South Wales on Tuesday
19 December. The site has undergone a $8.1 million upgrade jointly
funded by the Australian Government, the local community, Hilltops
Council and GrainCorp (see July 2017 RD, page 41).
Nigel Lotz, General Manager of Operations for GrainCorp said: “The
Cunningar site project has set the benchmark of how public, private
and growers can come together to deliver a fantastic outcome for the
whole community. The broader Harden area is one of the most reliable
cropping regions in Australia so having access to a modern, efficient
supply chain is vital for growers to realise their potential”.
Mr Lotz said that GrainCorp has been able to deliver one of the
most efficient grain receival sites in Australia, with record turnaround
GOULBURN RAIL HERITAGE CENTRE
times, rail loading and cycle times. This results in better prices for local
growers and keeps Australian grain globally competitive.
“The more efficient site will move thousands of tonnes back to rail,
removing 4,000 truck journeys from local roads reducing wear and tear
and increasing safety for local communities,” Mr Lotz said. “I would
like to congratulate our GrainCorp project team and our principal
contractors Martinus Rail and Bellinghams, for delivering the project
safely. This is an exceptionally complicated development and your
teams have done an outstanding job”.
GrainCorp also thanked the Australian Government for their support
through the National Stronger Regions Fund, Hilltops Council and local
growers for their financial contribution. “Without their support, this project
would not have been possible,” Mr Lotz said.
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FEBRUARY 2018
11

News
New South Wales
Above: On Wednesday 25 October 2017, torrential rain overflows the gutters at Branxton station, in the Hunter Valley, and (to the far right)
a lightning bolt streaks through the sky, as 8248, 8218 and 8109 power through the darkness with Pacific National Manildra flour train 5938
from Gunnedah to Bomaderry. Kurtis Slomka
Below: 5MB7 departs Cowan loop at a smart pace, with only 10 loaded containers and tankers behind LDP’s 009 and 002 on Friday afternoon
22 December 2017. This was the last revenue service Aurizon was operating on their interstate Intermodal service from Brisbane to Melbourne.
The same day a non-revenue movement arrived from Melbourne operating as 5MN7 worked by 6012/6042/42206/X54 hauling a large number
of empty container flats. The 422 and the X were dropped off at Hexham and the rest of the train continued north to store the flats. Shane O’Neil
12
RAILWAY DIGEST

New South Wales
News
Around Sydney
Population set to swell around south-west Sydney stations
The NSW government has cleared the way for the construction of about
20,000 new homes near six rail stations in Sydney’s south-west.
Following a three-year consultation process, the NSW Department
of Planning and Environment finalised plans in December to rezone
areas around stations from Macquarie Fields to Macarthur on Sydney’s
T8 South rail line.
The most significant changes are set to occur around Campbelltown
and Macarthur stations (located 54.7 and 56.7 kilometres respectively
from Central station). The department expects another 3600 dwellings
to be built in the immediate vicinity of Campbelltown Station in the
next 20 years, with more beyond that. The department is proposing
clumps of high-density development to the north and south of
Campbelltown Station, with no maximum building height.
Around Macarthur Station, the government is planning for 4650 new
homes over the next 20 years. The plans are based around six storey
residential-only apartment blocks, as well as larger mixed-used towers.
The station proposals, which will be given effect through planning
decisions of Campbelltown City Council, are only part of a larger series
of land-use changes in Sydney’s south-west.
The government has not finalised its plans for Glenfield Station (33
kilometres from Central). It is proposing to move Hurlstone Agricultural
High School to the Hawkesbury campus of Western Sydney University, and
use the large block of land the school is on for development.In addition,
there is also no final plan yet for more land release further to Sydney’s
south-west, in an area known as the Greater Macarthur Growth Area.
Both the Glenfield Station and Greater Macarthur proposals should
be finished in 2018.
In relation to the land use changes near the other stations,
Brendan Nelson – Deputy Secretary, Growth, Design and Programs
of the Department of Planning and Environment – said in a statement
that the proposals would maintain the character of the existing areas,
while identifying new opportunities for homes, roads and community
facilities.
“We want to revitalise these areas around key transport
infrastructure and provide a range of housing choice so families and
extended families can live close to one another and near jobs in the
regional city of Campbelltown, and the proposed Western Sydney
Airport,” Mr Nelson said.
Residents raised strong concerns about the lack of commuter
car parking near the stations. In response, the Department said the
proposals did not remove any commuter car parking spots, but nor did
they add to the number of parking spots.
Over the next 20 years, the government expects about 300 new homes
to be built adjacent to Macquarie Fields station (43.8 kilometres from
Central), 1000 new homes at Ingleburn (46.6 kilometres), 350 at Minto
(49.7 kilometres), and 1000 at Leumeah (52.6 kilometres). The plans,
however, envisage more dwellings beyond 2036.
In a statement, the general manager of Campbelltown City Council,
Lindy Deitz, said the revised plans would guide development so that
rezonings could occur.
FEBRUARY 2018
13

News
New South Wales
The AK car set was stabled at
Sydney Central platform 7 on
Friday evening 15 December
2017, bookended by S Set
power cars C3001 and C3049
at the western end and C3764
and C3752 at the eastern end.
Wade Turner
New pedestrian footbridge and lifts for Jannali Station
NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance and
Miranda MP Eleni Petinos officially opened the completed upgrade at
Jannali station on Tuesday 12 December.
The upgrade, which features a new footbridge connection spanning
the lines between Jannali Avenue and Railway Crescent, will make it easier
for less mobile commuters to move between the station and local shops.
(Jannali is located on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line approximately
22.7 kilometres from Central station.)
“The footbridge and two new lifts enhance accessibility at the
station, which has been upgraded under the NSW Government’s
Transport Access Program, an initiative to provide safe, modern and
accessible public transport infrastructure,” Mr Constance said.
As part of the upgrade a bus shelter closer to the station entrance
on Jannali Avenue has been constructed, along with a new bus zone
on Mitchell Avenue and kiss and ride spaces on Railway Crescent.
Improvements to the Oxley Avenue car park and footpath to the station
have also been completed. In addition, upgrades to lighting and CCTV
surveillance have added to safety and security at the station.
The NSW Government announced a further commitment of $200
million to the Transport Access Program in the 2017 state budget, taking
its investment to over $1 billion since 2011, with 450 projects either
completed or underway across the state.
Some of the additional funding will be used for planning at five stations
T4 line stations, including Como (21.2 kilometres from Central).
Completed upgrades on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line
include;
• a new commuter car park with 100 spaces, new lift and pedestrian
footbridge at Oatley (18.3 kilometres from Central); and
• a new commuter car park, footpath and lighting at Engadine (30.8
kilometres from Central).
Clyde/EMD unit 8173 sits in
Botany Yard at Banksmeadow
with a small train of garbage/
waste containers awaiting
the return run to Clyde as
Train No. T131, early Monday
morning 11 December.
At Clyde, the wagons will
be amalgamated with
considerably more wagons
to then head south to Crisps
Creek, on the Canberra line,
for dumping at the former
Woodlawn Mine. Jim Bruce
14
RAILWAY DIGEST

TM
Queensland
QR CEO says no plans to
close Shorncliffe line during
Commonwealth Games
Queensland Rail’s chief executive Nick Easy denies there are plans
to close a north Brisbane rail line to meet demand during this year’s
Commonwealth Games but says the timetable is yet to be finalised.
Mr Easy repeatedly said on Sunday 31 December that there were
“no plans” to close any line, following media reports all services on the
Shorncliffe line would be diverted to the Gold Coast, though he would
not categorically rule it out. (The Shorncliffe line is an 11 kilometre
commuter line that runs from the junction station of Northgate,
situated 9.9 kilometres from Brisbane Central station, to the northern
Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe.)
“There are no plans to close services on the Shorncliffe line,” he said.
“However, there will be an adjustment in services given this is a large,
international-scale event where there’ll be a significant increase in
demand on the Gold Coast”.
“Mr Easy said commuters across south-east Queensland would still
have access to QR services, but there would be changes to the regular
timetable. “We haven’t set the final timetable that will be released well
ahead of the Commonwealth Games,” he said. “What you’ll see is buses
playing a very important role, as will the trains, which will provide
services”.
QR will also endeavour to put more of its New Generation
Rollingstock (NGR) trains in service ahead of April’s major sporting
event. Mr Easy said there were currently three being used, but he
expected more to be deployed in January and February (see December
2017 RD, page 16). “We will be putting those trains that are in service
from NGR into the Commonwealth Games timetable,” he said.
Despite Mr Easy’s confidence there is still concern in some sectors
that Translink may not be able to handle the Commonwealth Games
passenger task. In August 2017 an independent review by German
railway operator Deutsche Bahn, argued that 18 NGR trains will be
required for the Commonwealth Games timetable.
Some rail advocates, including Rail Back on Track spokesperson
Robert Dow, believe that travelling by rail during the Games would be
“a nightmare” and QR would “strip other lines” to service the event.
He was also critical of the late release of the public timetable for rail
services.
Another informed source said that while the Shorncliffe line may be
safe, it would be no surprise if services were suspended on the short
and relatively lightly used Doomben line. Services on this line usually
operate Monday to Saturday, with no services run on Sundays and
public holidays.
Railway
a
Eastern Australia
California
Sun, sea, trees, wine and trains!
The best of Colorado
Trains, trains and more trains! And mountains!
News
y 2018– 2019
Holidays
Join us for a friendly tour where you'll experience the best of these
fascinating railways. Enjoy fabulous scenery and meet some of the
interesting people that run the railways we'll ride on.
November 2018
Join us for a really special two (plus!) weeks seeing the best of the railways that south-eastern Australia
has to offer, based on Melbourne, Tasmania, Sydney and Brisbane, with an optional extension to Cairns
for the sugar lines (and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef).
From Melbourne, we'll visit the Puffing
Billy, the Victorian Goldfields, Bendigo
trams and Williamstown. There's Pearns,
the Don Valley Railway, the west Coast
Wilderness and the great rail museum at
Hobart, Sydney is the base for Thirlmere,
and Queensland has the wonderful
Ipswich workshops and the impressive
new Gold Coast trams. A superb tour full of
attractions, and prices from just A$5,550.
Have a look at our website for the full
itinerary, or ask for a mail copy. Bob
Cochrane, from Puffing Billy Railway will
be assisting with and accompanying the
tour, and is happy to handle enquiries at
the contact address below.
June 2018
We'll combine the best railroads and the best secenery! San Farncisco's cable cars, suburban trains,
vintage and modern trams, the Famous Tehachapi L:oop, Sacramento's brilliant rail museum, and a
classy dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train. From A$5,5680
September 2018
All the best of the tourist railroads, and BIG trains tackling the Rocky Mountains. See how Union
Pacidfic are getting on with their rebuild of the massive Big Boy. So much more – just look at the
itinerary! From A$5,075.
January 2019
This tour is a great introduction to India, perfect for railfans and their partners. Our unrivalled
programme on the Darjeeling line, broad gauge steam to Rewari, the narrow gauge mainline up to
Shimla (with a steam excursion there), the Taj Mahal (of course) plus the option of a steam rack-rail
ride up to Ooty in the south of India. A lovely tour! From A$5,200
Subscribe to
The Mernda rail extension
The V/Line challenge
Dinner in the diner
AusRAIL Plus 2017
and you’ll never miss an issue of
Australia’s leading railway magazine.
Go to www.railwaydigest.com.
au to subscribe online, or fill in and
post the application form on page 59.
For a digital subscription, go to www.pocketmags.com
Published monthly by the Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division)
January 2018 • $10.00
Townsville to The Isa
Comeng Life Extension Program
Melbourne rail works upsurge underway
India’s Golden Triangle
March 2019
March 2019 Delhi, India's capital, Agra, for the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort and Jaipur, the Pink City.
Plus the Hill Station of Shimla. Most of our travel is by rail, avoiding the stress of India's amazing if
chaotic road system. India jhas so much to offer, and we have included a broad gauge steam
excursion to Rewari and a narrow gauge steam excursion from Shimla. The scenery and the local
excursions will captivate you! From A$5,735.
For more details, please email us, or write for full itineraries. Fully bonded
Lime Tree Lodge, Thorpe Road, Mattersey, Doncaster DN10 5ED, UK (Tel +44 2082 498943)
In Australia: Bob Cochrane (Tel: 0425 776 992) rscochrane@optusnet.com.au
FEBRUARY 2018
15

News
Queensland
Above: Running as Train 7D02, Aurizon Locomotive 2390 tows LDP 020, LDP 017, 8347, LDP 018, LDP 019 and LDP 016 through the middle
road at Narangba on the Northern Line en route from Downer/EDI Maryborough to Progress Rail Redbank on Wednesday 13 December 2017.
The ‘spec-built’ narrow-gauge LDP units had been stored at Maryborough, not having turned a wheel in revenue service. Michael James
Below: Walkers B-B DH Carmila hauls a loaded cane train at Oonooie on its way to Plane Creek Mill at Sarina, on Monday 6 November 2017.
Carmila was once NSW Railways 7317, and was rebuilt to 610mm gauge in 1996 by Bundaberg Foundry Engineers. John Scott
16 RAILWAY DIGEST

Queensland
News
Above: Clyde/EMD units 2474, 2414 and 1723 head Train No. PW57 at Yandina on Saturday 9 December 2017. Since the retirement of the
Sunlander and locomotive-hauled Tilt-replacement trains, the Spirit of the Outback is now the only regular loco-hauled QR train to work the
North Coast line. This means that multi-unit combinations for transferring locomotives to and from Rockhampton and the Central Line, such
as the one pictured, are becoming more commonplace. In this case, 2474 was to be detached at Rockhampton for ‘standby’ duties. Ray Miller
Below: Clyde/ASEA/Walkers electric units 3526 and 3561 (at the head) 3511 and 3508 (mid-train) and 3539 (at the rear) arrive at Jilalan, on
the Goonyella rail system, with an empty coal train from Hay Point. John Scott
FEBRUARY 2018
17

News
Regional freight study to determine
future options for Eyre Peninsula rail
network
The SA Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI)
and Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA) will invest $150,000 to
deliver an Eyre Peninsula freight strategy and investigate options for the
upgrading of the rail network.
SMEC Australia Pty Ltd has been engaged to undertake the $150,000
transport study and business case development.
The rail study will investigate:
• The economic viability of the Eyre Peninsula rail network and
examine the infrastructure investment required to upgrade the
network to support future rail freight operations.
• The potential to rejuvenate the existing rail network to meet export
needs, modelling the cost of alternative supply chain options, and
the impact of proposed regional port infrastructure projects.
• Freight infrastructure proposals currently under consideration
for Eyre Peninsula that have the potential to impact future grain
volumes on the existing rail network.
• The current lower and central Eyre Peninsula freight task across all
major industries and identify the optimal modal mix for the Eyre
Peninsula.
The strategic investigation will form part of the broader freight study
encompassing the lower and central Eyre Peninsula including rail, road
and port infrastructure. The final SMEC Australia report is expected to
be completed in the second quarter of 2018.
The need to investigate rail improvements on the Eyre Peninsula is
identified in the State Government’s Integrated Transport and Land
Use Plan.
South Australia
Flinders Link project: Residents fight
against Tonsley station closure
On 13 May 2016, the Australian and South Australian Governments
announced funding for the $85 million Flinders Link Project. This project
will extend the existing Tonsley rail line 650 metres to the Flinders
Medical Centre, creating new connections to the health precinct and
Flinders University. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2019
(see July 2016 RD, page 18).
The project includes:
• A 650 metre extension of the Tonsley rail line linking the Flinders
Medical Centre and Flinders University to the rail network,
including 520 metres of elevated single track over Sturt Road,
Laffer’s Triangle and Main South Road
• Removal of the existing Tonsley Station and construction of a new
station adjacent to the Flinders Medical Centre; and
• An integrated shared pedestrian/cycle path adjacent the rail line.
However, some Tonsley and Mitchell Park commuters say they will
be left isolated and disadvantaged when the Tonsley railway station is
permanently closed as part of the Flinders Link project.
Local residents have thrown their support behind a campaign to
save the station with an online petition gaining almost 1150 signatures
by the end of December 2017.
Head petitioner Jodie Pearce said removal of the station discriminated
against local residents, particularly a large number of elderly and disabled
people in the surrounding area.
“For many people the train is their only affordable access to
independent travel – especially for wheelchair users and people with
disabilities, short stature or frail health,” she said. “Flinders Link is
essentially ‘unlinking’ the local community by withdrawing access to
the train service”.
On Sunday 10 December 2017, double-stacked intermodal service 6PM6 has crossed the Ghan and 6SP5 at Bookaloo and Hesso respectively,
and now backlit orange dust dances in the train’s wake and metal surfaces gleam silver as NRs 53/101 glide through the curves at Yorkey’s
Crossing. Once this train is safely inside the confines of Spencer Junction yard, 7MP5 will launch uphill as the sun sets. Malcolm Holdsworth
18 RAILWAY DIGEST

South Australia
News
Her concern is focused in particular at the southern part of Mitchell
Park, served by Tonsley station. A bridge will need to be built over Sturt
Road for the train line, which requires the track to be gradually elevated
– beginning before the current location of Tonsley station.
Mrs Pearce, who is a wheelchair user, said access to the Tonsley line
was essential for residents to access employment, education, healthcare
and local services. The closest station to Tonsley, Clovelly Park, is almost
one kilometre away. The new station at Flinders University – replacing
the existing Tonsley station – will be located uphill more than 500
metres to the south. Mrs Pearce said Clovelly Park station was not
disability-compliant, unlike Tonsley.
Marion Council is talking to the State Government about moving and
upgrading the Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park stations so that they cater
for the northern and southern ends of the Tonsley development site,
where about 850 new homes will be built.
A SA Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure
spokesman said it was continuing to work with the community on the
location of stations as part of the project.
“We are aware of these concerns and are committed to continue
working with the community,” he said. “The station will remain open
throughout construction and is being considered as part of a broader
review of stations on the Tonsley rail line”.
The review, he said, would include ensuring stations complied with
the Disability and Discrimination Act.
Above: On Christmas Day 2017 Pacific National
locomotives NR52, NR57 and 8226 lead 5PM5
through the Adelaide Hills approaching Mount
Barker Junction. David Peters
Right: On Monday, 8 January track work associated
with the one-kilometre extension along North
Terrace, from King William street to East Terrace
and an extension along King William Road to the
Adelaide Festival Plaza precinct advanced steadily
after a one-week closure of the intersection of King
William Street and North Terrace, Adelaide. All track
panels were in place and concreting was advancing
with about one-third complete. Some new poles for
overhead were noticed. This view is looking westerly
down North Terrace with the single-track curve to
the left (south) into King William Street and the
single-track curve from King William Road coming
in from the right. The central square has been
mass concreted, as is the track beyond. Track is yet
to be laid across the intersection at Gawler Place/
North Terrace, a few hundred metres behind the
photographer. Ian Hammond
FEBRUARY 2018
19

TM
News
TasRail to keep freight focus with no
involvement in light-rail debate
The future of Tasmanian rail operator TasRail came under scrutiny on
the first day of a Tasmanian Government Business Enterprise Committee
hearing in the Tasmanian Parliament on Wednesday 6 December.
On former TasRail chairman Robert Annells’ last day before retirement,
members of the House of Assembly asked questions about the future
direction of the company.
Also on hand were TasRail chief executive Damien White and Minister
for Infrastructure the Hon. Rene Hidding.
The hearing came in the wake of the November 2017 release of the
state Auditor-General’s Report on the Financial Statements of State entities
that found TasRail relied heavily on government funding to support its
below-rail activities.
TasRail recorded a loss of $6.78 million in the 2016-17 financial year.
However, in his opening remarks, Mr Hidding said 2016-17 had been
a “successful” year for TasRail, due to its infrastructure upgrades, the
growth achieved in its commercial above-rail division and its response
to the 2016 floods.
“I am delighted to report that TasRail’s above-rail division is on track
to achieve its first profit since TasRail’s inception in December 2009,” he
enthused. “I want to see rail contestable against road”.
Minister Hidding said he had no doubt that, as part of TasRail’s
commitment to delivering optimal and innovative logistic solutions to
its customers, to haul freight in a safe, reliable and competitive manner;
the company is poised for future great success”.
Mr Annells said TasRail would continue to focus on its role as a short-haul
freight carrier, contestable against roads.
It was for this reason that Mr Hidding said TasRail had not been involved
in discussions about potential light-rail passenger services for the
Hobart area.
Opposition infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad pondered whether
or not there was any merit to separating the below- and above-rail divisions
of TasRail’s operations. Mr Annells responded saying this would only
serve to remove the below-rail division’s imperative to address speed
restrictions for the above-rail division’s benefit.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor asked if TasRail had any plans to
expand the state’s rail network “further than it is now”.
“TasRail is very clear on this matter: it would prefer no expansion
at all,” Mr Hidding replied. “It’s a known quantity now – they service
known markets”.
Government committee told Hobart
rail line removal not a conspiracy
The removal of several hundred metres of disused rail lines near the
Hobart Regatta Grounds was “a stuff-up”; a parliamentary hearing has
been told.
TasRail chairman Bob Annells told a Tasmanian Government Business
Enterprise committee hearing on Wednesday 6 December that the rail
had been removed without the knowledge of TasRail or Tasmanian
Minister for Infrastructure the Hon. Rene Hidding. He described the
removal as “a slight incursion” and “a stuff-up” and said the line had
been in poor condition.
Mr Annells said that he believed the line had been removed by a
contractor working for Macquarie Point Development Corporation
(MPDC). “If you’re trying to make a decision between a conspiracy and
a stuff-up, take the stuff-up every time”, he said. “I think, in fairness to
them, I suspect it was a breakdown in communications between them
(MPDC) and their contractor,” he said. “We didn’t know about it, [the
minister] certainly didn’t know about it. When it was drawn to our
attention, we sorted it out quite quickly”.
Mr Hidding told the hearing there had been no repercussions for the
Tasmania
Tasrail calls for an end to reckless
behaviour in the rail corridor
TasRail is disappointed by the disheartening approach to rail safety
demonstrated by some members of the Tasmanian community, with
unacceptable numbers of people illegally accessing the railway corridor,
vandalising critical rail equipment and ignoring level crossing signals.
New statistics compiled from TasRail’s internal safety reporting
system Risk Wizard reveal a startling 109% increase in the number of rail
corridor trespass incidents around Tasmania from 1 July to 18 December
2017. There were 23 reports of people illegally entering the corridor,
compared to 11 during the same period in 2016. There has also been
a 41% increase in the number of vehicles failing to stop or give way
at level crossings and a 56% surge in vandalism and theft incidents.
TasRail Acting CEO Stephen Kerrison said this reckless behaviour
was unacceptable. “In recent years we had recorded an improvement
in community-related safety incidents so we are incredibly disappointed
that motorists and pedestrians are taking unnecessary and dangerous
risks,” Mr Kerrison said. “CCTV footage from our locomotives shows
motorists stopping at level crossings with activated signals, seeing
the approaching train and then proceeding through the crossing.
We also have footage of mothers pushing prams along railway
bridges and children deliberately placing themselves in the path of
oncoming trains”.
TasRail continues to work proactively with Tasmania Police to
analyse CCTV footage of reported incidents and forward all relevant
information, such as vehicle make, colour and number plate, in the
hope these offenders will be prosecuted. Tasmania Police reiterated
the importance of staying safe around the rail corridor.
company which removed the rail line. Replacing the line would cost “a
few thousand dollars” and could be done in a day.
Mr Hidding said the rail corridor had been maintained for potential
future use and he was keen to advance plans for a light rail through the
area. “I have the same aspirations on light rail ... I would like to see it
come through Macquarie Point and continue,” he told the committee.
The rail freight line to Hobart was closed on 22 June 2014.
Subsequently rail services relocated to the purpose-built Brighton
Transport Hub, located near Bridgewater, approximately 25 kilometres
north of the former Hobart terminus.
According to reports in the Hobart Mercury the rail line in question
had been removed around October 2017. At that time Mr Hidding said
that claim that the freight rail line to Macquarie Point had been removed
were “false”. “Some disused spur lines and shunting lines within the
Macquarie Point boundaries that are secondary to the main line have
been removed”, he said. “These were lines used for heavy freight
operations, which are now redundant”.
Subscribe to
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Swietelsky CPB Rail MFC-45
Ballast Spoil Wagons
and you’ll never miss an issue of
Australia’s leading railway magazine.
Go to www.railwaydigest.com.au
to subscribe online, or fill in and post
the application form on page 59.
For a digital subscription, go to www.pocketmags.com
Published monthly by the Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division)
March 2017 • $10.00
Sticks and tricks
South of the border
The AK Cars go north-west
SCT commences Melbourne–Brisbane services
20 RAILWAY DIGEST

Victoria
Contracts signed for Ballarat line
upgrade
Contracts were signed in late December by a consortium comprised of
Lendlease, Coleman Rail and SMEC Australia, to deliver the $551.8 million
Ballarat Line Upgrade project.
Wendouree commuters are among the big winners from additional
works, which include a second platform and new tracks for the station.
The additional tracks will create space for trains to pass at Wendouree
station for the first time, removing the current problem that sees delayed
services from Melbourne terminate at Ballarat and passengers forced onto
replacement buses because trains cannot cross beyond Ballarat.
The upgraded Wendouree station will also include a new accessible
pedestrian link between the new and existing platform, and upgrades
to security, lighting and signage. The Wendouree station work is expected
to be completed by 2019.
An extra three kilometres of track between Bacchus Marsh station and
Rowsley Station Road in Maddingley has also been added to the Ballarat
Line Upgrade project, allowing trains to move in and out of the nearby
stabling facilities more quickly. This refinement removes the need to
duplicate track at Warrenheip and means less tree removal and excavation.
The change also includes a new station at Toolern, between Rockbank
and Melton, to service Melbourne’s booming outer-western suburbs.
The upgrade is part of the $1.57 billion Regional Rail Revival, funded
by the Australian and Victorian governments.
The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority, currently overseeing the Metro
Tunnel and Ballarat Line Upgrade, will lead delivery of the Regional Rail
Revival program, which includes upgrades to every regional passenger
line in Victoria.
Construction contractors and suppliers have been invited to register
their interest in working on the Regional Rail Revival projects by visiting
ballaratlineupgrade.vic.gov.au.
News
Bendigo and Eaglehawk station
upgrade update
The $15.8 million upgrade of Bendigo and Eaglehawk stations is one
step closer with the request for tenders released on Wednesday 20
December. (Bendigo station is located approximately 162 kilometres
from Southern Cross station on the Bendigo line. Eaglehawk station is
located eight kilometres from Bendigo on the Swan Hill line.)
The centrepiece of the project is a new pedestrian overpass at
Bendigo Station, with new lifts, ramp and stair access making it easier
for commuters to transfer between platforms and connect with other
forms of transport.
The design of the bridge reflects Bendigo’s heritage and will not
impact on the land used by the adjacent Bendigo Victorian Railways
Institute Bowling Club. Further refinements to the design will be made
as part of the design and construction phase, in consultation with the
City of Greater Bendigo and key stakeholders.
Further upgrades at Bendigo Station will see improvements to the
waiting area, toilets and customer service areas to make it easier for
people to move through the station. The Victorian government is also
planning for more growth in Eaglehawk by extending the platform by
100 metres to accommodate longer trains and building a new 60-space
car park with taxi and drop off areas.
Preliminary designs have considered the unique heritage of the area
and are the product of extensive community consultation, with around
80 local residents, businesses and commuters attending community
feedback sessions in Bendigo and Eaglehawk in October this year (see
September 2017 RD, page 21). .
Works will be completed in 2019 and are in line with the City of Greater
Bendigo integrated transport and land use strategy Connecting Greater
Bendigo, the Bendigo Station Improvement Plan and the Eaglehawk
Station Precinct Master Plan.
As part of ongoing maintenance of infrastructure on the North East line, Kilmore East Station is receiving a new roof. V/Line Clyde/EMD
locomotive N458 arrives, on time, with a Southern Cross Service (07.34 ex Seymour) at 07.58 on Tuesday 12 December 2017. Steve Munro
FEBRUARY 2018
21

News
Around Melbourne
Major Metro Tunnel construction
works on display
Locals and visitors will be able to watch construction of the Melbourne
Metro tunnel from new viewing areas in Melbourne’s City Square, as
work ramps up on the project.
Victorian Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and Melbourne
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle unveiled two separate 10-metre long viewing
areas in Swanston Street on Wednesday 6 December. The new platforms
will allow thousands of people each day to watch as this iconic landmark
is transformed into Town Hall Station – one of five new underground
stations on the Melbourne Metro Rail Project (Metro Tunnel project).
City Square is being demolished so that construction crews can
dig 11 storeys below the ground to build the new Town Hall station,
with most of City Square’s surface to be removed by mid-February.
This access tunnel will be used to transport workers and equipment to
and from the surface as the station is built. Following construction of
a temporary deck, the site will be covered by a massive acoustic shed
towards the end of 2018.
Work also continues on other Metro Tunnel packages, with bidders
now shortlisted for the final package of works – the Rail Infrastructure
Alliance (RIA). The $1 billion RIA will connect the Metro Tunnel to the
rest of the network by upgrading and building new infrastructure
including a new platform and turnback facility at West Footscray station
(Sunbury line), and track and signalling work between Tottenham
(Sunbury line) and Oakleigh (Pakenham and Cranbourne lines). The
RIA will also build tunnel entrances where the Metro Tunnel joins the
network in Kensington (Craigieburn line) and South Yarra (Pakenham,
Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines).
The shortlisted bidders for the RIA are CPB John Holland AECOM
comprising CPB Contractors, John Holland, and AECOM Australia and
Laing O’Rourke comprising Laing O’Rourke, Kellogg Brown & Root and
WSP Australia.
Victoria
More car parks for Keilor Plains station
A total of 177 new car parking places have been completed at Keilor
Plains station, giving passengers in Melbourne’s growing west an easier
trip to work or school in the morning. (Keilor Plains is located 19.5
kilometres from Southern Cross station on the Sunbury line.)
Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman announced the completion of
works on Friday 8 December. The works included installing new lighting,
line markings, CCTV and signage to improve safety and station access.
The Victorian government’s $20 million Station Car Park Upgrades
Program is building more than 2,100 extra parking spaces at regional
and metropolitan stations.
By the end of December 2017, car parking capacity had been
increased at:
Station Line No. of additional car parks
Castlemaine Bendigo 150
Ferntree Gully Belgrave 215
Gisborne Bendigo 40
Keilor Plains Sunbury 177
Kilmore East North East 50
Kyneton Bendigo 100
Officer Pakenham 165
Regent South Morang 117
Upfield Upfield 100
Wallan North East 150
Watsonia Hurstbridge 101
Williams Landing Werribee 150
Works are yet to be completed at:
Berwick (Pakenham line), Deer Park (Serviceton line), Melton
(Serviceton line) and Strathmore (Craigieburn line).
For more information, visit the Victrack station car park upgrades page:
www.victrack.com.au/projects/key-projects/station-car-park-upgrades
6058, the latest of 80
trams being built by
Bombardier Transportation
at Dandenong, is seen in
the Melbourne CBD on
Sunday 3 December 2017. It
is planned to deliver all 80 of
the E class/6000 series trams
by June 2019. The E class
currently operate on routes
11, 86 and 96. Mike Martin
22
RAILWAY DIGEST

Victoria
News
Yarra Trams offers free advertising to community organisations
Not-for-profit community organisations located within the Yarra Trams
network that make a significant contribution to diversity and inclusion
in Melbourne, have been offered the chance to share in $1 million
of free advertising, under the transport operator’s new Community
Partnerships Program.
Applications for 2018 funding round opened on Monday 11 December
2017 and closed on Sunday 4 February 2018 with successful partners
will be selected by an independent panel of influential Melburnians in the
coming months.
Yarra Trams CEO, Nicolas Gindt said: “Yarra Trams believes strongly
in contributing to Melbourne’s liveability by extending our support
beyond the rails to the communities we represent. I am proud to launch
the Yarra Trams Community Partnerships Program today and encourage
Melbourne-based community organisations to submit applications
for a share in $1 million worth of advertising across our network”.
“Melbourne’s tram network is at the heart of our community, no matter
where you come from or what you do. We bring people together by
providing a service where everyone is welcome”.
Applications for the Yarra Trams Community Partnerships Program
will be assessed annually, allowing organisations the opportunity
to access this unique advertising offer. For more information on the
program visit: yarratrams.com.au/community-partnerships
Sunday 19 November 2017 found most of V/Line’s fleet of P class units stored around the broad-gauge turntable at South Dynon. Absent were
P 11 (location believed to be Newport Workshops), P 12 (on short-term hire to Steamrail Victoria for heritage purposes), and standard-gauge
unit P 13, which was started and driven to Southern Cross for shunting moves soon after this photo was taken. David Campbell
Improved connectivity for Victorian regional passengers
Passengers on Victoria’s five busiest regional rail lines are set to
see major improvements in mobile phone coverage following the
successful testing of mobile signal repeaters, which will be used in
Australia for the first time.
The successful pilot clears the way for the rollout of the $18 million
Regional Rail Connectivity Project, which will boost mobile coverage
for passengers along the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon and
Seymour rail lines.
The Victorian government is partnering with the three major
mobile carriers – Telstra, Vodafone and Optus – to construct up to
35 new mobile towers as part of the project. These towers will be
combined with in-train technology to significantly improve coverage
for passengers. Trains will begin to be fitted with the technology from
early 2018 and the entire VLocity fleet will have a booster on board by
the end of the year.
The first mobile towers have already been built, and once boosters
are installed passengers should notice a significant improvement in
their mobile signal. Mobile coverage will improve as the technology is
rolled out throughout 2018.
Victorian Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy Philip
Dalidakis said; “In today’s world, digital connectivity is crucial for
people’s lifestyles and for doing business. This program is making
it fair for regional Victorian passengers by giving them faster, more
reliable mobile coverage”.
FEBRUARY 2018
23

News
Newdegate line reopens after record
2017 flooding
Grain train movements resumed in the Newdegate-Lake Biddy area
on Wednesday 6 December following the completion of the works
to repair and restore rail infrastructure extensively damaged by
widespread flooding earlier in the year (see September 2017 RD, page
25). (Newdegate is situated in Western Australia’s Great Southern
agricultural region – 399 kilometres south-east of Perth and 52
kilometres east of Lake Grace. It is the terminus of a line that runs east
from Wagin on the WA Great Southern Line, and continues through
Lake Grace, the junction for the Hyden line.)
Large sections of the track, rail structures and culverts were
completely washed away during the February 2017 flooding with other
areas of the network in the Lakes District remaining submerged for
months.
Arc Infrastructure’s General Manager Asset Management and
Projects Paul Lowney said the Company was committed to delivering a
safe and sustainable solution that provided certainty to the growers in
the region who depend on the rail line.
“While we had wanted to restore services to this final section of the
network earlier, large volume of water remained in the Lakes District
and further recent rains delayed the safe return of rail operations in the
area,” Mr Lowney said.
“Throughout this process we worked closely with the sole customer
of the line to ensure they were kept informed of progress and we thank
our employees, contractors and CBH for their hard work, support and
understanding during the clean-up efforts and look forward to working
with them as services resume”.
Arc Infrastructure provided the following overview of the project:
• The project area included approximately 50km of freight rail line
from Lake Grace to Newdegate.
• The extreme weather conditions in February 2017 produced
widespread damage throughout the Great Southern. According to
Bureau of Meteorology statistics, the Newdegate-Lake Biddy area
received more rainfall in two weeks in February 2017 than any
similar period since 1955.
• With most significant flooding occurring in the Lakes District, Arc
Infrastructure worked with project partners to deliver a long-term
solution to the affected rail line that raised the existing track
formation up by up to one metre to enable it to withstand any
further extreme flooding events that might occur.
This is the last section of the network to reopen following other
sections of the rail line throughout the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and
Goldfields returning to normal operation earlier in 2017.
Subsidy increased to encourage more
freight on rail
Increased financial incentives, introduced by the Western Australian
Government to reduce truck congestion and get more freight on rail
to Fremantle Port, commenced from Monday 1 January. As flagged
prior to the March 2017 WA state election, the container rail subsidy
increased from $30 to $50 per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit.
It is hoped that the increase will encourage more freight on to rail
and reduce truck traffic on roads around Fremantle Port, as part of the
State Government’s integrated plan for freight and trade in Western
Australia. A target to boost rail mode share to 20 per cent has been set -
an increase of about five per cent.
“The rail service plays a significant role in achieving greater
efficiency in the container supply chain as well as improving
community amenity and environmental benefits along metropolitan
roads that link to Fremantle Port,” said WA Minister for Transport
Rita Saffioti. “That is why the McGowan Government has delivered
Western Australia
on its election commitment to increase the container rail subsidy to
encourage more container movements on the port rail service.
The subsidy will be paid for all loaded containers that move between
North Quay Rail Terminal (NQRT), Forrestfield and Kwinana, as well as for
containers filled with hay that are received by rail at NQRT for export. The
subsidy per container will continue to be passed on in full to rail customers.
Increasing the rail share for container haulage is one of several initiatives
to improve efficiencies at the Inner Harbour to facilitate trade growth until
additional port facilities are viable.
Other initiatives include:
• Facilitating the development of the Westport: Port and Environs
Strategy which involves long-term planning for the Inner and
Outer Harbours;
• Enabling development of the broader rail supply chain, including
intermodal facilities to enhance rail system efficiencies and
minimise truck movements on Perth roads; and
• Upgrading road infrastructure linkages to ease congestion to and
around the Inner Harbour.
Airport West, Belmont, and
now Redcliffe – new name for
Forrestfield Airport Link station
After an online survey in October and November 2017, the name Redcliffe
has been selected for the first station on the Forrestfield – Airport Link.
This is the third proposed name for the under-construction station
which was originally called Airport West, and subsequently Belmont.
The station is located in the suburb of Redcliffe and is about 5
kilometres from the Belmont town centre (most of which is actually in
suburban Cloverdale).
Following the Redcliffe renaming there is now a move to change
the name of the terminus from Forrestfield to High Wycombe, to also
reflect the geographic position of that station. Western Australian
Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, has said that no decision in this
regard will occur before a survey is held in 2018.
Concern has been raised about contaminated soil and groundwater
uncovered during railway excavation work. The contaminant is thought
to be toxic fire fighting foam used in the past at the Perth Airport. While
the issue has not halted work, it has caused the stockpiling of excavated
soil until suitable disposal is arranged.
By the end of 2017 tunnel borer Grace had tunnelled more than
1300m and Sandy more than 500m from the Forrestfield station site.
The first tunnel breakthrough is expected at Airport Central station
around late-February.
The $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link is jointly funded by the
Australian and Western Australian governments and will deliver a new
rail service to the eastern suburbs of Perth – with three new stations at
Redcliffe, Airport Central and Forrestfield.
Perth stadium station testing
The first major test of the new Perth Stadium station occurred on Saturday
21 October when dozens of trains were run through the station to test
signalling, communications, lighting, and staff procedures.
This was followed by a trial event on Wednesday December 13 when
around 15,000 people attended a closed T20 cricket match between
Perth Scorchers and England Lions. Transperth operated a shuttle bus
service from Elizabeth Quay Bus Station to the Stadium, and trains from
the station following the match.
The station is planned to allow over 28,000 people to exit in the first
hour after an event via its 6 platforms. Another extensive full-scale test
using empty train sets occurred on the evening of Saturday 16 December.
The first full-scale test occurred on Sunday 21 January when over 70,000
people were expected at a free ticketed family open day at the Stadium.
24 RAILWAY DIGEST

Western Australia
CBH Group – ARC Infrastructure
extends interim rail access agreement
The CBH Group has signed a one-year extension to its current interim
rail access agreement with Western Australian network operator Arc
Infrastructure. The agreement provides grain growers’ cooperative CBH
with access to the WA rail freight network for 12 months from 1 January
2018 to 31 December 2018.
CBH General Manager Operations David Capper said it will be business
as usual for the current harvest. “The agreement ensures there are no
disruptions to growers and their harvest programs,” Mr Capper said.
Meanwhile, on-going confidential negotiations to gain long-term
(10 year) access to Arc’s freight rail network – including reopening
most of the Western Australian Tier 3 railway lines - continue under
the Commercial Arbitration Act before independent arbitrator
Sydney-based Queen’s Counsel, commercial law expert and retired
Federal Court judge Kevin Lindgren (see October 2017 RD, page 28).
According to a Monday 4 December report in The West Australian the
independent arbitrator could call an end to the protracted access agreement
negotiations, which began in March 2016, by the middle of this year.
CBH triggered an arbitration process with Arc in February 2017
after formal negotiations to gain long-term access to Arc’s freight rail
network failed.
Leaders of both parties have declared the arbitrator’s decision as final.
CBH chief executive Jimmy Wilson said he hoped the decision would
work in the co-operative’s favour.
“Obviously there will be one disenfranchised party and one not
so disenfranchised,” he said. “And if you speak to Paul Larson (Arc
Infrastructure chief executive) you will hear a view as to who that might
be. We are hopeful our position will be heard and that’s all I can say”.
Arc Infrastructure customer operations general manager Neil Hamel
said the group would be bound by the determination, “whatever it is”.
“We continue to work well with CBH at an operational level and are
pleased with our part in helping shift record harvests,” he said.
News
Public warned to stay off the tracks
The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) has
reminded Perth residents to stay off rail lines after the number of
reported incidents of trespass almost doubled in 2017.
A total of 412 reported trespass incidents occurred on the
Transperth network up to Wednesday 20 December, significantly
more than the 2016 total of 220.
The PTA has launched a new branch of the highly-successful
Stay off the Tracks campaign using urban art to share the rail safety
message.
PTA spokesman David Hynes said it is worrying that people
continue to ignore safety warnings and trespass on the rail network.
“It is illegal to be on train tracks unless you are walking across a
pedestrian level crossing, or driving across a level crossing. If you
enter the rail reserve or step on to the tracks for any other reason, it’s
called trespass and the penalty is $200 or your life,” Mr Hynes said.
“There are no second chances when it comes to trains”.
Mr Hynes said Perth street artist Drew Straker would paint
a multi-dimensional replica of an oncoming train to engage
passers-by at the front of Perth Station in the lead up to Christmas.
Staff were also be on hand to talk about rail safety with passengers
and others in the city.
Stay off the Tracks is aligned with the PTA’s successful Right Track
program, which aims to promote positive behaviour around the
rail network through education campaigns, urban art projects, and
other youth-oriented events.
For more information on the program, visit:
www.righttrack.wa.gov.au
Mr Wilson said he thought a decision would be reached in coming months.
“It’s only an estimate, but it is looking like the arbitrator will probably come
to some kind of decision in the first half of the year,” he said.
Goninan/GE units NR43 and NR2 are seen stabled on the Forrestfield Yard Long arrivals track with 7PM5 Perth-Melbourne intermodal on
Saturday 16 December 2017. Evan Jasper
FEBRUARY 2018
25

North West Frontier – Revisited
Text and images by Alan Graham
On a purely personal level, 2014 was an extra special time for
rail adventures that will be long remembered. I rode aboard
the last steam-hauled train into the now closed Newcastle
station, and finally made the effort to book a sleeper berth
aboard Queensland Rail’s Westlander, travelling to Charleville barely a
week before the M series sleeper cars were withdrawn from service. But
ranking highly amongst life’s best moments was the very rare privilege
of experiencing loco cab rides aboard some of the iconic iron ore trains
of Western Australia’s Pilbara Region. Perhaps near the pinnacle of
many a rail enthusiast’s fantasy bucket list?
Some readers may have read an account of my 2014 Pilbara trip
featured in the ‘North West Frontier’ article, published in the April 2015
edition of Railway Digest. In my closing remarks I hinted that another visit
might be possible if the right circumstances permitted. By mid-2016,
thoughts of returning to the Pilbara became more compelling after
renewed contact with my long-time good friend Greg who continued
to be employed by the Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) as a locomotive
driver based in Port Hedland WA. Being one of the few remaining
resident FMG drivers, he conveyed that I was welcome to again stay at
his home if I made the decision to trek back over before he and his wife
Julie made good on their intention to move back to Queensland. Not
only would I again have free accommodation for a week, he would kindly
arrange more locomotive cab rides on FMG iron ore trains for me!
Given the certainty of cab rides, including perhaps a journey along FMG’s
scenic 123 km-long Solomon line, I would be exceedingly foolish to not
take advantage of such an amazing opportunity before Greg succumbed
to joining the popular ranks of the Fly In – Fly Out (FIFO) brigade.
Changes At FMG Since 2014
Iron ore prices throughout 2014 remained reasonably healthy (up to
US$90 per tonne), although a very long way short of the US$187 per
tonne peak being achieved in February 2011. Many FMG rail employees
Above: As seen from the purpose-built lookout constructed by
FMG on the western side of the Great Northern Hwy overpass, EMD
SD70-705 and GE Dash 9-013 lead an empty FMG train out of Herb
Elliott Port as it approaches the nearby Kanyirri depot, at 11.46am
on Wednesday 31 August 2016.
at that time continued to be encouraged and generously assisted to
live locally in Port Hedland as residents, helping to provide maximum
benefit to the local community. But a sudden collapse in iron ore prices
(down to a low of US$40 per tonne in December 2015) led to selected
company-provided benefits and ideals being curtailed. The downward
trend in prices were in part caused by the big two players, BHP Billiton
Iron Ore (BHPBIO) and Rio Tinto, choosing to over supply the market
and make life tough for their smaller rivals. But those tough times led
to greater resilience amongst the surviving companies which are now
better able to weather future upsets. FMG itself reluctantly adopted a
greater preference for FIFO workers rather than continue to provide the
subsidies necessary to retain them as residents. As was originally feared
by the company when first founded, the inevitable consequence of a FIFO
workforce is that the sense of community in Port Hedland has diminished
along with property prices, which have crashed due to a housing glut.
Very little of the money earned by the workers finds its way to the local
economy when virtually all their needs are provided for by the company
at the camp. Despite political calls for the practice to be discontinued,
FIFO is an Australian lifestyle that is well and truly here to stay.
As an aside, it is intriguing to learn of the distances travelled by
the Pilbara’s mobile FIFO workforce which number well into the
thousands. Many ‘commute’ via Perth to and from Australia’s east
coast either weekly or fortnightly, depending on their occupation. But
living overseas presents no obstacle for the more adventurous either.
Remarkably, countries such as the Philippines and Bali have become the
home of choice for some, despite the seemingly long journeys involved.
26 RAILWAY DIGEST

That said, Bali is in reality just three hours flying time from Perth, closer
than the Australian east coast centres.
Since the tough days of late 2015, the iron ore price has bounced
between US$55 and US$70 per tonne for an extended period, and is
expected to remain within this range as long as demand from China’s
insatiable steel mills doesn’t diminish.
But despite the changes in philosophy due to financial considerations,
to its credit, FMG has continued to maintain an indigenous workforce
level of at least 15%. This factor being a firm commitment initiated
by the FMG company founder and chairman Andrew Forrest that will
likely stand in perpetuity. The company also respects the diverse cultural
needs of its indigenous employees, which can sometimes make filling shift
rosters a challenge.
Tuesday – Arrival In Port Hedland
With anticipation replacing the trepidation that was felt last time while
travelling alone to this then unknown and distant destination, I landed
in Port Hedland on Tuesday 30 August 2016 after once again taking the
weekly five hour direct Qantas flight from my hometown of Brisbane.
That afternoon was spent simply socialising and settling in at Greg
and Julie’s South Hedland home. No sight-seeing was planned until
after a good night’s rest. Helping to lull me off to sleep in a strange
bed that night, BHPBIO’s Finucane Island line being just a few hundred
metres away, provided the soothing sound of hundreds of ore car
wheels humming along on well-grinded rail every hour or so.
Wednesday – Taking In The Local Sights
Wednesday provided the chance to be reacquainted with some familiar
local places of interest. Fortunately my hosts very kindly made their
faithful Ford Ranger utility available to me for touring the region as I
pleased once more. But a close eye needed to be kept on the time, as
later in the day Greg had offered for me to join him during the early
part of his overnight shift as an acting driver supervisor at FMG’s
Kanyirri depot beginning at 5pm. Compromising Greg’s perfect
punctuality record would be a blight on the friendship.
Success was achieved in seeking out the new Roy Hill marshalling
yard and loco depot (anything to do with their railway or mine is always
referred to by locals as ‘Gina’s’) on the south-western outskirts of town.
GE ES44ACI series loco RHA1001 bearing the name ‘Ginny’ was found
conveniently parked where it could be readily seen up close, albeit behind
a fence. Twenty one of these 4,400hp locos were constructed by GE
Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA and shipped to Port Hedland
in 2015. Company chairman of Hancock Prospecting, Gina Rinehart,
named RHA1001 after her loyal youngest daughter, Ginia. RHA1002 is
also named, bearing the identity ‘Ginbata’ after the Roy Hill mine airport.
Roy Hill employ 232 ore car rakes in a 2 x RHA locos + 116 car + 1 x
RHA loco + 116 car distributed power arrangement. Loaded trains are
banked using two RHA locos at the rear for the first 30 kms from the
mine. An annual export figure of 55 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) is
expected, with each trainload delivering just over 31,000 tonnes of ore,
five times per day.
Located a further 8 kilometres west of the marshalling yard are Roy Hill’s
ore car dumping and iron ore stockyard facilities. Ore from the stockpiles
is sent 3.2 km kilometres to their two shipping berths on the harbour by
a very prominent overhead conveyor system. The extensive bridge-like
structure dominates the flat landscape and has you pondering at the first
sighting as to what it actually is. Similar to Roy Hill’s major competitors,
virtually all functions performed at the port end, except for the loading
of the ships, are conducted from a remote operations centre in Perth.
Autonomous train operations between the mine and port have been
hinted as a possible future development, but it is likely Rio Tinto’s difficult
experiences with their still ongoing and very expensive long term
development of such advanced technology will determine that outcome.
Although, it is claimed by manufacturer GE that their new RHA locos
were delivered with the ability to be locally operated by a driver on the
ground using a portable remote control unit when required.
Recapping from my previous article, both FMG and BHPBIO each
have lookouts and picnic shelters to allow tourists to observe their
trains passing by at close quarters. The long-established lookout at the
Redbank Bridge is far more popular as it carries the main road into Port
Hedland over the BHPBIO rail line very close to their extensive Nelson
Point yard. From here, BHPBIO’s exclusive fleet of EMD SD70ACe/
LCi 4,300hp locos in their attractive ‘Bubble’ livery, or simple BNSF
orange which is better known as ‘Pumpkin’, are regularly seen with a
loaded train waiting to enter the busy yard. Their 268 car consists use
distributed power utilising two locos up front and two mid-train. In
years past, 336 car trains were once commonplace until the majority
of the 426 km line south to Mt Newman became duplicated. The 3.5
km long, 336 car consists also employed distributed power, but with
locos at the lead of each of three 112 car rakes. However, unreliable
communications between the lead locos and slave locos would often
challenge drivers to avoid trains being broken apart and result in costly
delays. Sadly, the trusty old iconic ‘Pilbara Cab’ CM40-8M locos from
that era, better known simply as Dash 8’s, no longer feature, having all
been withdrawn in favour of new SD70’s. But I can be grateful quite a
number of them were still operating back in 2014.
FMG’s lookout is located on the side of the relatively new Great
Northern Highway overpass, which was constructed in partnership
with the state government as a condition of FMG’s large $8.4 billion
expansion program. It was dubbed ‘T155’ and completed in early 2013.
The end result of the project was production capacity being tripled
from 45mtpa to 155mtpa. If your timing is right you can witness trains
arriving or departing, plus perhaps a light engine movement or two
within a short space of time.
At 10.44am on
Wednesday 31 August
2016, at the southern
end of Roy Hill’s Port
Hedland marshalling
yard, GE ES44ACI series
locomotive and class
leader RHA1001 Ginny
sits alone and shut down.
FEBRUARY 2018 27

Alternatively, BHPBIO’s Finucane Island provides an ideal opportunity
to motorcade trains for several kilometres in or out of their facility on the
western side of the harbour. You just have to be careful about keeping
out of the way of the endless procession of big 82 wheeler road trains
delivering iron ore and other minerals to the port for export.
There was not a lot of time to spend time watching some of the big
ships coming and going from the busy harbour, but a harbour cruise to
see the vessels at close range later during my stay was planned.
But a must-see sight is the former ‘General Pershing Zephyr’ rail
carriage situated in a park off the main street of the central business
district. Peter Clark’s fine article that appeared in the October 2017
Railway Digest revealed its intriguing history. At the time of my 2016
visit the car was just an empty shell, having been gutted pending a
refit. I took the opportunity to crawl a short way underneath the car to
photograph its disc braking system, which must have been advanced
for the 1930s.
Sentimentality is not a priority in the mining game as I was to discover
that the large collection of withdrawn BHPBIO SD40 and AC6000 locos
I had stumbled across by chance in August 2014 were shredded into
tiny pieces at a local Wedgefield recycling yard just two months later.
What had been a full and very satisfying day passed by very quickly, but
as arranged, I was home in time for a very early dinner before accompanying
Greg into work for what was anticipated to be an interesting evening.
Wednesday Night – An Evening At The Port
Walking in the door at the FMG depot your attention is immediately
drawn to the several large wall-mounted monitors which show a
schematic layout of the FMG rail system, and most importantly, the
real-time whereabouts of all trains. My fascination is then diverted
by Greg’s day shift counterpart wasting little time to enthusiastically
inform him during the handover that the crew of the day’s fuel train just
reported several wagons had developed ‘flat wheels’. I wasn’t privy to
the actual cause or the eventual outcome to resolve that little problem,
but Greg took the news in his stride, treating the situation like it being
nothing that hadn’t already happened before. Just another one of
those challenges to be swiftly confronted and overcome, the same as
inevitable locomotive failures, or broken couplings between ore cars.
Certainly not the job for someone with a fragile temperament.
Another development that had occurred since Greg’s last shift was the
short term closure of one of the port’s three dumpers (each known as
a Train Unloader or TUL) to allow for planned maintenance, significantly
limiting the daily tonnage delivery target which the rail employees take
very seriously.
Before an FMG employee’s shift can begin, everyone must undergo
a mandatory breathalyser test and the results recorded. Regardless
of being a visitor, my participation was also required. Then to permit
me to undertake a loco cab ride, an “Authority to Travel on Railroad”
form is signed off. It is imperative to be aware that the signed authority
indemnifies the company against any misfortune that a non-employee
may suffer. It doesn’t bear thinking about what that would mean in
reality should an unfortunate event actually occur!
Circumstances were in my favour when I was teamed up with a driver
just starting his 12hr shift. He was tasked with taking charge of a loaded
train for the short run down to FMG’s Herb Elliott Port. This 240 car
long train with EMD locomotives SD70-711 and SD90-909 upfront had
been parked on the main line beside the depot while waiting for one
of the two operational dumpers to become available. My driver Geoff
would deliver the loaded rake to one of the available dumpers, cut off
the locos and bring them back to the provisioning shed for refuelling.
In all, an 11 km round trip.
FMG’s loco roster consists of fifteen 4,400hp GE Dash-9 44CW’s,
twenty-one 4,300hp EMD SD70ACe/LCi’s, and nine 4,300hp re-engined
ex-Union Pacific SD90MAC-H’s. A further eight used SD90MAC-H2’s were
purchased in late 2014, but these latter units have all been indefinitely
withdrawn due to a myriad of issues. The rolling stock fleet consists of
more than 3200 Chinese-manufactured ore cars. Ore cars are permanently
coupled as pairs, and are assembled into thirteen rakes varying between
240 and 252 cars each, with train lengths ranging from 2.7 km to 2.85 km
long. Thirty fuel wagons and an assortment of track maintenance rolling
stock completes the collection.
On my first attempt to climb the steps of the lead loco from track level,
I rediscovered that it can be quite a challenge with the lower portion of the
handrails being vertical, seemingly shaped in favour of aesthetics rather
than match the sloping angle of the steps. Pulling yourself up requires
some careful strategy, particularly when carrying a sizable camera
bag and other baggage that could impede a dignified ascent up to
the cab. But following the conquering of the first set of steps, it is then
straightforward to negotiate the next set of conventional steps leading
up into the cab via the door through the loco’s nose, passing by neatly
arranged electrical components and the toilet cubicle.
Inside the cab, plenty of bottled water is always found to be available
along with other essentials such as a kettle, small fridge, and microwave
28 RAILWAY DIGEST

oven. It may not be well known that the GE and EMD built locomotives
don’t come standard with these basic creature comforts that would
be expected and taken for granted in the 21st century. An SD70’s
traditional driver’s control stand is very imposing in comparison to the
desktop-mounted controls found on the older GE Dash 9’s, and the
driver is all but hidden from anyone sitting in the observer’s seat on the
opposite side of the cab. But many drivers prefer the control stand as it
allows for a more relaxed driving position, whereas the neater desktop
controls encourage a less comfortable, lean forward posture.
At 5.30pm with the sun close to setting, Geoff receives clearance
from control in Perth to proceed, and the loco throttle is moved to notch 6,
setting the vast load of ore rolling towards the port. A very slight
downgrade assists with forward progress and our train’s speed slowly
builds towards an ambling 25kph. Entering the port balloon loops just 2
km later, the position lights beside the movable frog turnouts indicated
the route was set for our train to take the outer circuit through to the
No. 1 dumper, or TUL 1, situated 3.5 km further on. Several minutes had
passed when the distinctive white compressor cars coupled onto the tail
of the preceding rake were reached. It is certainly a unique experience
to be gradually closing up to another train and leaving just a short space
when there is nearly 40,000 tonnes behind you. However, this is very
normal practice that outsiders would not expect. Naturally, great care
is exercised, there being little tolerance for negligence. Drivers are
very conscious that second chances are rare if it is proven their actions
have led to a costly mishap. It was apparent there would be some time
before our train could enter the dumper with around twenty cars of the
preceding rake still to be tipped.
Once the rake ahead had completed being unloaded and having pulled
clear, the green signal at the entrance to the dumper shed was activated
by the operator in Perth. This indicated it was clear for Geoff to move the
train forward through the very tight confines of the TUL 1 rotary tipper
at a snail’s pace. By tight, I mean clearances for locomotives in the tipper
can be measured in just millimetres. With the first two ore cars correctly
positioned, the shunter promptly uncoupled the locos. As soon as the
compressor cars were attached at the rear to maintain the air needed to
hold off the brakes, the three hour dumping operation could begin. Just a
short distance ahead of our locos were the two compressor cars detached
from the preceding empty rake, which was by now slowly making its way
out onto the main line. It was the task of our locos to push the compressor
cars forward 3.5 kms to the stand point at the end of the balloon loop.
A full time shunt loco attaches the compressor cars to the arriving loaded
rakes, and then collects them again after the departure of empty trains
headed back to the mines. Following the shunt loco coming to take them
off our hands, the way was then cleared for our locomotives to continue
on to the provisioning shed to refuel and receive a quick hose down.
While at the shed I captured images of the activities being
performed. Apparently past refuelling mishaps have led to there being
a 17,000 litre fill limit regardless of the loco type. SD70s and Dash 9s
each have 18,000 litre tanks, but the SD90s have a 21,000 litre capacity.
This difference had occasionally resulted in the unintended over-filling
of the smaller tanks. It was decided that 17,000 litres should become
the standard maximum fill limit to always err on the safe side.
Kanyirri depot itself possess two very large fuel storage tanks capable
of holding six million litres of diesel. Over two million litres of this vital
fuel are transported by rail out to the mines several times a week. In
2014 I saw a 24 fuel wagon consist, which amounts to a substantial
load, with each unit having a tare weight of 37 tonnes and a capacity of
95,000 litres.
Also that night I was offered a special bonus of witnessing up close,
the very intriguing unloading task performed by the rotary tipper in
the TUL 1 shed. This is something that I missed out on seeing in 2014.
Observing the 240 car rake being effortlessly moved forward by the
discreet, but very powerful (1.1MW) indexer arm, with pairs of wagons
being tipped in the dumper every 88 seconds, is mightily impressive.
It is especially amazing when you realise it is all being operated by
someone who is performing the task from Perth, 1,300 km away.
But it is plainly obvious that the very long rakes endure a relatively
violent three hours, with abrupt starting and stopping with each positioning
movement. This is despite the coupler slack being significantly lessened
by the rigid bars connecting the ore cars into permanent pairs. Any
weaknesses in the traditional draw gear are eventually exposed, and it
is very likely they will develop during this unloading operation which
each rake is subjected to, on average, every 24 hours.
When all three dumpers are operating, the delivery of crushed ore
is relentless, typically achieving 500,000 tonnes per day. But as TUL
2 on this occasion was undergoing scheduled maintenance which
was planned to continue at least until 7.30 the next morning, the
daily tonnage total would be greatly impacted. But to coincide with
the reduced delivery capacity at the port, the Christmas Creek mine
loadout was also closed for routine maintenance.
Above left (page 28): Viewed
from the popular tourist friendly
Redbank Bridge vantage point
at Port Hedland, at 12.41pm on
Wednesday 31 August 2016,
BHPBIO’s EMD SD70’s 4424 and
4326 wait beside Rio Tinto’s
evaporative salt pans before
entering Point Nelson yard with
another load of ore being carried
in 268 ore cars. The mid-train
locomotives can be seen in the
distance, 134 cars back.
Right: The loaded rake delivered
90 minutes earlier continues to
be unloaded in TUL 1 at FMG’s
Herb Elliott Port. Seen here from a
walkway above the shed entrance,
the rake is pushed and then
precisely positioned in the rotary
tipper by the 1.1 MW indexer unit
utilising a retractable arm and a
rack and pinion drive, moving the
ore cars forward two at a time
every 88 secs. The retractable
arm is just visible between the
two nearest ore cars
FEBRUARY 2018 29

The long day had tempered my enthusiasm to take advantage of
spending some time with the port shunters. Instead, getting back to
Greg’s place for an early night was beckoning. There would be plenty
of chances ahead to see FMG rail operations in action the very next
day when I was due to go for my arranged loco cab ride all the way up
to the Cloudbreak mine, staying overnight at the mine’s FIFO camp.
Despite an initial preference to see the Solomon branch, strict security
arrangements in place at the Solomon Hub facility were deemed to be
a little too complex for a casual visitor to gain access. Not that I had any
reason for complaint!
Thursday – The Trip To Cloudbreak (or perhaps not)
Being an experienced train driver’s wife, Julie kindly prepared plenty
of food supplies for me to take along on my two day adventure. Lone
train drivers need to be well prepared for any eventuality, there being
no shops from which to obtain provisions if you happen to run short
somewhere out along the track.
Arriving back at Kanyirri depot before 6.00 am, the mandatory
breath test was conducted, and the signed authority to ride issued.
For today’s journey I was to accompany a friendly young driver by
the name of Jason, a former Queensland Rail Citytrain driver who
also hailed from Brisbane. Happy that my arrangements were sorted,
Greg then headed home for a well-earned rest after his eventful 12hr
overnight shift. However, it was not long before I was to be put on notice
that there may have to be a change of plan. An FMG employee was
required to travel up to Cloudbreak aboard our train. One passenger per
train was cited as a company rule, and my presence had created a mild
complication for the day shift driver supervisor. Just my luck!
With the next two trains up to the mines still being unloaded, possibly
until mid-morning, there was no choice but for us to wait in the port
shunter’s shed located at the end of the balloon loops until further
advice was offered. My grand entrance to the shed created concern
amongst some of those inside with it being highly unusual for any
outsiders to be seen there. It was additional cause to be wary when the
stranger had a ‘fancy camera’ with him. Once it was explained I was
there as a guest rather than a company spy, a sense of calm returned.
Sitting around in the shunter’s shed was not how I had imagined I would
be spending my valuable time, but there are always interesting characters
that are able to keep you entertained. It was brought to my attention more
than once that within the shunter’s ranks there was a famous AFL legend
who played several seasons for the West Coast Eagles. If only I had been
more of a fan and asked for an autograph while I had the chance!
Conversation that morning was abuzz with rumours that significant
changes were in the pipeline for the job description of shunters, along
with unwelcome speculation that driver redundancies might be part
of the outcome. Primarily it was being proposed that shunters would
be promoted to yard drivers, being trained to drive the trains at low
speed within the confines of the port. The normal driver pool would
then be more available for main line work. But the downside being that
perhaps some permanent driver positions would become surplus to
requirements, with casual driver positions making inroads. It was a brief
but stimulating discussion session of opinions and concerns that the
threat of change in any workplace can be certain to generate.
Jason and I then found ourselves alone in the shed while the shunters
sprang into action to deal with an incoming loaded train. Eventually Jason
was summoned to prepare the next train and departed for Cloudbreak
without me being aboard with him. It was not made known to me if there
actually was a passenger being conveyed as arranged earlier. I could only
wait for a call to be told of my fate, but when that advice was eventually
forthcoming, it became frustratingly obvious that there had been a major
stuff up and that I should have been aboard with Jason after all. Too late
now! No choice but to wait for the next one…
To help pass the time and break the escalating sense of boredom,
the opportunity was taken to photograph and examine two pairs of
locomotives parked close by from ground level. And the shed itself
aroused my curiosity. It was what appeared to be a converted 40 foot
container. Essentials, including air conditioning, kitchen facilities,
plus tables and chairs were there, but located at one end were two
toilet cubicles accessible by exterior doors. But both were found to be
completely full of junk, and in no way functional as the “out of service”
tags on the doors rightly indicated. It was apparent that if a visit to
the toilet for either the male or female shunters was required, a 2 km
The shunter guides the driver of FMG shunt loco GE Dash 9 - 009 as it pushes the compressor cars to be attached at the rear of a recently
arrived loaded rake which is occupying the TUL 3 inner circuit road at the port. Note the removed ECP monitor on the ground. A handy
lighting tower earth mound provides the elevated vantage point.
30
RAILWAY DIGEST

INDIAN OCEAN
Port Hedland
Goldsworthy
Nimingarra
Cape Lambert
•
Dampier • Karratha
• • Wickham
Shay Gap
Yarrie
Marble Bar •
•
Pannawonica
Woodstock
Nunna
Nullagine
s
Firetail
N
Brockman 4
Tom Price •
Mt Tom Price
Kings
Solomon
Hub
Marandoo
Wittenoom
Karijini
National
Park
Marillana
Yandi
Area C
Cloudbreak
Christmas Creek
Yandicoogina
Hope Downs
Roy Hill
Fortescue Metals Group Railway
Other railways
Roy Hill Railway
Roads
Paraburdoo •
West Angelas
0 25 50 100
•
Newman Jimblebar
Kilometres
©2018 BB/ARHSnsw
drive back to the main depot was their only respectable option. Not
a port-a-loo in sight. I found this predicament odd in a 21st century
workplace, but obviously the employees have not made it a priority for
management to have remedied.
Lighting of the rail track within the port area is another contentious
issue. The shunters have asked FMG if a permanent lighting system could
be installed around the balloon loops to make their jobs safer and easier
at night. Presumably the cost required to effectively illuminate seven
kilometres of track would be very substantial and be decreed by the bean
counters as expenditure that would be difficult to justify to shareholders.
As a reasonable compromise, hired portable lighting towers have been
in use for some years at locations where most of the shunter activities
occur. Large mounds of earth have been formed to provide the lights
with a few extra metres of elevation.
Earlier during the morning I became aware of news filtering through
of a broken knuckle delaying a port bound loaded train at Durack, 95 km
to the south. Not only that, there was notification of a broken frog on a set
of swing nose points at Kanga, adjacent to the 108 km mark. It was possible
for both of these hindrances to be bypassed as they were within the 40 km
long Durack to Forrest duplicated section. But crossing options available
to the train controllers would be significantly impacted. How might these
factors affect the next departure I wondered? Latest advice on offer was
the next Cloudbreak-bound train now wasn’t expected to leave until the
early afternoon...and I had been waiting since 6am!
Following nearly five long hours of filling in time, I was very
relieved to see the senior shunter return to the shed. Sympathising
with my plight, he invited me to tag along and observe how they were
dealing with an ore car coupler that had recently failed during the
dumping operation on the TUL 1 road. Without the ability at the port to
perform the heavy repairs needed, the rake would have to be split and
the rear section shunted away to release the crippled wagons. In these
situations long lengths of chain are simply intertwined several times
between the affected cars to keep them coupled together. The trailing
load imposed on the chains by the two loaded ore cars amounted to a
comparatively meagre 320 tonnes being slowly towed along on what is
dead level track.
A pair of locos sitting silently in wait at the end of the balloon
loops were fired up to assist, being attached to pull back around 160
loaded cars a distance of 3 km. The failed two pairs of ore cars would
then be shunted into the middle balloon loop road which fulfilled
the temporary role of a “bad order spur”. From there they would be
collected after the two sections of the rake were reunited. Throughout
these manoeuvres, shunters are responsible for keeping the loco driver
very well informed as to where the end of the long train is. It is also
the shunter’s job to ensure any level crossings are physically protected
when wagons are being pushed back through them, there being no
audible horn blast or flashing lights to warn approaching road vehicles.
More than 90 minutes after the mishap first occurred, the two
portions were reunited as one rake again, and the compressor cars at
the tail end restarted to allow the dumping process to resume. Without
delay, the crippled wagon pairs were then hauled across to Kanyirri
depot. Here the wagons would remain until being forwarded on the
next day to the large rolling stock maintenance depot at Thomas Yard,
situated several kilometres further south.
It was an impressive and rare insight into the tasks required to minimise
delays with the delivery of ore when things inevitably go wrong. I owe great
thanks for being able to witness a rare lesson in troubleshooting, railway style.
The early afternoon had arrived and there was still no certainty as to
when the next train would be departing, given that it had been setback
even further by the coupling failure. This was making the prospect of
securing a ride up all the way up to the mine in daylight less likely by
the minute. On eventually learning of my situation via my frequent text
messages, Greg was most apologetic for the unfortunate circumstances
that had developed while he slept. He strongly recommended that I
abandon the day and he would make new arrangements for another
trip on Friday morning.
It had in one sense been a major disappointment that the cab ride
didn’t happen, but I did witness a very unique aspect of job that few
very outsiders ever would. For that I do count myself very fortunate.
And the next day it would become apparent that it was actually a blessing.
To be continued...
FEBRUARY 2018 31

Gold Coast light rail st
Text and images by John Hoyle
32 RAILWAY DIGEST

age two opens early
FEBRUARY 2018 33

The ‘G 2’ is an early opener
In contrast to the late and controversial delivery of two other south-east
Queensland rail projects, the Redcliffe railway and New Generation
Rollingstock EMUs, stage two of the Gold Coast light rail (known as the
G:Link or simply the ‘G:’) opened ahead of schedule on Sunday, 17
December 2017. Originally it had been planned to open the 7.3 kilometre
extension from Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale station in
January or early February, but successful testing of track, power supply
and the four new trams ordered for the extension, plus sufficient driver
training, allowed an earlier opening.
The opening celebrations commenced with the 5.29 am departure
of the first public tram from Helensvale station. Bombardier Flexity 2
No.05 had the honour of providing the first service. Despite the early
Sunday hour around 60 people were on board and the event was well
covered by media outlets. Free travel was provided over the entire 20
kilometre line from Helensvale to Broadbeach South for the day. During
the morning passenger loadings gradually built up with many people
travelling to Helensvale station for the opening celebrations. ‘Show bags’ were
distributed at Helensvale and the two new intermediate stations, Parkwood
and Parkwood East, while food stalls, musicians and face-painting added
to the festive atmosphere at Helensvale. Ironically, there were no trains
to Helensvale on the opening day as Queensland Rail had planned
trackwork for the Gold Coast line well ahead of the light rail opening.
Given that the extension, like the original line from Gold Coast
University Hospital to Broadbeach South, was funded by all three
levels of government, it was not surprising that a large gathering of
politicians would be at the ceremony, led by GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford.
John Witheriff, the chairman of the GoldLinQ consortium that has
constructed and operates the G:, highlighted the long hours put in by
GoldLinQ management and staff to open the line ahead of schedule.
He reminded the gathering that the line was built in just 21 months
from the letting of a contract to CPB Contractors (formerly Leighton
Contractors) in March 2016. He also commented that when there
appeared to be a change in the Commonwealth Government’s attitude
to funding the extension (an oblique reference to the change of Prime
Ministers from Tony Abbot to Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015)
there was frantic behind-the-scenes work to ensure Commonwealth
funding became available. Deputy Premier, former Transport
Minister and newly-appointed Treasurer, Jackie Trad, officiated at the
proceedings along with new Transport Minister, Mark Bailey. Ms Trad
had been heavily involved in the funding negotiations for the extension
in her former role as Transport Minister. The Federal Government was
represented by Steve Ciobo, Member for Moncrieff and Minister for Trade
and Investment and Stuart Robert, Member for Fadden. Gold Coast Mayor
Tom Tate and Queensland Transport Director-General Neil Scales were
also in attendance. Representatives from Keolis (part of the GoldLinQ
consortium) and Marubeni Corporation attended from France and Japan
respectively. Marubeni Corporation is a GoldLinQ equity partner.
The opening speeches were of a bi-partisan nature, emphasised
by the fact that Steve Ciobo was previously reported by the Gold
Coast Bulletin as being opposed to a special Commonwealth funding
allocation for stage two and that newspaper’s pro-light rail campaign,
but at the opening he indicated he was a strong supporter of light rail.
The value of having the three levels of government funding the project
was emphasised – something that would possibly only happen in
Queensland where local government bodies are generally far bigger
than elsewhere in Australia. The $420 million project was funded by the
Queensland Government ($270 million), the Australian Government
($95 million) and the Gold Coast City Council ($55 million). The opening
of the extension well before the Commonwealth Games, to be held on
the Gold Coast in early April, was highlighted, and reference was made
by Mayor Tate that planning is underway for stage 3A of the light rail
project – from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads.
Following the speeches, the politicians signed several surfboards
commemorating the opening (something quintessentially ‘Gold Coast’),
posed with a ribbon and then boarded the ‘official’ tram, No. 17, along
with a large number of members of the public and media for the ride
to Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach South (the southern
terminus). Trams operated at 10- minute intervals as per the normal
Sunday timetable applying between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm and healthy
passenger loads were noted until late afternoon. According to the
Gold Coast Bulletin more than 40,000 passengers were carried on the
34
RAILWAY DIGEST

Pages 32 and 33: The southern section of the 7.2 kilometre stage
two of the Gold Coast light rail line is located beside the Smith Street
motorway, the main road from the Pacific Motorway to Southport
and Surfers Paradise. This Monday, 19 December view shows a
southbound tram on the left-hand track approaching the island
platform at Parkwood East station while the one on the right is
climbing the approximate 1 in 14 grade on its way to Helensvale.
The line’s top speed of 70 km/h is allowed on this section. Looming
in the background are high rise buildings at Southport which helped
provide the stimulus for constructing light rail on the Gold Coast.
Left (page 34): The first rays of sun on Sunday, 17 December
catch Bombardier Flexity 2 tram No. 05 as it awaits departure from
Helensvale at 5.29 am to operate the first public service on the 7.2
kilometre extension of the Gold Coast’s light rail line from Gold
Coast University Hospital to Helensvale. Around 60 passengers,
including media representatives, were on board for the historic
journey. The tram is standing at the light rail station’s island
platform while in the left background the island platform for
Queensland Rail’s station can be seen.
opening day and the newspaper’s headlines the following day, “It’s a
Trampede” and “Bring on stage three” summed up the interest in the
light rail extension and the pro-light rail stance of the city’s newspaper.
In contrast to the celebrations the previous day, the first revenue
tram (No. 13) to traverse the extension departed an almost deserted
Helensvale station at 4.59 am on Monday, 18 December with just
two passengers. However, three early-risers boarded at Parklands and
gradually passenger numbers built up as the day progressed. Minister
for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey and Assistant Minister for
Tourism Industry Development, Meaghan Scanlon, (who had won the
Gold Coast electorate of Gaven from the Liberal National Party in the
25 November 2017 Queensland election) made the journey by light
and heavy rail from the Gold Coast University Hospital to South Bank
in Brisbane during the morning.
Observations at Helensvale during the day revealed that passengers
for the tram service came not only from ex-Brisbane trains as would be
expected, but also from trains heading north from Varsity Lakes, the Gold
Coast line terminus, as well as from park-and-ride patrons at Helensvale.
This appears to indicate that the new extension will be used as much for
local Gold Coast trips as journeys to and from Brisbane.
Travelling along the extension – gauntlet track and
heavy grades
A traveler surveying the extension in the northerly direction will
depart the former northern light rail terminus at Gold Coast University
Hospital’s semi-underground station and, at the northern end of the
platforms, cross the pedestrian crossing linking the two platforms.
As part of the project ‘walk/don’t walk’ traffic signals have been
installed to protect the crossing, which has limited visibility for trams
approaching around a curve from the north in the underground
section. Almost immediately, just prior to the climb to the surface,
trams encounter an interesting piece of trackwork in the form of
turnouts on each track marking the start of a section of gauntlet double
track. The gauntlet track continues up the ramp to ground level and
then one pair of rails in each track continues as the ‘main line’, crossing
diagonally over the intersection of Olsen Avenue and Parklands Drive/
Wintergreen Drive. The other pair of rails curves to the right and
continues alongside Olsen Avenue as a double track siding before
becoming single track and terminating a few hundred metres from the
junction. GoldLinQ told Railway Digest that gauntlet track was used
to avoid installing turnouts on curves on the ramped section. The
tracks along the ramp are laid on top of a concrete slab and, although
the track is not enclosed in concrete, grooved rail is used. A grade of
approximately 1 in 14 (seven percent) is encountered climbing up the
ramp to the junction – illustrating the ability of light rail applications to
surmount grades that would not generally be used for heavy rail.
The siding will serve two purposes. It can be used to terminate
and store trams clear of the main line during busy periods or service
disruptions. Secondly, a GoldLinQ spokesperson told Railway Digest
it would provide a ‘connection for a potential future extension’. This
is a reminder that the alternative option for the stage two extension
was to proceed north via Olsen Avenue to the large direct factory
retail outlet known as Harbourtown, located on the Gold Coast
Highway (Brisbane Road) at Biggera Waters, and then west alongside
the Gold Coast Highway to Helensvale. There was support for the
Harbourtown route, which would have served a large residential area
as well as the retail venue but the route via Parkwood is faster, was
cheaper to build and involved no street-based track (there are just two
motor vehicle level crossings) and fewer resumptions. In September
2017 Harbourtown General Manager Gary Webb said that he would
like to see light rail serve the retail facility which now has 240 stores.
Queensland Deputy Premier
Jackie Trad addresses the
assembled crowd at the
official opening of the Gold
Coast light rail line stage two
at Helensvale on Sunday, 17
December. On her left are
several surfboards, which
were signed by the politicians
after the ceremony, while
in the right background is
tram No. 17 which conveyed
the official party, media and
members of the public along
the new line. Standing in
front of the surfboards and
facing the crowd is GoldLinQ
CEO Phil Mumford.
FEBRUARY 2018 35

An interesting feature of the Gold Coast light rail line stage two is the use of gauntlet track on the ramp leading from Gold Coast University
Hospital station to street level and the junction for a siding. GoldLinQ says the gauntlet track avoids the need for the moving parts of the
turnouts to be located on the curved section of the underground track. The track to the left leads to the siding where trams can be stored for
special services or during service disruptions. It could also form the start of the proposed line to Harbourtown. In this Sunday, 17 December
2017 view tram No. 10, adorned in all-over advertising for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, passes the junction for the tracks to
the siding. Grooved rails are used on the ramp section, mounted on pads attached to the concrete slab. The tram is about to re-join fully
enclosed concrete track to cross the Olsen Avenue/Wintergreen Drive/Parklands Drive intersection. The use of all-over advertising on many
of the GoldLinQ trams has been the source of much criticism given that it obscures passenger views on a line used by many tourists.
The tram running time from Gold Coast University Hospital to
Helensvale station is 11 minutes for a distance of 7.3 kilometres while
the route via Harbourtown would be approximately nine kilometres.
After crossing the Olsen Avenue and Parklands Drive/Wintergreen
Drive intersection, with the traffic signals in the form of ‘T’ signals
normally giving priority to trams providing they approach the intersection
at low speed, trams enter private right-of-way on open ballast track.
Plain rail (without grooves) on concrete sleepers is used for the rest of
the extension except at stations and level crossings where concrete
enclosed track is employed. The tracks curve to take up an alignment
beside the Smith Street Motorway, the main road access from the
Pacific Motorway to Southport and Surfers Paradise. The line then
crosses Biggera Creek and a signaled level crossing for a bikeway that
has been relocated beside the tracks along most of the alignment
beside Smith Street. Trams then climb to the first of two intermediate
stations, Parkwood East, where an island platform is provided. This
station serves an adjacent residential area on the northern side of the
alignment and is a ‘walk-up’ station with no car parking provided.
The tracks then climb a hill which required heavy earthworks to
widen the cutting already in place for the Smith Street Motorway.
Nevertheless, a grade of approximately 1 in 14 is encountered but
thanks to an adequate power supply and the performance of the
Bombardier Flexity 2 trams, the climb is made effortlessly to the ridge
where Uplands Drive is located before descending to Parklands station
where an emergency crossover is provided just before the station.
Side platforms are used at this station, which is intended to be a
park-and-ride site with a large car park accommodating 1,000 vehicles
provided on the southern side of the Smith Street motorway. Access
from the car park to the station is currently via a signalised pedestrian
crossing but, in a late addition to the project, a pedestrian bridge
with stairs and lifts is being provided over the busy motorway. It is
expected to be completed in the first quarter of this year. However, easy
pedestrian access is provided on the northern side to the Parkwood
residential area.
Northbound trams departing Parkview encounter a signalised level
crossing at busy Napper Road (again tram priority signals are provided)
before the line curves to the north to proceed along the eastern side of
Queensland Rail’s Gold Coast line. Coombabah Creek is crossed and the
tracks then proceed north beside the heavy rail line to reach Helensvale
station. Between Parkwood and Helensvale two sections of concrete
enclosed track are encountered – the first around one kilometre north
of Parkwood adjacent to the Arundel Springs housing development
east of the line and the second approximately one kilometre south
of Helensvale where another residential development known as The
Surrounds is being marketed. These concrete track sections mark the
locations of future stations. It is interesting to note that one option
considered as an alternative to taking the light rail to Helensvale station
was to terminate the line at a new heavy rail station at Parkwood. The
construction of an extra station on the Gold Coast line at Parkwood
was not favoured by the Queensland Government so Helensvale has
become the interchange station with the advantage that the light rail
also serves the large shopping centre at that location.
Approaching Helensvale station trams encounter, in the best of
tramway traditions, a scissors crossover to access an island platform.
36 RAILWAY DIGEST

The terminating tracks are protected by friction buffers provided by
German-based company Klose Train Stop Systems. Interestingly, the
tram platform faces are numbered four and five, the two heavy rail
platforms are numbered one and two while provision has been made
for a platform three to serve an extra heavy rail track should it be
provided in the future. There is space on the eastern side of the heavy
rail platforms for such a track. The light rail station, which is linked by
a covered overbridge with stair and lift access to the heavy rail station
and its island platform, features toilets, a tram driver and customer
service staff meal room, tram, bus and train departure indicators and a
400-vehicle car park and bicycle parking facilities. On the western side
of the heavy rail station the existing bus interchange is currently being
rebuilt with the bonus of covered pedestrian access being provided
from the station to the pedestrian crossing leading to the Westfield
shopping centre. Just south of the scissors crossover on the eastern
side of the running lines is a short track-machine siding that is currently
disconnected but can be reconnected to provide access for track
maintenance machines such as ballast tampers when the time comes
for the ballasted track to be tamped. Beside the siding is a roadway
where track machines can be unloaded from road vehicles.
In line with the practice on the existing Broadbeach South to
Gold Coast University Hospital line all stations on the extension are
compulsory stops and each is provided with real-time departure
indicators, departure announcements, ticket/go card top-up machines,
bike racks, water bubblers and a local area map and travel information.
Timetables and fares
Virtually the same tram timetable that was in force for the existing line
also applies to the extension. On weekdays services operate every 15
minutes from 5.00 am to 7.00 am, then every 7.5 minutes (in practice the
public timetable on the TransLink web site shows a seven/eight-minute
interval service) to 7.00 pm and back to 15 minutes until midnight.
Weekend services are identical except that trams run every 10 minutes
between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. However, all-night services on Saturday
and Sunday mornings, operating every 30 minutes, continue to be
only provided between Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach
South. The last Saturday and Sunday night departure from Helensvale
is at 1.45 am. When service frequencies are being built up trams run
empty from the depot to Gold Coast University station and then take up
passenger service to Helensvale station. Conversely, service buildup in the
southbound direction is undertaken by running trams empty the short
distance from the depot to the first stop south of the depot at Queen
Street, Southport where they take up public service to Broadbeach South.
When service frequency is being reduced (for example when the
headway is switching from 7.5 minutes to 15 minutes in the evening)
trams from Helensvale to be taken out of service terminate at Gold
Coast University Hospital and then continue empty to the depot. In the
northbound direction trams from Broadbeach South to be taken out of
service when the frequency is being reduced terminate at Gold Coast
University Hospital and, using the spring-loaded crossover (formerly
used by all trams before the Helensvale extension was opened) to
reverse and run empty back to the depot.
Thanks to tram priority over road vehicles and segregated track the
running time between Gold Coast University Hospital and Helensvale
is 11 minutes, irrespective of the time of day. The two bus routes that
linked Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale at the time of the
stage two opening were the 709 and 710. The route 709 operated via
Harbourtown and was scheduled to take 22 to 25 minutes while the
route 710, which runs via Parkwood, is scheduled for 20 to 22 minutes
so the light rail extension effectively halves journey times. It is interesting to
note that on Boxing Day traffic congestion in Brisbane Road (Gold Coast
Highway), partly related to the Harbourtown retail centre, was delaying
the route 709 and other bus routes passing Harbourtown by up to 25
minutes. From 8 January the route 709 was abolished as it duplicates
the light rail service. The running time for the entire line from
Helensvale to Broadbeach South is 45 minutes in both directions.
The light rail extension (and indeed the entire line to Broadbeach
South) lies within TransLink’s fare zone five. One zone full-fare travel
using a go card costs $3.20 during peak periods and $2.56 in off-peak
periods while a single paper ticket (the only paper ticket type now sold
on the TransLink network) costs $4.60. Visitors to the Gold Coast (and
the Sunshine Coast from December 2017) can purchase a go explore
card which allows travel on trams and buses (but not trains) within
the Gold Coast for $10.00 a day. Go explore cards can be reloaded for
up to 10 additional days. Travel does not need to be on consecutive
days and cards are valid for one year. In line with the current practice
on the existing light rail line, travellers on the extension using go cards
tap on and off on the platforms rather than on trams. Tram drivers are
not involved in fare collection but GoldLinQ customer service staff and
TransLink revenue protection officers regularly patrol trams.
Heading for Helensvale
on Sunday, 17 December,
GoldLinQ’s No. 09 is rolling
across the Napper Road level
crossing at Parkwood station
before rejoining ballasted
track which curves to the
north and then parallels
Queensland Rail’s Gold
Coast Line to Helensvale.
FEBRUARY 2018
37

Building stage two
When stage one of the Gold Coast light rail project opened between
Broadbeach South and Gold Coast University Hospital via Surfers Paradise
and Southport on 20 July 2014 (see September 2014 RD, from page 30)
it was always intended that it would be part of a larger network linking
Helensvale railway station through to Coolangatta. However, at the
time of the stage one opening political attitudes towards funding stage
two were mixed. As previously mentioned in this magazine the then
Liberal National Party (LNP) Premier, Campbell Newman, told the Gold
Coast Bulletin on 23 July 2014 that he supported linking the light rail
line to heavy rail but said people had to convince the Gold Coast City
Council that they wanted the tram system extended. However, the
Member for Surfers Paradise and then Education Minister in the Newman
Government, John-Paul Langbroek, said any promise to extend the line
for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 would be ‘irresponsible’ as
the extension may not be completed within four years. From contract
awarding in December 2015 it was completed in almost exactly two years.
A poll conducted by the Gold Coast Bulletin prior to the stage one
opening indicated that only one of the Gold Coast’s eight Queensland
Parliamentary Members (Michael Hart, LNP, Burleigh) supported the
light rail expansion. However, after the stage one opening the LNP
Member for Southport, Rob Molhoek, said he would be contacting the
Southport Chamber of Commerce to organise a petition supporting
extension of the light rail. At the time there was also skepticism in
some quarters that stage one would attract sufficient patronage to
warrant any light rail expansion. However, stage one carried 6.28
million passengers in 2014/15, 7.68 million in 2015/16 and 7.97 million
in 2016/17. After just two years operation the G:Link was carrying the
equivalent of the Gold Coast’s permanent population of just under
600,000 each month. Since the light rail opened there has been a 25 per
cent increase in public transport usage (tram and bus) on the Gold Coast.
These figures were well above initial expectations.
Following the unexpected election of the Palaszczuk Labor Government
in January 2015 the new administration expressed support for constructing
stage two subject to the Federal Government and Gold Coast City Council
providing funding. The Council was supportive but the question of
Federal funding remained unresolved. Despite this, on 6 August 2015,
the Queensland Government announced it was progressing with plans
for the second stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail (Stage 2). GoldLinQ
was instructed to proceed with a call for expressions of interest for the
extension and six submissions were received. As mentioned earlier
the change of Prime Ministers in September 2015 gave hope of some
Federal funding and in October an announcement was made by
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the Gold Coast that the Federal
Government would contribute $95 million. As mentioned previously,
the Queensland Government contributed $270 million and the
Council $55 million. In the same month the Queensland Government
instructed GoldLinQ to proceed to a Request for Tender stage and three
organisations were invited to submit bids – John Holland, Leighton
Contractors and GamesLinQ – a joint venture between Downer EDI
Works and BMD Constructions. In December 2015, just three months
after the final tenders were received, the contract was awarded to CPB
Contractors, the new name for Leighton Contractors. Construction
commenced in July 2016 with a target date for completion of early 2018.
Included in the contract was the supply of four additional Bombardier
Flexity 2 trams from the company’s Bautzen plant in Germany. These
are identical to the original fleet of 14 trams and they were delivered in
September and October 2017. Each seven-section 43.5 metre long car can
seat 80 and has a total capacity of 309 passengers. Top speed is 70 km/h.
They are the longest trams ever used in Australia.
Aided by generally good weather and, unlike stage one, fewer
encounters with underground utilities, construction had reached the
stage that the final track weld was carried out at Helensvale station on
31 July. A major aspect of the civil engineering works was the removal
Bombardier Flexity 2 No. 10, travelling from Helensvale to Broadbeach South, is about the leave the southern end of the ballasted track section
and diagonally cross the Olsen Avenue/Parklands Drive/Wintergreen Drive intersection on Sunday, 17 December. The 750 V DC feeder cables
from the Arundel substation, which is just out of sight to the right, can be seen attached to the right hand traction overhead pole and the
support arm to reach each of the overhead wires. The signage warning wayward motorist who might stray on to the tracks can be seen.
The Parkwood Family Park, through which Biggera Creek flows, creates a rural backdrop.
38 RAILWAY DIGEST

of around 84,000 tonnes of rock beside the Smith Street Motorway
at the end of Uplands Drive to reduce the hillside by about 18 metres
and achieve the previously mentioned grade of around 1 in 14. On
9 November 2017 ‘ghost running’ involving trams operating to the
planned timetable but without passengers commenced (see December
2017 RD, page 14).
Trackwork was installed by Sydney-based Martinus Rail using 49
kg/m and 51 kg/m rail supplied by Austrian company Voestalpine.
Martinus Rail also was the track contractor for the Redcliffe railway and
is currently engaged in Victoria’s Murray Basin gauge standardisation
project. Austrak, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Laing O’Rourke Group,
supplied the concrete sleepers and Just Track operated an unusual
‘ballast train’ comprising a Western Star hi-rail truck and two former El
Zorro-owned ballast wagons as reported on page 17 of the September
2017 RD. Brisbane-based Wired Overhead Solutions erected the
overhead wiring using hi-rail trucks. There are four substations, using
Siemens equipment, on the extension to supply the 750 V DC traction
power supply. They are located at Arundel (at the commencement of the
open track section near the intersection of Olsen Avenue and Wintergreen
Drive), Parkwood (on opposite sides of the line) and approaching
Helensvale. The second substation at Parkwood ensures adequate power
is available for trams climbing the 1 in 14 grades alongside the Smith
Street Motorway.
GoldLinQ Pty Ltd is contracted by the Queensland Government
for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of the Gold
Coast light rail system. The consortium comprises Downer EDI, Keolis,
McConnell Dowell, Bombardier and Plenary Group.
On to Burleigh Heads …….. and Tweed Heads?
During the previously mentioned final track weld at Helensvale on
31 July 2017 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that her
government would provide $5 million towards developing a business
case for stage 3A of the light rail line from Broadbeach South to
Burleigh Heads in collaboration with the Gold Coast City Council.
This section would be seven kilometres long, have seven stations and
require around four additional trams. The Council had already allocated
$600,000 for a feasibility study in to the southern extension in early
2016. Stage 3 is designated as Broadbeach South to Coolangatta via the
Gold Coast International (Coolangatta) Airport but it has been divided
in to two stages in recognition of the size of the project, its estimated
$1.54 billion cost and engineering issues south of Burleigh Heads
including traversing the headland itself and crossing Tallebudgera and
Currumbin Creeks. The Council has indicated it would contribute around
$160 million for stage 3 but funding would again be required from the
Federal and Queensland Governments. Stage 3A has been estimated to
cost around $600 million and no firm funding arrangements have yet
been put in place.
In February 2017 the New South Wales Government announced it
would investigate the possibility of extending the light rail line from
the Queensland border to Tweed Heads and in October that year
the state’s Roads Minister, Melinda Pavey, and Transport Minister
Andrew Constance, released Future Transport 2056, a draft strategy
which outlined possible improvements for NSW regional transport.
Amongst the proposals to be investigated are “light rail/mass transit
connections” at Tweed Heads. The proposed stage three terminus
is at Coolangatta’s shopping centre, which is largely located on the
site of the former railway station served by the Tweed Heads line. It
closed beyond Nerang in 1961. However, the major shopping centre
for Coolangatta is at Tweed Mall, 450 metres across the border in NSW.
The importance of Tweed Mall as a shopping and public transport
destination is illustrated by the fact that Gold Coast bus services
terminate over the border at the Mall, not at Coolangatta, and the
Tweed Mall is located in TransLink’s fare zone seven. The Tweed Mall is
also the starting point for bus services to destinations to the south such
as Banora Point, Murwillumbah and Kingscliff. Earlier light rail plans
prepared for the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council
by consultants GHD in 2007 had mentioned a terminus at the Tweed
Mall for stage three.
• Coomera
Helensvale
•
Harbour
Town
Runaway
Bay
The Spit
Gold Coast Griffith
University University
Parkwood • Hospital
• • Nerang
• Street Southport
Parkwood • • • Southport South
East Queen •
Street
• Broadwater Parklands
• Main Beach
• Nerang
• Surfers Paradise North
• Cypress Avenue
• Cavill Avenue
Surfers Paradise
• Carrara
• Northcliffe
Stadium
• Florida Gardens
Neranwood
©2018 BB/ARHSnsw
Bond
Robina
Universtity
•
Varsity
•
Lakes
QUEENSLAND
t
Currumbin
Valley
• Broadbeach North
• Broadbeach South
Nobby Beach
Miami
Tallebudgera
•
Burleigh
• Heads
Elanora •
NSW
Gold Coast light rail - stage 1
Gold Coast light rail - stage 2
Gold Coast light rail - stage 3A
(precise route to be determined)
Gold Coast light rail - stage 3B
(precise route to be determined)
Existing heavy rail line
(double track)
Proposed heavy rail extension
PACIFIC
OCEAN
b
s
N
•
Tugun
Coolangatta
•
Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads
South
Apart from stage 3 there have been a number of other proposals
for expanding light rail on the Gold Coast, including the previously
mentioned Harbour Town line. These include three east-west orientated
lines: from Broadbeach to Nerang railway station, Nobby Beach to
Robina railway station and Burleigh Heads to Varsity Lakes railway
station. A 2.6 kilometre $200 million line from Main Beach, just north
of Surfers Paradise, northwards to The Spit has also been proposed
with funding possibly coming from developers.
Although some of these proposals may never reach fruition it is
clear that the success of the existing light rail line has prompted calls
for extension to other areas of the city. However, not everyone has
embraced light rail. Just as there was opposition to stage one, especially
in Surfers Paradise, some residents in Burleigh Heads are opposed to
the light rail concept or the proposed location of a Burleigh Heads station
with some expressing concern that the foreshore may be spoiled.
When the Gold Coast hosts the Commonwealth Games in April it is
estimated that more than six million additional trips will be made across
the city’s tram and bus network. The Commonwealth Games village,
expected to accommodate 6,600 athletes and officials, is located near
the Griffith University tram station and the light rail line will also support
transport to competition venues at Southport, Broadbeach and Labrador.
The Gold Coast light rail is generally regarded as a very successful
application of the mode with its tram priority over and segregation
from road traffic plus easily accessible, high-capacity trams being key
ingredients for its success. The Commonwealth Games will provide an
opportunity for the line to be showcased to a world-wide audience.
Special thanks to GoldLinQ for their assistance in preparing this article.
FEBRUARY 2018 39

Signalling &
Infrastructure
In the extreme afternoon heat
of Monday 27 November 2017,
Vlocity Set 18, with 1118 leading,
passes beneath a signal gantry
approaching Lara enroute to
Southern Cross Station, having
departed South Geelong Station
at 14.04. Steve Munro
Compiled by
David Campbell,
Graham Vincent and
David Whiteford
New South Wales
Airly Loop Junction (Wallerawang – Kandos
line). The STOP Block located at 213.768km
(adjacent to the Up Yard Limit Sign) was
temporarily removed on 05/12/2017 to enable
the entry of a works train proceeding towards
Kandos. The STOP Block was reinstated after
the passage of this train.
North Shore line. Commencing 02/01/2018,
new Auto signals were installed on the Up
Shore line at 24.472km (SH15.20), 23.712km
(SH14.76), 22.985km (SH14.30) and 20.265km
(SH12.60). Existing Up Auto signal SH12.40
(at 19.833km) received altered aspects. These
alterations are designed to allow for headway
improvements along this line.
Ashfield Crossover points 502A/502B and
503A/503B (Up end of station), which had been
out of use since 14/11/2015, were removed
from 06/11/2017.
Blacktown New crossover points 352 at
34.178km (which had previously been installed
from 02/09/2017) were commissioned into use
from 16/12/2017. These points allow Down
trains to pass from the Down Suburban line
to the Down Main line at the Up end of the
station with a diverging speed of 70km/h
allowed. Existing crossover points 320 (Down
Suburban to Down Main, Down end of station
at 35.964km) were removed. Shunt signal BN98
was removed. Automatic signal M21.3 was
converted to Controlled signal BN27M with
aspect changes. Controlled signal BN89M was
converted to Automatic signal M22.3, with the
Shunt indication removed. Aspect changes
were provided for signals BN29S, BN23S,
BN47S, BN73S, BN91S, BN85UP and BN87UL.
BN87 Indicator was altered to BN87 Co-Actor,
receiving aspect changes as well.
Boggabri Coal In conjunction with the
commissioning of level crossing warning
devices for the (private) Boggabri Coal
Access Road from 10/10/2017, Up signal BC14
(Boggabri Coal branch) was relocated from
528.049km to 528.390km, and Up signal BC12
(Maules Creek branch) was relocated from
528.049km to 528.413km.
Eveleigh Alterations are being made to the track
arrangements at Eveleigh as part of the Inter-City
Fleet Commissioning and Stabling Project.
Commencing 09/12/2017, the Eastern Siding was
extended in an Up direction by 26m. The existing
buffer stop was relocated accordingly, and a new
LED-type buffer stop light was provided. A new
fixed train stop was installed 2.5m prior to the
relocated buffer stop.
Fassifern (North). Commencing 30/10/2017,
crossover points 56A (Down Main) and 56B
(Up Main) (facing crossover, allowing Up trains
on the Up Main line to access the Down Main
line thence the Newstan Colliery Sidings)
were renewed and upgraded. Points 56B were
relocated 5m in a Down direction.
Ganmain (Junee – Griffith line). In conjunction
with level crossing improvement works, three
new Main Line Indicators were provided from
16/01/2018. MLI “D” faces Down trains at
538.067km; MLI “X” and “B” face Up trains
at 538.099km and 539.090km respectively.
The operation of these Main Line Indicators
is interlocked with Frames D and B to prevent
unnecessary operation of the level crossing
warning devices.
Glenfield (South Sydney Freight Line). New
points 225B were installed at 39.879km on
the Glenfield Passing Loop (Loop line) from
02/12/2017. The points will form a connection
into the future Moorebank Intermodal
Terminal, and will remain locked and secured
pending future commissioning.
Gordon (North Shore line). Commencing
04/11/2017, points 53A (catch, Local Platform
Road) and 53B (Up Shore line) were renewed
and upgraded. Points 53B were relocated 4m in
an Up direction.
Hornsby (Reference should also be made to
Railway Digest, November 2017, page 47).
Commencing 29/12/2017, the track connections
between the Shore lines and the Main lines at
the Down end of the station were removed.
Double slip points 521A/522B were removed,
with new single turnout 521A provided; the new
points align with existing 521B points to form a
simple trailing crossover between the Down and
Up Main lines. Facing crossover points 523 (Up
Main to Up Shore line) were booked out of use,
locked and secured, with some track between
these turnouts removed. Points 525A/catch
525B were locked and secured in the normal
position, allowing movements between the Up
Shore line (platform 1) and the car sidings only,
these were later removed. The low speed aspect
on Down signal HY25 (Down Main, up end of
station) was removed.
Commissioning of the Hornsby Junction
re-modelling works commenced on
02/01/2018, and are planned to be brought
into service from 16/01/2018. The junction
area on the Down side of the station was
re-configured to simplify the track layout. The
Up Loop line was re-arranged on the Down
side of the station (33.971km) towards the
Bridge Road bridge at 34.669km to form the
new Up Shore line. A new No. 1 Up Siding was
formed between 33.971km and 34.418km,
this now forms a Turnback track for the Shore
lines, terminating at a friction buffer stop.
The Inwards and Outwards Car Shed Roads
were re-configured between 34.107km and
34.459km and brought back into use, with
routes available between platforms 1 – 4 and
the Car Shed Roads. Frame B was brought back
into use.
The scissors crossover at the Up end of
platforms 1 and 2 (points 515, 516, 517 and 518)
was renewed on a new alignment, allowing
the speed of trains diverging to be increased
40
RAILWAY DIGEST

from 8km/h to 15km/h. Crossover points 521
were brought into use. Crossover points 523,
which had been between the Up Main and
Down Shore lines, were altered to form a facing
crossover between the Down Shore and Up
Main lines. 526 facing crossover (Down and
Up Shore lines) was altered to align with other
trackwork alterations. New crossover 528 allows
trains in the No. 1 Up Siding to access the Up
Shore line. New facing crossover points 529
between the Down and Up Main lines, which
had been previously installed from 28/10/2017,
were brought into use. New crossover 530
(trailing, Up Main, facing, Up Shore line) was
provided, allowing access between the Car
Shed roads and the Main and Shore lines; this
incorporates a diamond crossing on the lead
to No. 1 Up Siding. Existing catchpoints 531
(Up Loop) were removed, with new points
531A (trailing, Up Shore) and catchpoints 531B
(Outwards Car Shed road) provided. Existing
533 and 534 crossovers were removed, with
533 points (Up Shore) operating in conjunction
with facing crossover 534 (between the Inwards
and the Outwards Car Shed roads) installed.
Containment catchpoints 544 are provided in
the No. 1 Up Siding.
On the Down Main line, signals HY24, HY53
and HY72 received additional/altered aspects.
On the Up Main line, signal HY55 was relocated
onto a signal gantry (also supporting HY57 and
HY59) with altered aspects. Shunt signal HY58
was replaced with running signal HY58. Signals
HY74, HY106, HY132 and HY134 received new/
altered aspects.
On the Down Shore line, HY35 signal received
altered aspects. HY57 was relocated onto a
gantry (with HY55 and HY59), with altered
aspects. HY46 Indicator was re-named as HY46
Co-Acting. New signals HY43 and HY63 were
provided at 25.004km and 34.214km respectively
(the shorter distance being via the Shore line).
On the Up Shore line, HY48 Indicator was
re-named as HY48 Co-Acting. HY59 was
relocated onto the gantry with HY55 and HY57,
with new aspects. HY62 was re-named as HY68,
with altered aspects. HY105 signal also received
new aspects. New signals SH15.46, HY62, HY77,
HY78 and HY82 were provided.
Down Relief line signal HY60 received new
aspects.
Turnback 1 line signal HY70 also received new
aspects.
New signals HY80 and HY86 were provided on
the Outwards Car Shed road. New signal HY84
was provided on the Inwards Car Shed road.
Signals HY86 and HY84 were installed on the
same gantry with HY82 (Up Shore line).
Marrar (Junee – Griffith line). In conjunction
with level crossing improvement works, three
new Main Line Indicators were provided from
30/01/2018. MLI “B” faces Down trains at
508.500km; MLI “X” and “D” face Up trains
at 508.532km and 509.487km respectively.
The operation of these Main Line Indicators
is interlocked with Frames B and D to prevent
unnecessary operation of the level crossing
warning devices.
Moolarben Coal Loop The Fixed Red signal
located on the Arrival Road at 434.125km was
relocated to 434.249km on 16/11/2017.
Parkes (Orange line). The Down Landmark
was relocated from 442.165km to 441.000km
on 19/12/2017.
Redfern (Illawarra). Crossover points 653
(trailing crossover between Up Illawarra and
Down Illawarra lines, Down side of Redfern
station) were renewed and upgraded from
09/12/2017. Both turnouts were relocated 2m
in a Down direction. During this work, signal
SY456I was relocated 22m in a Down direction.
Stanwell Park (Illawarra). Down signals
WG673, WG681 (Down Main) and WG675
(Up Main), and Up signals WG680, WG682
(Up Main) and WG678 (Down Main) were
upgraded to LED type from 11/11/2017.
Wahroonga (North Shore line). Up Automatic
signal SH14.10 (Up Main) was upgraded to LED
type from 28/10/2017. The medium aspect was
removed, and the lower yellow aspect was
“blanked out”.
Warrell Creek (North Coast line). The Main
Line, which was relocated between 542.769km
and 543.262km from 06/08/2016 (see RD,
August 2016, page 49) was reinstated at the
original location, incorporating a new section
of track and bridge over the upgraded Pacific
Highway on 04/12/2017 (Eungai – Nambucca
Heads section).
Wollongong (Illawarra). Up signals WG428
(Down Main) and WG430 (Up Main) were
upgraded to LED type from 11/11/2017. The
“shunt ahead” aspects on Up signals WG466
(departing platform 2) and WG468 (departing
platform 1) were replaced by “shunt” aspects.
Two new Guards Indicators were provided
operating in conjunction with Down signal
WG461 (platform 2).
Yagoona (Bankstown line). The Guards
Indicator on platform 1 facing Up trains was
upgraded to LED type from 04/11/2017. The
other Guards Indicator on platform 1, and both
Guards Indicators on platform 2 were removed.
A new LED type Guards Indicator was provided
on platform 2, facing Down trains.
Victoria
Richmond – East Richmond – Burnley –
Burnley Sidings (Burnley being the junction
between the Ringwood and Glen Waverley
lines). Commencing 30/11/2017, the Burnley
Signal Box was de-commissioned. Control of
all signalling functions for the Burnley and
Burnley Sidings areas was transferred to a new
signal control panel at Metrol, using a Westlock
computer-based interlocking. The 25Hz high
voltage signal power supply was upgraded
to a 50Hz system. The illuminated letter “A”
indications provided at various Home signals in
this area were removed.
Down Home signals ERM306 and ERM328 and
Down Automatic signal L89 were abolished.
All remaining signals between the Up end of
Richmond platforms, commencing with Down
Automatic signals 298 (Down Burnley Local)
and 278 (Down Burnley Through), and Up
Automatic signals L72 (Up Burnley Local) and
H72 (Up Burnley Through line), to the Down
side of the Yarra River on the Ringwood line
(L163 and H163, the Down and Centre lines
respectively), and Up signals L156 (Automatic,
Up line, now converted to a Home signal and
re-numbered as BLY369) and BLY345 (Home,
Centre line, re-numbered to BLY339), and
on the Glen Waverley line to Down Home
signal BLY380, and from the Glen Waverley
line commencing at Up Home signal BLY383
(including the Burnley Stabling Sidings area)
were converted to LED type. Many signals
in this area were re-numbered, with other
alterations including aspect changes and
relocation onto tilt masts in situ being made.
Down Automatic signals L71 (now RMD322),
H71 (now RMD342), H83 (now ERM342),
BLY312 (now BLY324), BLY334 (now BLY344),
Down Dwarf signal BLY340 (now BLY366), and
Up Automatic signals BLY281 (now BLY379),
L156 (now BLY369), and Up Dwarf signal
BLY321 (now BLY315) were converted to Home
signals. All points were retained, although
several of these were re-numbered as well.
Carnegie (Caulfield – Dandenong line). In
conjunction with level crossing removal works,
this station was temporarily closed between
14/10/2017 and 19/11/2017.
Croydon (Ringwood – Lilydale line). Up
Automatic signal H942 was upgraded to LED
type from 18/10/2017.
Dunolly (junction between Yelta and Korong
Vale lines). Commencing 14/10/2017, No. 2
Road was abolished. Dunolly is no longer
available as a Train Order Crossing Station,
its status being changed to an Intermediate
Train order Station. No. 1 Road (the passenger
platform road) is now the only track available
for use. No. 7 points (Up end of crossing loop)
were abolished, with the track now laying for
No. 1 Road; the trailable point machine and
Banner were also abolished. No. 27 points
(Down end of Loop) were locked and secured
in the Reverse position (laying for No. 1 Road);
the Banner was abolished. The crossovers
between No. 2 Road and yard sidings 3/4/5
operated by points E, (trailing Up moves,
middle of yard), F (facing Up moves, middle
of yard) and G (facing Up moves, Down end
of yard) were abolished. Points A (Main line,
facing Down moves into 3 & 4 roads) remain
in situ, locked and secured at this stage. The
three dual-gauge fixed turnouts provided to
allow standard-gauge trains to terminate clear
of the broad-gauge tracks were removed (these
led to points D, J and H). At this stage, the only
points from the original yard layout remaining
were points “A” (Up end, main line to yard), 27
points (Down end, 1 – 2 roads), and 29 points
(main line to Korong Vale line). All points are
locked and secured directing trains to run via
the platform track to/from the Korong Vale line.
Further stage works were introduced from
04/12/2017. A Fixed-Gauge Splitter (numbered
DLY 7) was installed facing Down trains on the
Up end of the yard, on the Down side of the
FEBRUARY 2018 41

Burnt Creek bridge. The broad-gauge track was
re-aligned from DLY 7 Fixed-Gauge Splitter to the
Up end of the existing No. 1 Road, with points
“A” now abolished. Points 27 were abolished,
with a new Fixed-Gauge Splitter (DLY 27) being
provided facing Up trains approximately at the
location of the former 27 points.
Epping (Clifton Hill – South Morang line).
A “SPAD Alert Board” was installed on
10/10/2017, located 400m prior to Down Home
signal EPP110. The Board is lettered as “ALERT…
EPP 110…400m”. The board is a white reflective
background, with blue text. This is the first
such Board installed in Victoria, and is presently
on trial.
Hughesdale (Caulfield – Dandenong line).
The existing station was permanently closed on
14/10/2017. The station building and passenger
platforms were then demolished in conjunction
with works to grade separate the Poath Road
level crossing (Up side of station).
Long Island line. The lead to the Cresco
Siding, which had been booked out of use
since 01/10/2015, was restored to service on
07/10/2017.
Maryborough (junction between Ballarat,
Ararat and Dunolly lines, and closed line to
Castlemaine). A Fixed-Gauge Splitter was
installed at the former junction between the
Ballarat and Ararat lines (Up side of Down
Home signal MYB 6) from 30/11/2017. This will
form the new junction as gauge conversion
works in this area progress. Number 21 points
(Castlemaine line towards loco depot/train
stabling sidings) were removed by 04/12/2017,
with a track panel installed to maintain access to
the sidings, effectively closing the Castlemaine
line, which has been out of use since 2004.
Moorabbin (Caulfield – Frankston line).
Down Home signals MRN702 (Down line) and
MRN708 (Centre line) were converted to LED
type from 09/10/2017.
Murchison East (Seymour – Tocumwal line).
No. 3 and 4 roads, which had been booked out
of use since 25/08/2017, were booked back into
service on 28/11/2017.
North Dynon A new siding named “11 track”
was provided on 11/10/2017. This siding
commences from a new turnout on No. 3 Fuel
Track, and heads in an Up direction, giving
standing room of 650m before terminating in
a dead-end. A new turnout was provided in
“K” track, opposite the Manildra Siding; this
turnout directs Up trains towards the right;
these points are locked and secured pending
future commissioning.
Southern Cross Home signals 002 (Clifton
Hill underground loop ramp), 200 and 302
(Burnley underground loop ramp) were
upgraded to LED type from 30/10/2017.
Southland (Caulfield – Frankston line).
The new station was opened on 26/11/2017.
This new station is located between Highett
and Cheltenham stations at 21.440km, and
is provided with two single face platforms,
each 160m long. The station adjoins a major
shopping centre, and is provided with access
through the shopping centre car park to the
main precinct via a subway at the Up end..
Ultima (Korong Vale – Manangatang line).
The Down end main line points (leading into
the shed/old silos road) were booked out of use
due to track condition on 10/11/2017.
Watsonia (Clifton Hill – Hurstbridge line).
Up Automatic signals S604 and MCD113 were
upgraded to LED type from 05/11/2017. In
conjunction with this work, signal S604 was
relocated 19m in an up direction.
Western Australia
Bayswater (Midland line). In conjunction with
works for the Forrestfield – Airport Rail Link
Project, the Down Main line was temporarily
relocated onto a new alignment between
5km and 6km from 27/11/2017. The Up Main
line was subsequently relocated onto its new
alignment from 11/12/2017.
East Perth (Midland line). New scissors crossovers
777 (facing) and 778 (trailing) were brought
into use from 11/12/2017. These points had
been installed from 22/09/2017. The crossovers
are located on the Down side of the passenger
platforms prior to the dual-gauge trackage, and
are designed to allow Down trains to shunt clear
of the platforms and return to Perth, or for Up
trains to terminate and return towards Midland.
Up trains can terminate in the Up platform prior to
signal 204 and return in a Down direction via 777
points, the Down move being governed by 155
signal (opposite 153 signal on the Down Main). Up
trains can also diverge after 152 signal through 778
crossover to the Down platform towards signal 158
(fixed at red, parallel to signal 204) to terminate.
Down terminating trains passing 153 signal can
use 778 crossover onto the Up line towards signal
143 (fixed at red, opposite 145), then return
towards the Up platform passing 152 signal, or
they can continue on the Down line towards 145
signal and return onto the Up line via 777 crossover
towards the Up platform. This work is part of the
Perth Stadium Transport Infrastructure Project.
Whitfords (Joondalup line). Some signal
re-numberings occurred from 10/12/2017. Signal
525 (Down Controlled Absolute, Down Main)
was re-numbered to 521. Down Controlled
Absolute signal 521 (Up Main) was re-numbered
to 525.
The recently-commissioned
East Perth scissors crossover,
seen on Friday 24 November
as a Perth-bound EMU
approaches.
Donald Whiteford
42 RAILWAY DIGEST

South Australia
‘Torrens Junction’ (confluence of PTA
Gawler and Outer Harbor lines, and the ARTC
South Line ). In early December, two of the
three project objectives were completed at
this site and as a junction location, Torrens
Junction has ceased to exist. In the future it
will be marked only by an actively protected
pedestrian crossing.
The ARTC component: The standard-gauge
line has been realigned slightly to the west,
the grade crossing of the PTA Outer Harbor
line removed, the line established over a
pre-constructed section of the new Outer Harbor
line dive, the PTA slot permission to proceed
disconnected, and the up signal AN22 moved
about 100m to the north (leaving only 1435m.
standing room to Torrens Road LX). The two
signals previously protecting the grade crossing
AN21 & AN22 remain temporarily as searchlight
signals and are to be replaced at a later date
(a new signal 356 has been installed but is
bagged out of service). The implementation
of new signalling for the standard-gauge
line is complicated because existing control
infrastructure and cabling is owned by PTA.
The Gawler line component: The Gawler
line was closed for about 4 weeks in November/
December while it was re-aligned between
North Adelaide station and the Torrens River
bridge. The up and down tracks are now parallel
to, and immediately east of, the standard-gauge
line, and have been connected to the previous
Outer Harbour mains as they continue into
Adelaide station. With the resumption of
services, Gawler line trains now operate from
Adelaide platforms 6 & 7 in lieu of 8 & 9.
Previous work on the Adelaide side of the river
has removed the old Gaol Siding and the west
to east crossover that provided access to/from
the siding for all 4 main line tracks (with some
vintage double slips). In its place a ladder of east
to west crossovers have been installed providing
operational flexibility and access to the northern
sidings in the Adelaide yard. Consequent on
the track configuration there are a number of
signal changes. Down absolute 155 on the (new)
Gawler main has had the junction indicator
removed and similarly up absolute 252 has
had a LH indicator added. An additional down
ground level fixed red 253 has been added a
train length clear of the crossover on the Gawler
Up main to provide for shunt movements out of
the North Yard returning into Adelaide station.
Conventions: Adelaide metropolitan signal
numbering uses the middle digit to denote
the line. “5” is assigned to the Outer Harbor
line and “7” is assigned to the Gawler line.
With the reversal of the track usage inbound
from the old Torrens Junction this convention
has been disregarded for signals whose line
usage has been reversed. A similar issue arose
on the south lines when the Belair and Seaford
lines were reversed between Adelaide and
Goodwood. Software is obviously harder to
change than rebuilding railway lines!!
The Outer Harbor (Port) line component:
As of early January, the dive to carry this line
under the other tracks, Park Tce, and Bowden
Station precinct, is still under construction and
signals have not yet been re-established.
FEBRUARY 2018
43

Level crossing news
.
New South Wales
Boggabri Coal line. New level crossings were provided for the
Boggabri Coal Access Road (private road) at 528.270km (Boggabri
Coal line) and at 528.293km (Maules Creek line). The level crossings
were commissioned from 10/10/2017, and were equipped with
flashing lights, audible warning devices and boom barriers.
Ganmain (Junee – Griffith line). Lake Street level crossing at
538.083km. Flashing lights, warning bells and boom barriers were
provided on 16/01/2018 (previously passive).
Marrar (Junee – Griffith line). Marrar North Road level crossing at
508.522km (also known as Pucawan – Wagga Road). Flashing lights,
warning bells and boom barriers were provided on 30/01/2018
(previously passive).
Victoria
Armytage (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Prices Lane level crossing
at 127.981km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were commissioned
on 06/12/2017 (previously passive).
Ballarat Lydiard Street level crossing at 113.896km. Magnetically
latched pedestrian emergency exit gate locks were provided from
18/12/2017. These gates operate in conjunction with the existing
pedestrian motorised gates and the heritage road interlocked gates.
Birregurra (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Powers Lane level
crossing at 132.600km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were
provided on 13/11/2017 (previously passive).
Birregurra (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Whytcross Lane (also
known as Whytcross Road) level crossing at 130.550km. Flashing
lights and boom barriers were commissioned on 07/12/2017
(previously passive).
Bowser (Seymour – Albury line). Bourke Road level crossing at
239.242km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were commissioned on
13/11/2017 (previously passive).
Buckley (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Mount Pollock Road level
crossing at 105.549km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were
commissioned on 12/12/2017 (previously passive).
Campbellfield (Melbourne – Upfield line). Camp Road level
crossing at 16.059km. The level crossing and associated pedestrian
crossings were closed from 13/12/2017, being replaced by an overline
bridge located at 16/030km.
Cheltenham (Caulfield – Frankston line). Heather Grove pedestrian
crossing at 21.840km. The work to commission motorised pedestrian
gates, which was programmed for 16/09/2017 (see November 2017
RD, page 49), was deferred and occurred from 11/10/2017.
Dobie (Ballarat – Ararat line). Brady Road level crossing at 201.198km.
Flashing lights and boom barriers were provided on 25/10/2017
(previously passive).
Dunnstown (Melbourne – Ballarat line). Tierney Road level crossing
at 104.156km. The existing flashing lights were upgraded with the
provision of boom barriers on 11/12/2017.
Epsom (Bendigo – Echuca line). Heinz Street level crossing at
167.309km. The existing flashing lights equipment was upgraded
from 14/11/2017 with the provision of boom barriers.
Garvoc (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Recreational Reserve Road
(previously known as School Road) level crossing at 233.836km.
Flashing lights and boom barriers were provided on 15/11/2017
(previously passive).
Holmesglen (Burnley - Glen Waverley line). Collins Street pedestrian
crossing at 16.005km. Motorised pedestrian gates, fitted with magnetically
latched emergency exit gates, were provided on 30/11/2017 (previously
passive). The location of the crossing was altered to 15.993km.
Hughesdale (Caulfield – Dandenong line). Poath Road level crossing
at 15.377km. The Down side pedestrian crossing was permanently
closed and removed from 14/10/2017 in order to facilitate level
crossing removal works.
Kyneton (Sunbury – Bendigo line). Mollison Street level crossing
at 91.433km. Magnetically latched emergency exit gates, operating
in conjunction with the existing motorised pedestrian gates, were
provided on 02/11/2017.
Panmure (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Vickers Road level crossing
at 238.153km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were provided on
07/10/2017 (previously passive).
Parkdale (Caulfield – Frankston line). Parkers Road level crossing
at 26.009km. Magnetically latched pedestrian emergency exit gates
were commissioned on 21/12/2017.
Pettavel (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Willowite Road level crossing
at 92.172km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were commissioned on
12/12/2017 (previously passive).
Pomborneit (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Craigs Lane level
crossing at 181.080km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were
provided on 05/12/2017 (previously passive).
Pomborneit (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Carters Road level
crossing at 185.648km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were
commissioned on 05/12/2017 (previously passive).
Rosanna (Clifton Hill – Hurstbridge line). Rosanna Station pedestrian
crossing at 15.356km. This pedestrian crossing was permanently
closed against public access, in conjunction with level crossing removal
works from 10/12/2017. The crossing was re-opened from 11/12/2017
for access purposes for Project staff (grade separation works and new
station construction), pending completion of the Project.
Terang (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Cameron Road level crossing
at 221.687km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were provided on
15/11/2017 (previously passive).
Terang (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Coombes Road level crossing
at 226.182km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were provided on
14/11/2017 (previously passive).
Terang (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Pekins Lane (previously
known as Harris Lane) level crossing at 222.903km. Flashing lights
and boom barriers were provided on 14/11/2017 (previously passive).
Wendouree (Ballarat – Ararat line). Forrest Street level crossing at
122.303km. Motorised pedestrian gates with magnetically latched
emergency exit locks were provided on 12/12/2017. These operate in
conjunction with the existing flashing lights and boom barriers.
Winchelsea (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Austin Road level
crossing at 113.011km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were
provided on 18/11/2017 (previously passive).
Winchelsea (Geelong – Warrnambool line). Ondit Road level
crossing at 116.199km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were
provided on 08/10/2017 (previously passive).
Wodonga (Seymour – Albury line). Old Barnawartha Road level
crossing at 294.899km. The existing flashing lights were upgraded
with the provision of boom barriers on 30/11/2017.
Woodvale (Bendigo – Swan Hill line). Rileys Road level crossing
at 177.903km. Flashing lights and boom barriers were provided on
13/10/2017 (previously passive).
44 RAILWAY DIGEST

The access road to Silver Lake mining’s “Imperial Majestic” mine crosses the Trans line at 1730.525km, part way between Curtin and Golden
Ridge, WA. Unsurprisingly given the interface here between heavy haul road vehicles and numerous trains, the crossing is equipped with
flashing lights and boom barriers. The crossing is powered entirely by “green” power, with solar panels and a small wind turbine visible to
the right of the roadway. The cost of installing electricity to such a remote site rather than environmental concerns is thought to have driven
this design, one that might be useful elsewhere in Australia. The inset shows the equipment closer up. Peter Donaghy
Though Racecourse sugar mill,
at Mackay, Queensland, has
not had a steam locomotive
on its roster since the 1960s,
this nevertheless descriptive
road sign warns motorists
travelling east along
Stotts Road, Ooralea, of an
impending level crossing of
a 610mm-gauge line running
south from Racecourse mill
to nearby canefields. In the
middle distance, Mackay
Sugar’s Clyde HG-3R 0-6-0DH
Seaforth heads out to pick up
a load of cane, on Saturday
28 October 2017. John Scott
FEBRUARY 2018 45

Fine dining on Bellarine Railway’s Q Train
– and a Japanese comparison
Text and images by James Chuang
In the golden era of long distance train travel partaking of a
meal in a dining car was an enjoyable and novel experience.
Unfortunately, as aircraft and motor cars took most of the
patronage away from long distance trains, especially in North
America and Australasia, the traditional dining car almost disappeared,
along with the trains that it served. In addition, the high cost of
providing a full dining service complete with starched tablecloths and
the best of crockery and cutlery, meant that the dining car was often
not a viable financial operation, and would need to be subsidised by
other parts of a railway’s operations. Today, many railway operators
provide a low-cost walk-up counter or buffet service or a trolley service
to passengers at their seats instead of a full dining car. Highspeed rail
mostly serve airline-style precooked meals.
In order to experience full dining car service in Australia today,
one would need to travel on a tourist-orientated train like the Indian
Pacific or the Spirit of the Outback, which aim at the higher end of the
market. Melbourne’s long-running Colonial Tramcar Restaurant also
continues the tradition of fine dining on rails, albeit in an urban setting.
However, some tourist and heritage railways have moved beyond their
original focus of providing a ride on heritage rolling stock to the dining
experience area with, for example, Victoria’s Puffing Billy Railway
provides trips focused on dining, while Ipswich-based Queensland
Pioneer Steam Railway is now offering travel with a dining theme (see
October 2017 RD, page 52)
The Bellarine Railway, near Geelong, has recently entered the dining
experience world with its Q Train, promoting food and drinks as the
main theme. However, although the Q Train is promoted as a dining
experience, rail enthusiasts will find the former Queensland Rail (QR)
M series ‘Lander’ cars and the spluttering sound of a QR English Electric
diesel locomotive add much interest.
Background
The South Geelong to Queenscliff railway, serving the Bellarine Peninsula
and fortifications at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay at Queenscliff,
opened in 1879 as a broad-gauge line and closed in 1976. The section
between Queenscliff and Drysdale reopened as a tourist and heritage
railway in 1979, by regauging the railway to 1067mm (3ft 6in), enabling
locomotives from the former Australian Portland Cement works at
Fyansford, near Geelong, to operate the tourist trains. Over the years the
railway collected 1067mm gauge rolling stock from both government
and private railways across Australia.
Fast-forward to the present time and the Bellarine Railway is seeking
to build upon its popularity by developing another feature to encourage
passengers come for a ride. To date the Bellarine Railway has developed
‘Day out with Thomas’ events (based on the Thomas the tank engine
concept), ‘Driving experience’ for both steam and diesel locomotives,
‘Cab ride’, ‘Halloween train’, ‘Santa train’ and the now well-known
‘Blues Train’.
When Queensland Rail put most of their M series steel-bodied
air-conditioned cars up for sale, the Bellarine Railway teamed up with
Total Quality Solutions Pty Ltd to purchase 24 M series Comeng and
Ipswich Workshops-built carriages, thereby becoming by far the largest
current M series car owner! The purchase of M series cars was intended
to create a dining train with a focus on a casual fine dining experience
with a six-course degustation menu, plus wines. The train is intended to
showcase the food and wine from the Geelong region.
A new brand name was created, ‘The Q train’, with the ‘Q’, based
on Queenscliff and former M series car owners, Queensland Rail. The
tourist railway already owns ex-QR English Electric locomotive 1604
to operate the train and reinforce the Queensland theme, and there
may be the possibility of steam haulage on occasions. A new colour
46 RAILWAY DIGEST

scheme has been applied to the train, based on a beach theme,
and a matching livery is used on locomotive 1604. The 60-plus
year old carriages look as if they are brand new! The initial train
composition is:
• MPCC 1430, Power car (1971, Ipswich Workshops)
• Former QR VIP fleet car MSD1460, manufactured in 1953 by
Comeng, (one of three converted for this role) was purchased
and used as a kitchen car for preparing meals. This carriage was
originally a ‘Lander’ dining car, and in 1987 was converted to
a kitchen with bedroom accommodation for cooks and other
staff. The VIP fleet was used by Governors General and senior QR
staff, and it is understood that former Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen
also used the cars during his career. Their use declined after the
mid-90s. The other two VIP cars were sold to a fruit farm to provide
accommodation for fruit pickers so this car is the only former QR VIP
car still in active operation and the interior largely hasn’t changed.
• The other notable car is MCC1521 ‘Club Loco’. It was built
as a club /dining car in 1958. In 1992 when the Queenslander
received its second refurbishment, it was refurbished as a ‘disco
on wheels’. Originally it was intended for economy sitting
passengers and marketed as part of a separate train call Spirit
of the Tropics which was priced specifically to the backpacker
market. From 1993, the car received a full body “yellow-and
maroon” livery, and was claimed to be the first disco club on rail
in the world. A change in QR management direction eventually
separated the Queenslander and Spirit of the Tropics as two
completely separate trains operating to different schedules from
the late 90s. To standardise train compositions of the Spirit of the
Tropics with the Sunlander and Spirit of the Outback, this car was
then swapped with MCD1528 (renamed ‘Club Loco’). QR then
put MCC1521 in to storage in the late 90s until Bellarine Railway
purchased it and turned it back to a bar/disco club style lounge
car for the Q train operation. The car had returned to its former
use!
• MBL1509 is a former economy sitter built by Comeng in 1953.
Post-refurbishment it has had seats removed and replaced with
dining room-style seating with a bar at one end, and has kept the
seat number plates, reading lights, and luggage rack in its new
guise as a Q class dining car. The bar is of a similar design to the
former Queenslander bar.
• MBS 1474 was originally an economy sleeper with eight cabins.
These have now been removed, converting it into an open Q
class dining car seating 46 passengers. Originally manufactured
by Comeng in 1953.
• MAS 1487 was originally a twinette sleeper manufactured in
1953 by Comeng, now it is a first class dining car. The shower room
is still intact!
The full complement of M series cars on Bellarine Railway
comprises:
MBL 1509, MBL 1511, MBL 1512, MCSC1484, MBL 1534, MPCC
1430, MBSC 1533, MBS 1532, MBC 1459, MBSC 1479, MSC 1469,
MBL 1517, MBL 1531, MBS 1474, MBS 1472, MSD 1460,MBC 1457,
MBC 1454, MBC 1446,MAS 1499, MAS 1487, MAS 1489,MAS 1498,
MCC 1521
The Q train began operation at the end of September 2017, and
the train runs every weekend for dinner service. The train offers
two types of accommodation, Q class – dining in the open dining
car, or first class – dining in the former twinette sleeper.
Left (page 46): An interior view of the Q train’s Q class dining car MBL1509, a former economy sitting car built by Comeng in 1953,
on the evening of Saturday 21 October 2017. The bar installed in this car is very similar to the former QR Queenslander class bar.
Below: Former QR English Electric Co-Co DE unit 1604, built in 1962, retaining its former QR blue livery, sits ready to depart Drysdale
for Queenscliff late on Saturday 21 October 2017. The scene is somewhat reminiscent of the erstwhile Midlander preparing to leave
Emerald for Rockhampton in the 1970s.
Preservation & Tourist
FEBRUARY 2018
47

As the sun slowly disappears behind the horizon, veteran English Electric locomotive 1604 brings The Q train around the shore of Swan Bay,
as it approaches Queenscliff station on Saturday evening 28 October 2017.
The Q train journey
Approaching Drysdale (an intermediate station on the Bellarine
Railway) I saw a rake of light blue-coloured M series cars waiting for
departure, it somehow gave me ‘flashback’. I could have been walking
up to Longreach station to board the Spirit of the Outback. Welcomed
by Q train staff, I was taken along the red carpet to my table. The
refurbishment appears to be extensive. Q class dining car MBL1509’s
interior now looks like a luxury restaurant, with a bar (which resembles
the former Queenslander’s ‘Daintree’ lounge bar) installed at the
Melbourne end of the car. The former economy class seat numbers,
luggage racks and individual reading lights are still intact! Although the
dining car looks nothing like what QR ever operated the Bellarine Railway
has ‘recycled’ a former Queenslander menu booklet! Walking through to
the first class dining car, the former first class twinette sleeping carriage
corridor still looks the same with its first class maroon colour carpet
retained. However, each former cabin is now equipped with a dining
table and a table lamp.
‘Club loco’ has returned to its former glory as a club car with a bar.
The Q Train has retained QR’s original menu board behind the bar
as a reminder of its former ‘Lander’ operations. The menu displays
the drinks prices as if it was the early 90s and even lists items such as
toothbrushes etc for sale. l walked to the front of the train, and took
photos of English Electric 1604 hauling the Q train, which reminded me
of photos of 1600 class locomotives hauling air-conditioned cars on the
Westlander and Midlander.
My train quietly left Drysdale for Queenscliff, reminding me of
travelling on the Sunlander through the northern suburbs of Brisbane.
The train was almost full, patrons were mostly ‘Generation X’ reflecting
that Q train advertising is mostly through social media. We slowly
travelled through canola fields and rolling hills as waiters brought
drinks to the patrons. It was easy for me to imagine travelling on the
Sunlander between Miriam Vale and Gladstone approaching dinner
time. The section between Drysdale and Queenscliff is relatively long
at 16km, and one fully appreciates the Bellarine Railway’s volunteers’
effort to maintain such a lengthy track. The train follows Yarram Creek to
the estuary which forms a large wetlands and scenic area. The sunsets,
especially in spring and summer months, looks extraordinary around this
area, somewhat resembling the southbound Sunlander reaching Bowling
Green Bay wetlands south of Townsville. Finally, an orange sunset is
reflected in Port Phillip Bay as the train arrives at Queenscliff station.
Bellarine Railway operates the Q train from Drysdale and The Blues
Train from Queenscliff. Both offer meals to patrons, but Blues Train
patrons have their meals and drinks on the platform at Queenscliff
station. The Blues Train I observed appeared completely full, as
was the Q Train on the night of travel. The two trains do a ‘switch
back’, crossing each other before The Q train enters the platform at
Queenscliff. One commends the Bellarine Railway for managing to
operate two nearly fully-loaded theme trains at the same time. From
December 2017 and January 2018 onwards, there will be a Q train
departing Queenscliff for Drysdale.
48
RAILWAY DIGEST

The Q Train food experience
The food served is nothing like any of the former ‘Lander’ services.
The Q train offers six course meals, with a menu carefully designed
so the taste of each course “matches”, starting with ricotta as entrée,
follow by Sage Farm (located at Bannockbun, near Geelong) salted
beef. The delicious salted beef brings out the appetite, while also
perfectly preserving the taste of the texture of the beef. This was
follow by Portarlington Mussels, which, while not quite the same as
the former Queenslander class’s seafood platter lunch, the coriander
and the mint sensation highlighted the ‘marine’ flavour of the mussels.
Tasty Barongarook pork followed, with tastebuds overwhelmed by the
sweetness and the smell of the crispy roast pork with a BBQ aroma! The
main course of Sage Farm Lamb Two Ways immediately follows.
This was possibly the best lamb, in fact the best meal I ever had in
my life! It was cooked to medium rare, well marinated and full of
tenderness and finished with local Wattle Grove honey and chocolate.
In many ways the meal exceeded what the Queenslander class on
the Sunlander used to offer.
Above: MCC1521 ‘Club Loco’,
seen here at Drysdale on
Wednesday 21 October 2017,
was built as a club/lounge car
in 1958, then refurbished as
a disco club car in 1992 for
the Queenslander/Spirit of the
Tropics. At the time, it was
claimed to be the first disco on
wheels! Around 1999 it was put
in storage, until revived by The
Q train in 2017.
Left: Watching the sunset
through the windows of the
Q class dining car, the same
evening, as the train passes
a wheat field near Suma
Park between Queenscliff
and Mannerim. The Q train
hard-cover menu sitting on
the table is an original QR
Queenslander class menu that
has been ‘recycled’.
FEBRUARY 2018 49
49Preservation & Tourist

The experience: The Q train versus Shikoku-
Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari
These two trains, despite operating in different countries, do have
some similarities. Both the Q Train and the Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen
Monogatari, operate by Shikoku Railway Company, were launched in
2017. Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari offers lunch and the Q Train
presently operates a dinner service.
Both use food and drink as the main theme rather that the train ride itself.
Both Japan and Australia have highly-rating cuisine TV shows and both have
a highly developed food culture. The two trains were both launched in 2017
to ride on the back of the popular foodie culture in both countries.
Bellarine Railway is a not-for profit volunteer operated railway.
Shikoku Railway Company, despite been part of the Japan Railway
Group, hasn’t made a profit since privatisation in 1987 and still relies on
government subsidy. This is a contrast to its highly profitable, wealthy,
stock-exchange listed brother companies like East Japan Railway/West
Japan Railway, Shikoku Railway Company and the Bellarine Railway
have more ‘theme trains’ and ‘tourist trains’ compared to most other
tourist and heritage railways. JR Shikoku, operating the smallest mileage
among Japan Railway Group, also has (unusually) more theme trains
and tourist trains with up to 14 tourist trains operating at a time.
Neither the Q Train nor Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari depart
from a major city but both have proven that they have no trouble in filling
seats. Both use very heavily refurbished rolling stock, effectively being
almost a complete rebuild, leaving few ‘heritage’ links to their former
operations. Both trains also do ‘switch back’ crossings to cross another train.
Rolling Stock:
Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari use a Kiha185 express DMU built
by Niigata Transys/Nippon Shayro in 1986. These were built for express
train service and were virtually the last rolling stock designed by the
pre-privatisation Japan National Railways. Cost savings were evident
in manufacturing through the use of recycled materials and spare
parts from bullet trains. They offered simple and basic comfort but
became ‘old technology’ quite early, from 1989, merely three years
after entering traffic, when Shikoku Railway Company introduced the
world’s first diesel tilt train, dramatically cutting travelling time as well
as offering travellers comfortable modern European-style seating.
Being still relatively young and in good mechanical condition, they are
now used for short distance express trains, commuter rapid trains, or
have been heavily rebuilt into tourist trains like the Shikoku-Mannaka-
Sennen Monogatari. This is one of the about 16 Japanese tourist trains,
and the newest mixed dining and tourist train to appear in a trend that
is becoming popular in Japan.
Above: The Shikoku Man Naka
Sennen Monogatari takes a
30 minute break at Kotohira
station, on Friday 6 October
2017. The all timber-built
European-style station is listed
on Japan’s ‘Heritage of Industrial
Modernization’ register.
Right: The Shikoku Man Naka
Sennen Monogatari terminates
at Oboke station. The red livery
of the end car represents the
colours of Autumn. The river
valley it travels through will soon
be turning red from the leaves of
the maple trees en route.
50
RAILWAY DIGEST

The Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari train ride
‘Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari’ translates to ‘Tale of
1,000 years across the middle of Shikoku’ – a rather long name
for a train! The train operates between Tadotsu and Oboke over
the Dosan line, a total distance of 66 kilometres. The diesel tilt
express train takes about 50-54 minutes versus this train which
takes 2 hours 54 minutes! Tickets are available one month before
departure but are sold out very quickly. I had to get a friend in
Japan to buy a ticket on my behalf. A ticket costs roughly $60
Australian including the meal, which is quite inexpensive. The train
enters Tadotsu station just 10 minutes before departure. Onboard
staff efficiently roll out a red carpet and show passengers to their
table. The train comprises a three-car set. The first carriage is
painted in green with green dining seats, which represent spring
season, the second carriage representing summer by the river with
blue-coloured seats and the third carriage is an orange colour with
orange dining seats representing autumn leaves. The first stop is
Kotohira where there is a 30-minute stop for patrons to inspect the
fully timber-built station building, listed as an example of industrial
modernisation heritage. There is a lounge in the station for patrons
to sample local seafood chowder and inspect local arts and school
sporting achievements.
The journey then continues into the mountainous part of Shikoku
with the railcar providing good front and rear views, the slower journey
enabling the conductor to point out waterfalls along the way. The
driver slows or stops the train to allow passengers to photograph the
wateralls and cascades. The express tilt train would have passed this
scenery at 130 km/h! The train then follows the mountainous, scenic
and historic Yoshino river valley with the railway line meandering
around the narrow river valleys and passing a number of nameless
waterfalls and cascades. We even saw wild deer by the lineside and
stopped by an unusual ‘switch back station’ for other express trains
to overtake us! The train offers large panoramic windows for viewing
both sides plus it has a camera on both ends. For passengers sitting in
the intermediate car, the front and end-view camera is linked to wi-fi
so that passengers can see the view ahead and behind through their
smartphones. Local retirees and school children gather at various
stations to wave at the train and promote friendly tourism!
Above: The interior of a carriage of the
Shikoku Man Naka Sennen Monogatari,
refurbished in light green colour based
on a ‘spring buds’ theme. Seen on
Friday 6 October 2017 at Awa-Ikeda
station.
Left: On the Dosan line the train
travels along the scenic Yoshino River
valley, and the train slows down at
various scenic spots for viewing, such
as this location near Koboke station.
Preservation & Tourist
FEBRUARY 2018
51

Right: The author’s entree dish
served on the Shikoku-Mannaka-
Sennen Monogatari consisted of
very high standard local produce.
Below: At Oboke station, on Friday
6 October 2017, a 2000 class
express diesel tilt train forming
‘Nanpū express number 14’ to
Okayama, overtook the Shikoku
Man Naka Sennen Monogatari. The
express train, takes only 50-54
minutes to travel this section,
whereas the dining train takes
almost three times as long. From
1989, the 2000 class diesel tilt
train superseded the slower
Kiha 185 diesel railcars. In 2018,
however, Shikoku railway plans to
introduce a new diesel tilt train
with an advanced tilt mechanism.
Food
The food listed on the timber booklet menu began with the four-flavours
tasting plate comprising tender and full-of-flavour locally-made rare wagu
beef plus lotus, marinated chicken using local mint and spice plus local
fruit salad and sushi using local fish served with local craft beer, followed
by locally-produced roast wagyu beef with local grown rice and finished
with sweets. I was surprised by the locally produced beef, as Shikoku is not
known for beef production, but the beef was very tasty and easily bettered
beef from other famous beef producing regions in Japan! The good food
and drinks, friendly locals waving, scenic cascades and mountains, as well as
luxury interior décor made the just under three-hour journey very enjoyable.
These two trains, in company with Queensland Pioneer Steam
Railway’s theatre dinner theme train, are game changers, offering
customers more than just a heritage train ride. Both appear to be
experiencing success so far. It is good to see some tourist and heritage
rail operators change their image and reinvent themselves to capture
interest from both the rail fan and non-railfan market, which should
help them continue in business.
Acknowledgment
The author would like to thank Mr Masamitsu Yao for his assistance.
52 RAILWAY DIGEST

Moss Vale Sesquicentenary
Ben Chatwin
On Saturday 9 December 2017, 150 years (and one week) to the day
after the Main Southern Railway was opened between Mittagong and
Sutton Forest (as Moss Vale was then known), the railway stations
at Bowral and Moss Vale celebrated their sesquicentenaries –
trackwork closing the line between Moss Vale and Macarthur the
previous weekend necessitating the slight delay in celebrations.
With Moss Vale the more significant of the two centres, at least
from a railway perspective, festivities were focused there.
Formalities started when Kevin Andrews, Duty Manager Moss
Vale, was presented with a certificate commemorating 50 years
of railway service. After this, and following the arrival of The Rail
Motor Society’s 620/720 railcar set from Paterson, which later ran
four return shuttles to Mittagong, speeches were given by Paul
Daly (Station Manager Moss Vale), Howard Collins (Acting Chief
Executive, NSW Trains) and Pru Goward (Member for Goulburn)
promising a bright future for Moss Vale and looking forward to
returning in another 25 years to celebrate the 175th anniversary. As
Moss Vale is the only vice-regal railway station in Australia, Justice
Margaret Beazley (acting on behalf of the Governor of New South
Wales, who was unable to attend) was the next to speak and took
the gathered crowd on a journey through the station’s history.
Over the years, Moss Vale has grown into an important station on
the interstate network, having fed troops during the wars, enabling
state governors to summer in the Southern Highlands along the
way. In 1900 the future prime minister, Edmund Barton, even missed
his train after lingering too long in the station’s refreshment rooms.
There’s not much Moss Vale hasn’t witnessed. With the speeches
concluded, the gathered dignitaries then unveiled a plaque
commemorating the occasion, located in the station courtyard.
Then came the cake. For what is a birthday party without cake?
Even those not inclined to sit and listen to speeches were in for
a treat. Pacific National made an 82 class locomotive available
for inspection by all interested, while the NSW Rail Museum
displayed a collection of railway artefacts. The RSL Youth Choir and
Highland Pipe and Drum Band provided musical entertainment,
and a collection of historical photos and drawings were exhibited.
As a special treat, the Vice Regal Waiting Room was also open
for inspection. With the local branch of the Country Women’s
Association providing refreshments in the station, and Rotary outside
the station, everyone was well catered for.
All involved in planning the Moss Vale Railway Station
Sesquicentenary celebrations are deserving of thanks and appreciation.
They showed not only what can be achieved when community is
involved in planning celebrations, but that railway stations continue
to play a significant, and special, role in the community. While much
has changed in the 150 years that Moss Vale Railway Station has been
serving the Southern Highlands community, this certainly hasn’t.
Above: The Rail Motor Society’s railcar set 621/721 arrives at
Moss Vale station. Bob McKillop
Below: Dignitaries unveil the commerative plaque. From left to
right: Howard Collins OBE, Acting Chief Executive NSW Trains,
Dympna Irwin (obscured), Co-ordinator, I50th Committee, Paul
Daly, Station Manager Moss Vale, The Hon Justice Margaret Joan
Beazley AO, P​resident of the Court of Appeal (NSW) appearing
in lieu of the Chief Justice of NSW and the Governor of NSW
(who were both at a state funeral in Sydney), The Hon. Pru
Goward, MP, Member for Goulburn. Ben Chatwin
Preservation & Tourist
FEBRUARY 2018
53

Mount Gambier Railway Lands precinct to represent SA at national awards
The Mount Gambier Railway Lands precinct collected three prestigious
awards at the Planning Institute Australia (PIA) South Australia Awards
for Excellence 2017 in Adelaide in late November 2017.
City of Mount Gambier representatives accepted the coveted overall
Planning Minister’s Award and also won the Plan to Place and Great Place
Awards for the planning and development of the community project.
The annual PIA Awards for Planning Excellence demonstrate leading
practice, leadership and achievement in planning. The Minister’s
Award is given to the overall winner of the South Australian Awards
for Planning Excellence, judged by the South Australian Minister for
Planning Hon John Rau. “It is an honour to win this award for our
community. Minister Rau recognised the initiative, innovation and
process involved in the Railway Lands project and its contribution
to sustainability and the enhancement of the liveability within our
community,” City of Mount Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee said.
The Plan to Place Award recognises the implementation of a plan
into a successful place. It was awarded to the City of Mount Gambier
for the evolution of the project and achievement in accomplishing
positive changes as a result of planning. “We were commended for
engaging with the community throughout the planning, design and
implementation phases of the project as well as the ongoing use of the
Railway Lands,” City of Mount Gambier Planning Officer Jess Porter said.
The Great Place award recognises a great place, street or neighbourhood.
The City of Mount Gambier was commended for its vision and ambition
in tackling a socially, physically, culturally and environmentally-challenged
site. “The Railway Lands project was deemed an exemplar of the
New arrival at the Overland Museum
characteristics of a great place, through the quality of its planning,
design and construction. Most importantly, it demonstrates how great
places help build great communities, providing new settings for new
opportunities, that will continue to enhance the local way of life for
years to come,” Mayor Lee said.
Mayor Lee highlighted the vision of both the current and previous
Council in planning the project and for the design and delivery by
Council staff including a focus on community engagement.
“We are all very proud of this achievement, this project has been
recognised as best in class not once, but three times,” he said.
The Railway Lands project will go on to represent SA in its respective
categories at the National PIA Awards for Planning Excellence to be held
in Perth on Wednesday 9 May.
The city of Mount Gambier is located in the south-eastern corner of
South Australia, approximately 450 kilometres from Adelaide (and 435
kilometres from Melbourne). Before conversion of the Adelaide-Wolsley
line to standard gauge in 1995 it was connected to Adelaide on the broad
gauge network. Limestone Coast Railway heritage rail services continued
locally following disconnection from the wider state rail network but
were discontinued in 2006. Subsequently the Mount Gambier railway
precinct became increasingly derelict.
Following extensive community consultation, City of Mount Gambier
Council commenced reactivation of the rail precinct as a community space,
beginning in 2013 with the lifting of track in the rail yard and grassing
of the area. The site was officially opened as the Railway Lands on 15
November 2015.
The Overland Museum in Kaniva, in far western Victoria, received a
special delivery on Wednesday 13 December 2017, when a former
Overland carriage – the second in the museum’s collection – was
delivered by road from the Seymour Rail Heritage Centre.
Museum owner Stewart Hicks said “‘Pekina’ was built in 1919 and
I’m intending to restore it to 1960s condition. I already own one carriage
‘Normuldi’, which I have restored to its original 1951 condition. The shed
was built over ‘Normuldi’ but I will now extend it to cover ‘Pekina’
too.”
The museum contains many items of Overland memorabilia,
including uniforms, linen, crockery and letterheads.
“I started the museum to preserve the history of the Overland
Train that has run through this area since 1887 and is still running
today” said Mr Hicks.
‘Pekina’, later known as ‘Sleeping Car No.9’, was built at the
Victorian Railways Newport Workshops for use on The Overland. After a
long and varied career, it was retired in 1990 and, around 1998, found
its way to the Seymour Rail Heritage Centre.
SA Government offers to purchase Prospect Tram Barn to preserve historic site
The South Australian Government has made a $3 million offer to
purchase the State-heritage listed Prospect Tram Barn to ensure the
historic values of the 1883 site are preserved.
Formerly the Johns Road Horse Tram Depot, the 134-year-old
building on the corner of Johns Road and Main North Road (Princess
Highway), in the inner northern Adelaide suburb of Prospect, is one of
only three tram barns remaining from Adelaide’s first public transport
network that once included 19 tram depots and a network of trams
in Adelaide and surrounding suburbs. The other two remaining tram
depots are on Hackney Road, Adelaide and Magill Road in Maylands.
“The State Government is acting on behalf of the community who
have voiced strong concerns about the sale of this historic site by the
City of Prospect”, said South Australian Minister for Sustainability,
Environment and Conservation Ian Hunter MLC. “I look forward to
hearing the community’s proposals for a way to use this site that
preserves its history and allows the public to share the space”.
In April 2017 City of Prospect Council voted unanimously to explore
sale options for the site, which has been used as a council depot. Despite its
State-heritage listing it was suggested that the site could be developed as
an arts museum or even a pub. However, the Prospect Local History Group
urged the council to resist a sale, with a spokesman telling a public meeting
too many “rare old buildings have been lost (to developers) forever”.
Kalamunda History Village locomotive set for asbestos removal
Kalamunda History Village’s 1897-built 4-6-0 Western Australian
Government Railway G class steam locomotive G118, a central part of
the Kalamunda History Village collection, was fenced off and wrapped
following the discovery of boiler lagging asbestos in October 2016.
In November 2017 the City of Kalamunda obtained a $180,000
Lotterywest grant for full remediation work on the locomotive and site.
Work is due to commence in the first half of 2018.
Kalamunda History Village is on the site of the old Upper Darling
Range Railway Station and yard built in the 1890s to service the Zig Zag
line that transported timber from Canning Mills – near Karragullen to
the main line at Midland Junction. The last train ran over the line in 1949
and it was formally closed in 1950. Kalamunda is situated approximately
25 kilometres inland from Perth in the Darling Ranges. The Kalamunda
History Village is the largest local history museum in Western Australia.
54 RAILWAY DIGEST

Clyde/EMD unit 42103 passes Lochinvar station on Saturday 9 December 2017 with special train 2494N, hauling four carriages
previously at the Canberra Railway Museum, to the Rothbury Railway Museum at Branxton. Bruce Gehrig
Below: On New Year’s Day 2018, C 17 720 sits forlornly at the ARHS Rosewood railway shed at Kunkala, out of action. This locomotive
is not expected to be back in service for approximately two years because of expensive boiler repairs. Mike Martin
Preservation & Tourist
MAY FEBRUARY 2013 2018
55

Preservation & Tourist
Byron Bay solar train
Text and images by Darren Tulk
On Saturday 16 December 2017, the world’s first solar-powered
train opened for business. The tastefully refurbished 660 set, built
at Chullora workshops in 1949, broke a white ribbon in a low key
ceremony at the North Beach station, three kilometres north west
of Byron Bay, before taking VIPs on the first public service.
Getting approval for corridor re-development, rail operator
accreditation and acquiring the solar-powered 660 series has been
a long and at times, fraught, affair. Re-use of the track was opposed
by some locals, who claimed noise and pollution issues arising from
the diesel-engined rail motor on the mostly straight track. During
the developmental period, evolving engineering meant that the
option became available to power the train solely by electric motors.
As such two electric motors were fitted, powered by batteries fed
by solar panels on the train and topped up by electricity collection
and storage facilities at the North Beach station. A single diesel engine
remains fitted for backup purposes.
The rail motor was refurbished at The Lithgow State Mine and
Railway and operated several excursions before being trucked to its
new home. Once on the track in Byron, test runs found numerous
battery-powered journeys are possible before recharging is needed.
When in regular service, the train batteries will be periodically
topped up as required.
And yet, the promise of a nearly-silent rail motor replacing
dozens of cars on Byron’s heavily trafficked streets still raises hackles.
After a triumphant departure, with cheers and claps the loudest
accompaniment, the inaugural trip was delayed by a protester who
was removed from the track by police and emergency services.
Police patrols continued throughout the day to ensure no further
disruptions to train services.
The re-used track once formed part of the Casino-Murwillumbah
branch line, which last saw active use on 16 May 2004 when the final
XPT departed Murwillumbah for Sydney.
The formation is flat and mostly straight, the track crossing one
significant bridge over the Belongil Creek and one level crossing at
Kendall Street before terminating at a new single platform station,
avoiding the need for a second level crossing. Heavy traffic along
Shirley Street made re-use of the original station complex impractical.
Above: Loaded with VIPs and a regional media contingent, the
first train quietly returns to North Beach station after a three
kilometer journey from town.
Below: A happy passenger conveys thanks to the drivers after
the first run.
Interestingly, a new Council proposal for a $20m city bypass to the
west of the old station complex would truncate abandoned trackage
to the south, further isolating the yard and buildings from possible
railway re-use.
Many attending the opening were quietly jubilant, expressing
strong support for the resort owners that steered the railway through
the re-development process. TOOT supporters were evident among
the crowd, with at least two cheeky rail trail advocates spotted
boarding one service complete with bicycles. The new service
links Elements resort with Byron Bay, offering one-way travel for $3.
A partial timetable began immediately with full services following
in January.
56
RAILWAY DIGEST

8S: The Great Survivor
Re: Rod Milne’s article in the
December RD (P38); it was a
good article for most of the read
except where its mentioned
that Control ‘doesn’t bother’
with the Platform 10 stop and
terminates the Westlander at the
suburban platforms at Roma
Street. This is totally incorrect.
The Train always ends up on
Platform 10, EXCEPT if there is
a SCAS Closure that takes out
Platform 10, when the Westy
will then terminate on either
platform 2 or 3 at Roma Street.
Occasionally, the Westy will
terminate at Corinda if there
is a SCAS closure east/south
of Corinda. Also, referring
to the Empty running east
of Toowoomba with 3987
terminating at Toowoomba, this
does occur if there is a SCAS
closure on the Western line
and Range, and in this case the
Train normally returns to Mayne
early on the Monday morning
as 4009 to the car shed. On a
normal run there are always
passengers travelling on 3987
east of Toowoomba to Brisbane.
Certainly I agree with Rod –
do it while you can!!
Ian Wacker,
Train Controller
via email
8S: The Great Survivor
I read with interest the article
in the December 2017 edition
concerning the Westlander train
in Queensland.
In June 2013, my wife and I
undertook a Queensland Railways
package tour of Charleville
entitled Bilbies, Stars and Secrets
Taxi Tour. This comprised a return
train journey from Brisbane to
Charleville on the Westlander
benefiting from the sleeping
berths and excellent cuisine of
the dining car. On arrival it was
evident that the local business
people had combined to offer a
fascinating itinerary showcasing
many attractions of the area
including the Cosmos Centre,
bilby preservation, the iconic
Corones Hotel, former World War
2 Army Base, the historic museum
and viewing workings of a local
property. The whole tour went
without incident, was unique
and highly enjoyable.
It is hard to understand why
the Queensland Railways have
ceased the sleeping car service
as tourists would quite properly
deserve this facility for a long
journey and it is evident that
modern sleeping cars were
initially available for passengers
as well as crew. The potential
for developing a local tourist
industry, bringing much
economic input to the area and
perhaps rivalling Longreach
was very apparent and deserves
serious attention.
William J. Fraser
Holder, ACT
NSW Transport Policy,
I wish to make a few comments
about matters that appeared
in the RD December 2017,
regarding the future directions
of the State’s transport policy.
In relation to the issues that
were raised by Max Mitchell
and Philip Laird, in their article,
‘Shorter South Coast Transit
Times’, travel times between
Sydney and Albury and
Wallerawang and Bathurst
could be reduced if the Southern
and Western Lines were
rerouting along their original
alignments. For instance, the
distance from Sydney to Albury
was incredibly 21 kilometres
shorter pre-duplication, than
it is today. Therefore, reusing
the original alignments should
be investigated as a method of
improving travel times.
As for the investigations
into electrification to Bathurst,
Goulburn and Nowra as
discussed in the news item
‘Transport for NSW releases
draft 40-year plan for Regional
NSW Transport’, on page 7, it is
essential that the issue of track
alignments is addressed before
any plans to electrify these routes.
Currently, there is a golden
opportunity to introduce 25kV
AC into the network. Coinciding
with the introduction of new
intercity cars is the need to
replace the stanchions on the
Blue Mountains line. In the
event that these stanchions
are replaced, will the 1500
Volt DC system be retained.
If so, would it also be used
between Lithgow and Bathurst
in the event that electrification
of that route materialises as
mentioned in RD December
2017, p7. If so, up to twenty
substations would be required
for the entire route from Emu
Plains to Bathurst. As it is with
the NBN fiasco, it would be the
equivalent of installing copper
wiring instead of optical fibre.
In contrast, if 25kV AC catenary
was installed, a maximum of
four feeder stations would
be required, which would be
similar to the quantity needed
to electrify from Macarthur
to Goulburn. Though the
Maldon-Dombarton project
was primarily intended to carry
freight only, if construction
of the line was recommenced
(including electrification as
planned) it would provide the
opportunity to operate services
directly from Wollongong to
Parramatta/Badgerys’s Creek.
Recently a proposal
appeared on Facebook
suggesting that a direct route
should be constructed from
Gosford to Maitland, via
Cessnock, which would utilise
the former South Maitland
Railway. In my opinion, it was
a brilliant concept that would
breathe life into the former
coalfields and provide a more
direct route for North Coast
trains. On a similar vein, it is
inevitable that Hunter Valley
coal traffic will face extinction
in the next fifty years. This
provides an opportunity for the
development of a sophisticated
transport network across the
Hunter Valley as the region’s
population grows. Already,
Maitland’s population has
exceeded 90,000 and housing
estates are opening up at
Lochinvar, Branxton, Huntlee,
Kurri Kurri and Oakhampton.
It is possible that the Hunter
Valley could require a transport
network the size of a small
capital city in the future. Being
a relatively clean slate, it is
important that they do not
repeat past mistakes like the
choice to use 1500Volt DC for
the Newcastle/Port Kembla
electrification projects. The
investigation into these matters
need to be incorporated into
any long-term planning for NSW.
Stephen Miller
Rutherford, NSW
Elevated rail technology
There is a bit of interesting
technological development
evident in the January Digest,
albeit spread across two articles
so it is not all that apparent.
John Hoyle’s article
‘Melbourne Rail Works Upsurge
Under Way’ has two pictures
clearly showing the “T” girder
construction used for the
elevated grade separation
that will remove all existing
level crossings out as far as
Dandenong (see pages 37 and
39). I would assume that this
form of construction is a fairly
conventional concrete girder
form. Rails will be attached to
specially designed longitudinal
beams while separate sound
walls will also be added during
finishing.
If, however, you move on
to David Campbell’s article on
‘The Mernda Rail Extension’
and look closely at the pictures
on page 44 and bottom right
on page 45 you will note that
a totally different girder form
has been used - a sort of long
bathtub shape. In this case
the depth of the structure
immediately below rail is much
reduced as compared to the
Dandenong line type, while the
railway will be normal ballasted
track contained within the
integral walls (which are also
sound barriers).
It is my understanding that
this latter design is likely to
be the new standard for any
future rail over road works in
the foreseeable future. While
the differences in design are
quite evident in civilian pictures
it would be interesting to get a
more technical description and
commentary on the evolution
in concrete girder design over
such a short period. How
about a page or two setting
out the basics you Civils? There
must be someone out there
who is justly proud of such
development and would like to
tell us ordinary humans more
about it.
Max Michell
via email
Standard Gauge in
Queensland
I was interested to read Robert
Duncombe’s comment in his
letter in the December 2017
issue of RD “It is about time
the Queensland Government’s
thinking changed ... why ... so
reluctant to gauge-convert?”
Readers Write
FEBRUARY 2018
57

Readers Write
My first comment would
be to ask whether there is the
political will to do anything
about gauge conversion? I have
seen no evidence of a will to
change. Secondly, I wonder
about the magnitude of the
task, as I think of the length
of track to be changed and
changing from narrow gauge
to a track that is approximately
a third wider. The article re
the Victorian project in the
December issue suggests
wide gauge to standard is
comparatively simple.
Does the failure to adopt
standard gauge when the coal
network was being established
decades ago and when the
Great Northern Line was rebuilt
mean that it will never be done?
I hope I am wrong. I also hope
that any new rail construction in
Queensland is being designed
for future standard gauge use.
John Parker
Boyne Island, Qld
Rail Travel in NSW
Referring to Stephen Miller’s
Letter on Rail Travel in NSW
(Readers Write: Railway Digest
December 2017)
I have to say that I agree
with what Stephen has said in
his submission on Rail Travel in
NSW. Rail travel in Sydney and
NSW compared to the rest of
the world is quite poor. I have
travelled on the bullet trains in
Italy and on the rapid transit
system of Vancouver in Canada.
Here are some of my
suggestions to help the network:
1. Duplication of the line
in between Schofields and
Richmond. More services
cannot operate in between
Schofields and Richmond until
the line is fully duplicated.
The minimum would be more
sidings along the line to allow
trains to pass; in a way, this
would be a step backwards,
however, when the line is
duplicated, it would be three
steps forward.
2. Half hourly frequencies
should be abolished across the
suburban network (bordered
by Berowra, Macarthur,
Waterfall and Emu Plains). An
eight-carriage set every 30
minutes? In off-peak? Seriously?
I think most would agree that
a train every 15 minutes being
four carriages is better than an
eight carriage train, especially
in places like Waterfall, where
the train population wouldn’t
usually fill a single carriage.
3. Unnecessary services
8 car air-conditioned Waratah
at Leppington? The place
that has so little for a current
population. It is a wonder why
Campbelltown residents don’t
drive to Leppington to receive a
better service.
Eight-car S set, in off-peak
to Olympic Park, when the
number of people on the train
wouldn’t even fit in a carriage.
4. The extension of train
services. Trains terminating
at Epping, Hurstville, Revesby,
Liverpool, Lidcombe, Clyde and
Penrith. These services should
be continued. Hurstville: All
stops to Waterfall to provide
more services to the suburbs
after Sutherland and also for
Como and Oatley. Epping:
Continuation of the service to
Hornsby or Berowra. Currently,
Berowra (Asquith, Mount Colah,
Mount Kuring-Gai, Berowra)
commuters only have a half
hourly frequency even in peak.
Wouldn’t be better to provide a
limited stops service to the City
via Strathfield from Berowra?
(enter stopping pattern here)
Revesby: Why not continue
the service from Revesby to
Leppington. This way, everyone
east of Revesby on this line, has
a direct connection to everyone
west of Revesby on this line.
Liverpool: Now that there are
no more direct train services
in between Liverpool and
Campbelltown, why not
continue the Bankstown Line
from Liverpool to Macarthur.
Lidcombe: Trains from the
Bankstown Line terminating at
Lidcombe? And before the 2013
timetable these trains continued
to the City via the Inner West,
this provides a more circular
network and decrease commute
times.
Clyde: Carlingford Line services
start and end at Clyde. The only
use of Clyde station is to serve
a small industrial area and to be
a terminus. These trains should
continue to Olympic Park or
Lidcombe. In this way, it would
link the two lines together
no longer requiring multiple
interchanges.
Penrith: Trains should continue to
Emu Plains instead, it’s only one
suburb.
This is just some of the many
changes that need to be done
to help Sydney have a better
rail network, and I haven’t even
started on NSW Rail Travel yet.
David McCafferty
via email
Rail transport and the
Queensland election
I rang the LNP during the recent
Queensland state election,
congratulating them on their
policy of providing free off-peak
transport for pensioners and
seniors, and I discussed a viable
and affordable means of fixing the
Inlander and Westlander trains.
The ALP was returned to
power, and I urge the government
to either accept the concept
of free travel off peak as I have
outlined, or having a reasonable
‘cap’ on go card users, who are
on a concession. Perhaps $5.00.
Which is in fact, double what
concession card holders in NSW
pay!
I suggested that two sitting
cars be converted to rail bed
cars, and placed onto the Spirit
of the Outback. Then place one
sleeping car onto each of the
Westlander and Inlander trains,
plus a dining car. The SOTO
would then have two sleeping
cars and two Rail Bed cars, plus
the existing dining, lounge and
sitting cars.
The total failure of the LNP
to take up the suggestions
would indicate that the party,
and for that matter the current
Government, are intending to
replace the Western Queensland
train services with a bus service!
John Coyle
via email
Re: Nathan Watson’s
letter in January Railway
Digest
Thank you to Nathan Watson
for making readers aware of
possible errors in the Westlander
article by Rod Milne in December
2017 RD.
However, phrases like, ‘If Rod
Milne had done some research,’
and ‘sweeping, ill-informed
statement’ that were used in
Nathan’s letter give the, perhaps
mistaken, impression that he was
not really interested in making
readers aware of those errors
but was more concerned about
showing us that he knows more
than Rod.
Highlighting possible mistakes
in articles should be handled
sensitively and relationally. The
best way to achieve this is by
writing a three-part letter:
1. Thank the article writer
for the work that has been
put into the article. I can
vouch from experience
that articles like this take
considerable time and
effort to write.
2. Respectfully point out the
errors.
3. Outline the corrections
that are required.
It is often a good idea firstly
to write a fridge letter, where
the letter is left for a day or two
before posting. It is amazing
what changes are made after
the passage of a little time.
If Nathan’s letter had been
written in this form I, for one,
would have better appreciated
his input.
Neville Pollard
via email
A Grand Day Out
I’m writing to tell you about
a day I spent using public
transport.
With a friend, I boarded a
Brisbane city bus from Stafford
Heights to the city, there we
boarded a Gold Coast train at
Roma Street station. That train
has limited stops to Beenleigh;
after that stop the train runs
high speed between stations.
On arrival at Helensvale we
got off the QR train and boarded
the light rail to travel to the
terminus. The light rail was very
well patronised. It took a total of
nearly two hours from Stafford
to the light rail terminus. The
line from the previous terminus
to Helensvale is duplicated and
built to a very high standard.
Speeds of seventy kilometres per
hour are attained between stops.
We gave public transport
a very big tick for a stress-free
day of travel, and the fares
are not expensive. We would
recommend this form of public
transport to anyone looking for
a different day out.
Graham Larkin
Greenslopes, Qld
58
RAILWAY DIGEST

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RAILWAY REMINISCENCE Volume 1-2-3.NSW 1969-75 165’....$39
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A HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RLWYS Vol 5.240p.$70*
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ALCO DL541 - The NSW 45 & SAR 600 Classes.176p... $40*
BYWAYS OF STEAM 30. Griffith/BarryTulloch tribute/RovingTO 171p.$45*
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NEWCASTLE EXPRESS. P Attenborough. 96p sc Col..........$20*
PORTRAIT OF A CLASSIC. 46 Class history. 192p col b/w.$70*
RAY LOVE’S DAYS OF STEAM. 112p Col hc........................ $50*
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STEAM MEMORIES.136p................$65*
SOUTH MAITLAND RAILWAYS. Attenborough. 128p hc......$45*
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SPIRIT OF PROGRESS. 64p A5 sc col b/w........................... $20*
STANDARDS IN STEAM - 53 & 55 Class. Ron Preston. sc.. $48*
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60
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The MALBONE STREET WRECK.FordhamUniPress.120p bw..... $55*
The RAILWAY PHOTOGRAPHY OF JACK DELANO. 186p............$90*
The ROUTES NOT TAKEN. Raskin.323p hc bw......................... $55*
N TRACKS OF THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY Dougherty 186p $75*
N TWELVE TWENTY-FIVE Pere Marquette 2-8-4(MichUni) 212p..... $88*
MORNING SUN (USA)
If your desired title is not listed,
we will try to get it for you.
AC&Y and A&B BELT.....$50*
AGLOMA CENTRAL........$99*
APPALACHIAN Vol 3......$99*
ATLANTIC COAST LINE...$95*
N BETHLEHEM STEEL CO V1.$99*
N BETHLEHEM STEEL CO V2.$99*
B&O POWER V1Steam/Cab.$100*
BOSTON & MAINE V3....$48*
BUFFALO,ROCH,PITT V5.$99*
CAN PAC FACILITIES. V3.$105*
CBQ FACILITIES.V2$50/V3.$111*
C&NW POWER 63-95 V3.. $99*
C&NW POWER 63-95 V4... $99*
C&O FACILITIES V1$50*V2.$40*
C&O Thru Pass Service.$105*
CONRAIL ATLANTIC V1..$55*
CONRAIL PWRV1(1000-3999).$50*
CR CENTRAL REGION V3.$99*
CR CENTRAL REGION V4.$105*
CONRAIL NORTH REGION.$105*
CONRAIL WEST REGION V1.$99*
CP GUIDE FREIGHT&PASSV2.$99*
CRITTERS VOL 4............$50*
CSAO CR SHARED ASSET $105*
CSX POWER 4axleEMDs V1.$105*
DELAWARE & HUDSON.......$48*
DERECO..........................$99*
N DT & I POWER....................$100*
ELGIN JOLIET & EAST’N V3.$105*
ERIE-DL&W-EL TRACKSIDE..$105*
ERIE LACK POWER V1...$87*
ERIE LACK POWER V2...$48*
ERIE LACKAWANNA V8..$85*
ERIE LACKAWANNA V9..$99*
ERIE WESTERN............$105*
GTW POWER VOL 1....$105*
N GTW POWER VOL 2......$99*
N ILLINOIS CENTRAL GULF V1.$100*
ILLINOIS CENTRAL Thru Pass.$105*
INDUSTRIAL RR Vol 1 ...$43*
JERSEY CENTRAL POW V1 .$99*
N JERSEY CENTRAL POW V2 .$99*
JERSEY CENTRAL FAC V1.$95*
LAKE SUPERIOR & ISHP’G V1.$99*
LONG ISLAND POWER 52-15.$105*
METRO-NORTH............$105*
MOPAC THRU PASS SERVICES.$99*
LEHIGH & NEW ENG...........$50*
NORFOLK SOUTHERN V1.. $105*
NYC POWER V1#20-4940.$111*
USA - HEIMBURGER HOUSE: Great Prices!
AMERICA’S GREATEST CIRCUS TRAIN. 208p col hc............ $110*
Sp AC GILBERT’S FAMOUS AMERICAN FLYER. 200p col hc.$59*
Sp AMERICA’S RAIL PICTORIAL. 152p col hc....................... $59*
Sp AMERICAN STREAMLINER POSTWAR YEARS. 200p col hc.$59*
Sp AMERICAN STREAMLINER PREWAR YEARS. 176p col hc.. $59*
Sp CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN-MILWAUKEE.78p col hc... $45*
Sp CLASSIC VINTAGE CRAWLERS & DOZERS. Vol1188p col hc.$69*
Sp DESERT RAILROADING. Steve Schmollinger. 172p col sc.. $59*
Sp The LAST OF STEAM. Joe Collias. 268p b/w sc................ $59*
Sp MASON STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. Wallace .192p col sc..... $69*
Sp NARROW GAUGE COUNTRY. Mal Ferrell. 372p col hc....... $85*
Sp NEVADA CENTRAL SAGEBRUSH NARROW.Ferrell.204p col hc.$59*
Sp NEVADA COUNTY NARROW GAUGE. G Best. 224p col hc.$59*
Sp ROBERT W. RICHARDSON’S RIO GRANDE.V3208pcol hc.$79*
Sp the SEARCH FOR STEAM. Joe Collias. 360p b/w sc.......... $59*
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
ARMOURED TRAINS.1815-2016. Mallassari. 527p HC col..... $150*
BARRY: YARD HISTORY & LOCOMOTIVES.(OPC)256p col/bw..$80*
BR COACHING STOCK 2014.PocketBkPlatform5.110p sc col..$16*
BR LOCOS & COACHING STOCK 2014.Platform5.hc bw/col.$35*
BR LOCOMOTIVES 2014.PocketBook.Platform5.95p sc col.$16*
BRANCH LINES OF STRATHEARN.TouristsTatties&Trains.296p.$85*
BRITAIN’S DECLINING SECONDARY RAILWAYS.Thru60s.168p.$75*
BRITISH RAIL CLASS 60 LOCOMOTIVES. EGleed.192p..... $70*
BRITISH RAIL DIESELS. Early lives. Hymans.160p.............. $50*
BRITISH RAIL CLASS 20 LOCOMOTIVES. Dunn.208p........ $85*
BRITISH STEAM LOCOMOTIVE BUILDERS.Lowe.704p...... $90*
CASTLES THE FINAL YEARS 1954-1965. (IAllan). 128p .................. $50*
COMMUTERS. British commuting history. Pen&Sword. 150p......$40*
DIESEL & ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES FOR SCRAP(OPC)240p..85*
DMU COMPENDIUM. Boocock. (IAllan). 128p ...................................... $40*
EAST OF EASTBOURNE, WEST OF WATERLOO. 102p sc bw $30*
FALSE STARTS,NEAR MISSES & DANGEROUS GOODS.159p.$30*
FROM CLERK TO CONTROLLER. (Pen&Sword) Fowkes.248p..$75*
GLASGOW SUBWAY ALBUM. (Watson).col sc....................... $39*
N GLOUCESTER MIDLAND LINES Part 1 : North V3 280p hc$75*
GRADIENTS OF THE BRITISH MAINLINE RLWYS.(IAllan)95p....$40*
NYC POWER V2 4000-9820 $105*
OHIO CENTRAL V1 STH..$55* N GREAT WESTERN STEAM. Photos of RJ Buckley 120p sc........$50*
PENN CENT POWER V1.......$53* N GREAT NTHN RAILWAY BRANCHES FROM STAMFORD 176p$70*
PENN CENT POWER V3.......$50* GW MANOR CLASS LOCO PORTFOLIO (Pen&Sword) 111p....$75*
PENN CENT POWER V4 ...... $55* N GW MOGULS & PRAIRIES LOCO PORTFOLIO(Pen&Swd)248p.$90*
PRAIRIE DEPOTS Vol 1........ $95* N GW SAINT CLASS LOCOMOTIVES (Pen&Swd) 144p...............$65*
READING CO.POWER Vol1.$105* N GW DOUBLE FRAMED 4-4-0 LOCOMOTIVES(Pen&Swd)256p.$80*
READING CO.POWER Vol2..$99* GWR GOODS TRAIN WORKING VOL 1. (Crecy) Atkins.136p....$70*
READING FACILITIES V2.....$50* N IRISH RAILWAYS IN THE 1950s & 1960s (Pen&Swd) 175p....$65*
N The N SOO-MILWAUKEE RD MERGER.$100* GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY Heritageguide(PenSword)111p..$53*
The SOUTHERN RLY POWER V1..$99* LMS HANDBOOK. Wragg. 2016 Edition. 256p sc bw.........$50*
N The SOUTHERN RLY POWER V2..$111* LNER HANDBOOK. Wragg. 2017 Edition. 256p sc bw........$50*
N The SP FACILITIES Vol 2.......... $105* NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY. (PenSwd) 111p............$53*
N The SP POWERV1Switchers,slugs,pas..$105* NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND POST 1945. Trams. 192p...$65*
N The N SP POWERV2 roadswitchers,Fs..$100* TWILIGHT OF SOUTHERN STEAM Untoldstory(PenSwd)356p.....$80*
N SP POWERV3 6&8axles,GP60s.... $99* LEWES&EAST GRINSTEAD RLWY TheBluebell(IAllan) 112p.. $50*
STEEL MILL RR V5.ea..........$58* LOCOMOTIVES WE HAVE LOST (OPC/IanAllan) 260p.......... $85*
STEEL MILL RR Vol 7......... $105* LONDON UNDERGROUND STEAM.(IanAllan) 80p hc col..... $35*
STRASBURG RAILROAD......$50* RAILS TO GLYN CEIRIOG.Ceiriog Press.308p hc bw/col..... $99*
RAILS THROUGH BARNSLEY. (Pen&Sword) Whitehouse.136p...$75*
The LONG ISLAND RR V4. $43*
N RAILWAY BREAKDOWN CRANES V1 (NoddleBks) 256p..... $80*
The LONG ISLAND RR V5.$100*
The NEW RIVER TRAIN.. $105* RAILWAY WORKSHOPS (Shire Books) 86p s/c col/bw......... $15*
TORONTO HAMILTON BUFFALO.$105* RAILWAYS OF AYSHIRE. G Thompson. 160p s/c col/bw..... $50*
WEST FLORIDA RAILS V1.....$50* RAILWAYS IN THE LANDSCAPE. (Pen&Sword) Biddle.216p.....$75*
WEST FLORIDA RAILS V2....$48* RAILWAYS OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. (Amberley)PAleen.94p.$38*
WEST FLORIDA RAILS V3.$9950* REGIONAL TRAMWAYS SCOTLAND. Pen&Sword.Waller.144p.$75*
N WESTERN STATES TROLLEYS.$99* SCOTTISH STEAM - A CELEBRATION. Langston 240p ...... $60*
WISCONSIN CENTRAL LTD.$105* SHROPSHIRE RAILWAYS.(Crowood) Cryer 160p sc bw/col.. $55*
SOMERSET AND DORSET SWANSONG.(WildSwan) 97p..... $45*
WM POWER Diesel Years....$99*
TRACKSIDE EAST OF HUSON.... $38*
TRACKSIDE ERIE RR & Conn ....$50*
TRACKSIDE ERIE TO CR......$60*
TRACKSIDE HARRISBURG........$65*
TRACKSIDE LEIGH RIVER.... $99*
TRACKSIDE MOHAWK VALLEY..$105*
TRACKSIDE NEWPORT NEWS.$99*
TRACKSIDE PENNSY TOWERS....$48*
TRACKSIDE PRR EAST REGION ..$53*
TRACKSIDE PITTSBURGH....... $85*
N TRACKSIDE AROUND PEORIA..$99*
TRACKSIDE ROCHESTER 70/80.$99*
TRACKSIDE SUSQUEHANNA.... $50*
UNION RAILROAD.................$38*
Our second hand book list is now
available to download as a pdf : Go to:
http://www.arhsnsw.com.au/
current/2handbustrambooks.pdf
N SOUTHERN NOUVEAU & THE LINESIDE.(Irwell). 392p............$75*
SOUTHERN STEAM.Buckley Photos.(HistoryPress)Dickson.96p.$50*
STEAM TODAY. BR Heritage Rail (HistoryPress) Swaine.118p....$50*
SWINDON WORKS. The Legend.(HistoryPress)Matheson.192p..$35*
The ANATOMY METROPOLITAN RLY 4-4-0 TANK Manning.$40*
N The FIRST 25 YEARS V6 CENTRAL LONDON STH hc $65*
N The GREAT BRITISH RLY STATION KINGS CROSS.(Irwell).240p..$75*
The GWR EXPOSED. Swindon in days of Collett/Hawksworth.....$75*
The GWR HANDBOOK. 1923-47 (HistoryPress) Wragg.248p.....$50*
N The LINES BEHIND THE FRONT.WWI Western Front Rlys (Aves) ....$79*
N The LIVERIES OF THE PRE-GROUPING RAILWAYS V1 sc $45*
The LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE RLWY MEASURED & DRAWN .$150*
N The OKEHAMPTON LINE.ExetertoPlymouth.Nicholas (Irwell).428p....$75*
N The PORT ROAD Dumfries to Stranraer 320p hc $75*
The ROYAL ARSENAL RAILWAYS. Pen&Sword Smithers. 212p.$90*
The SOUTHERN WAY. ISSUE 10. 100p sc bw..................... $15*
The STAFFORD & UTTOXETER RAILWAY. 240p HC bw...... $85*
N The STRATFORD-UPON-AVON & MIDLAND JUNCTION V1 $70*
N The TURBOMOTIVE STANIERS ADVANCED PACIFIC. 206p...$70*
N TRAIN DOCTOR.Diesel/electric troublshooting.Pen&Sword.214p.$70*
URIE & MAUNSELL 2-CYLINDER 4-6-0S. Pen&Sword. 264p..$90*
N VISIONS OF BARRY. J Grayer Photos. (CrecyPub).120p............$40*
N VANISHED RAILWAYS OF WEST LOTHIAN.(Lightmoor).256p..$80*
OAKWOOD PRESS (UK)
AYRSHIRE’S FORGOTTEN RAILWAYS. 200p sc col/bw...... $45*
FIFTY YEARS OF NEWPORT 1900-49. 160p sc col/bw..... $45*
NTH NORTHUMBERLAND’S MINOR RLWYS Vol 3 160p..........$26*
NTH NORTHUMBERLAND MINOR RLYS Vol 4 136p b/w.... $30*
OAKWOOD PRESS THE FIRST 80 YEARS Mullarky120p sc col $24*
STEAM DIESELS & ON-TRACK MACHINES. 240p sc bw .. $40*
The AXMINSTER & LYME REGIS RAILWAY.144p sc col/bw.$40*
The BRISTOL-RADSTOCK-FROME LINE 240p sc b/w....... $35*
The DAVINGTON LIGHT RAILWAY. 48p sc b/w................... $25*
The ELY & ST IVES RAILWAY. 176p sc b/w........................ $45*
The EAST FIFE CENTRAL RAILWAY. Lochty Line. 104p bw. $33*
The LEVEN & EAST OF FIFE RAILWAY.320p sc col/bw...... $53*
The LYNN & HUNSTANTON RAILWAY. 192p sc bw........... $32*
CAPITAL TRANSPORT (UK)
This book charts the development of the rail network that opened the northern Riverina
region of southern New South Wales to closer se tlement and agriculture.
The BAKERLOO LINE or DISTRICT LINE. 80p sc col b/w.ea$18*
The METROPOLITAN LINE. 96p sc col/bw......................... $18*
WORLD TRANSPORT BOOKS
N AUSTRIAN NARROW GAUGE TWILIGHT A.S. Garner 136p.$45*
BENELUX RAIL 1970-1980. Belgium,Nederland,Lux. 302p.$59*
COAL, STEEL & COMFORT. Loco141R568 & SwissClassicTrain .$42*
CZECH & SLOVAK RAILWAYS 1st Edit.Platform 5.256p.... $60*
FRENCH RAILWAYS 5th Edit.Platform 5.223p.................... $43*
ON TRACK. H Gittins - Railway pioneer Siam & Canada. 151p..............$25*
IRISH RAILWAYS-LOCOS, MUs & TRAMS V7.Plat5.95p.... $42*
LOCOMOTIVES FROM LINZ 760mm Gauge.(Indiana).209p.$25*
Rr NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS OF SOVIET UNION. 224p HC ..$99*
RAILS ACROSS CANADA. From coast to coast. Cable. (P&S) 208p.$80*
RAILS ACROSS EUROPE. Northern&western. Cable. (P&S) 245p.$75*
RAILS ACROSS NTH AMERICA. . Cable. (P&S) 204p...................$80*
RO-RO HANDBOOK. Guide to roll-on/roll-off cargo ships.151p............$60*
N SARDINIAN EXPLORER Discover Italy’s Mediterranean Jewel $45*
SEASONS OF STEAM. Steamscenes. 104p. All colour........ $59*
The GREAT INDIAN RAILWAY ATLAS.Roychoudhury104pcol...$45*
The IRON HORSE. Steam loco history & development 144p.........$65*
The NG RAILWAYS OF BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA.Chester 416p..$90*
The RAILWAYS OF MONTENEGRO.K Chester 232p HC col/bw..$90*
The RAILWAY ATLAS OF THAILAND, LAOS & CAMBODIA 212p .$75*
The RAILWAYS OF THAILAND. R.Ramaer. 212p sc col/bw.........$80*
The RAILWAYS & TRAMWAYS OF VIETNAM. Dooling. 398p ......$85*
N The RIVER KWAI RAILWAY. Green. 64p .........................................$30*
N The STEAM KYALAMI. Sth African steam P Hloben. 252p... $99*
NEW ZEALAND BOOKS
A WEST COAST ENGINEMAN. (NZ) ITibbles 252p sc........................ $70*
NZ RAILWAY’S 4-6-0 LOCOMOTIVES. Sean Millar.42p........$19*
NZ RAILWAYS STAND ALONE MECH SIGNAL BOXES. 271p.$79*
N NZ RAILWAYMEN AT WAR 1914-18. (KiwiRail) 64p......................$22*
RAILS TO ROXBURGH NZ. Otago provincial rlyCowan.256p..$75*
RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION IN AUSTRALIA & NZ. 160p....$20*
SIGNALLING & INTERLOCKING AT FRANKTON Junc. 1897-1987.132p...$25*
SOUTH ISLAND STEAM MEMORIES R.A. John 119p sc $45*
GENERAL INTEREST BOOKS
CITY OF ADELAIDE. RailmacMiniProfile#10. Historic clipper ship...............$8*
Sp INTO THE GOLDEN WEST. Bob McKillop. 286p................. $44*
MORRIS 25 ON THE RAILS RailmacMiniProfile#5 SA Inspection Cars.....$8*
N The HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW. New York Botanical Garden 144p..$65*
N The RELIANT ROBIN. Britain’s most bizarre car.112p.......... $40*
SWIFT TO DESTROY. History 77 Squadron RAAF. 113p...... $25*
VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE WORLD. David Burke.200p...$25
TRAM BOOKS
AUSTRALIAN TRAMS THROUGH THE AGES. MKelly Pt1 160p sc. .$25*
BRISBANE TRAMWAYS THE LAST DECADE (Transit Press)60p......... $21*
DESTINATION WATERFRONT CITY.(revised 2017) 63p.................$46*
JUGGERNAUT! David Burke. Sydney’s steam trams.................. $15*
STEAMING DOWN ARGENT STREET. Broken Hill 90p hcbw..$13*
LAUNCESTON MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT 1911-1955.170p..$55*
MELBOURNE’S COLOURFUL TRAMS 1970s Clark (TH) 56p..$39*
MORE TRAM IMAGES with bonus DVD. Aust & NZ.Ballment.140p .....$60*
N NEWCASTLE TRAMS REMEMBERED. Pictorial by Noel Reed 64p...$40*
The EASTERN LINES. David Keenan. 82p. sc.........................$30*
The MANLY LINES. David Keenan.72p. sc..............................$25*
The ROCKDALE & ENFIELD LINES. David Keenan.................$20*
The SYDNEY TRAM. Clark. A pictorial review.........................$15*
The SOUTH-WESTERN LINES. David Keenan.........................$25*
The WESTERN LINES. David Keenan.....................................$25*
The GOLDEN CITY AND ITS TRAMS. Bradley.144p col/bw..... $35*
The GOVERNMENT TRAM IN AUSTRALIA. (revised 2017).....$39*
TRAM IMAGES. Australia & NZ. Ballment. (Transit) 120p sc col......... $40*
TRAMWAYS OF NEWCASTLE. David Keenan.138p hc...........$55*
TROLLEYS WEST:RailmacMiniProfile#4 Adelaide trolleys in the West...... $7.50*
TRACING TRAMS THROUGH SYDNEY. Jim Longworth.72p. col/bw....$50*
SUBWAYS & LIGHT RAIL IN THE USA 1-EAST COAST. 160p ... $40*
TRAM DVDS
BLACKPOOL TRAMS V3 Body & paint shops.DVD.Tramalan........ $20
BLACKPOOL TRAMS V4 Rebuild of Car 736.DVD.Tramalan......... $20
JUST TRAMS IN MELBOURNE 1972-2013. GregTravers. DVD170’.$40
LIGHT RAIL Part 1- Sydney Inner West. (Trackside) 104’.......$36
LIGHT RAIL Part 2- Gold Coast. (Trackside) 90’......................$36
MELBOURNE’S TRAMS (Highball) 80’ Blu-Ray..........................$38
SHOOTING THROUGH-SYDNEY TRAMS. DVD. 165’...............$35
New ARHSnsw book!
Neville Pollard’s
Crown Land to Closer
Settlement charts the
development of the rail
network that opened
the northern Riverina
region of southern NSW
to closer settlement and
agriculture. 264 pages.
Publishing in January.
Price TBA
FEBRUARY 2018 61

21 YEARS OF TOURS. ARHSnsw tour history to 1968. 102’ ... $25
36. John B Thompson. (1988). 168p. Excel cond.......................... $245
38. John B Thompson. 1992 edition. 277p. Excel cond ................. $55
3801 A LEGEND IN STEAM. RG Preston. 104p. Excel cond......... $55
150 YEARS OF RAIL IN NSW. Souvenir Book. 64p.....................................$55
150 YEARS OF THE PORT ADELAIDE RLWY. (NRM) 80p.......$30
700. The 700 Series of SAR. John B Thompson. 42p. Fair cond .... $15
A CENTURY OF LOCOMOTIVES 1855~1955. (NSWGR)........$55
A CENTURY PLUS OF LOCOMOTIVES 1855~1955. (NSWGR)... $75
A CENTURY OF SERVICE 1865~1965. (QR).........................$35
A CENTURY OF NSW TRAMCARS V2 1903~1908...............$55
A COMPENDIUM OF NSW STEAM LOCOMOTIVES.(ARHS)....$75
A GUIDE TO THE RAILWAYS OF NSW. S Sharp.185p.............$55
A HISTORY OF W.A.G.R. STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. Gunz.156p..$65
ACROSS AUSTRALIA BY INDIAN PACIFIC.Patsy Adam-Smith... $20
ADAMSTOWN VIA FERNLEIGH. Ed Tonks.116p. Excel cond....$75
ALL ABOARD.Trains of Australia Stamps. Patsy Adam-Smith.. $25
AMONG THEIR FAVOURITES.1989. Jean Campbell.144p.................$20
AN ERA IN STEAM. NSW steam images. RG Preston.109p............. $45
AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY ROUTES 1854-2000.Quinlan/Newland80p..$35
AUSTRALIAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVES.1855-1895.Turner.192p....... $65
AUSTRALIAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVES.1896-1958.Turner.192p....... $65
AWAY WITH STEAM. NSW steam images. Crow & McLean..............$55
BELLBRAKES, BULLOCKS & BUSHMAN.1987.McCarthy.104p.........$24
BHP TRAMWAYS CENTENARY HISTORY.1985.Griffiths. 88p............$45
BOGIE FREIGHT WAGONS OF VICTORIA P3. 1979-99. 253p............$55
BUSH TRAMWAYS & PRIVATE RLWYS OF TAS. 1850-1960.174p.......$25
BYGONE AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT. Wilson (ARHSVic) 64p..........$55
BYWAYS OF STEAM 5. Rare copy. Excellent condition............. $79
BYWAYS OF STEAM 6. Rare copy. Excellent condition............. $79
BYWAYS OF STEAM 7. Rare copy. Excellent condition............. $69
A COMPENDIUM OF NSW STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. 312p ..... $65
CHANGING TRAINS. Sydney/Melb. Belbin/Burke.1982 144p... $55
COACHING STOCK OF NSW RAILWAYS V1.(1999 print) 260p.....$99
COACHING STOCK OF NSW RAILWAYS V1.(2003 reprint) 260p..$99
COACHING STOCK OF NSW RAILWAYS V2.(2003 print) 344p.....$99
COACHING STOCK OF NSW RAILWAYS V3.(2012 print) 344p.....$99
COLONIAL ENGINEER. Whitton history. RLee (ARHSnsw) 352p........$75
COMENG V1.1951-1955 John Dunn 316p.....................................$55
DESTINATION STH BRISBANE. Wilson (ARHSQld) 120p..................$55
DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCO 40 Class Manual. (NSWR Official)..........$35
DIESEL & ELECTRIC LOCOS OF NSWGR V2. (NSWRTM) 224p.....$75
DIESEL & ELECTRIC LOCOS OF NSWGR V3. (NSWRTM) 256p.....$75
EARLY DIESEL & ELECTRIC LOCOS OF NSWGR.(NSWRTM)224p....$75
ELECTRIFICATION OF SYDNEY & SUBURBAN RAILWAYS .382p....$45
EXPLORING QLD’S RLYS STH FROM BRISBANE (ARHSQ) 129p..$45
FAMOUS LAST LINES. Holdsworth (1963). 128p. HC.............. $45
FLASHLIGHTS ON STEAM. Whalley. 64p. HC.......................... $45
FLYER. (1970). Steam locomotion on Newcastle Exp.75p............$25
FLYING SCOTSMAN ON TOUR in Australia. (1990).................$45
FROM CITY TO SUBURB...a fifty year journey. Travers. 228p... $55
FULL STEAM ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.Belbin/Burke.HC.......$25
GAZETTEER of INDUSTRIAL STEAM LOCOS. Illawarra....$15/25
GIANTS OF STEAM. Australia’s Last. David Burke.255p...........$55
GOING PLACES. NSW transport history. 104p......................... $55
GONE ON THE GHAN. Whitelock. 186p.................................. $25
GREAT STEAM TRAINS OF AUSTRALIA. David Burke.160p....$15
GREAT RAIL NON-JOURNEYS OF AUSTRALIA.Taylor.233p....$35
GREEN DIESELS. NSW 40 & 41 Classes Preston.184p......... $35
HISTORY OF THE GEELONG ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.80p......... $30
HOBART TRAMWAYS. ICooper. Centenary Review. 65p. VGC....... $45
HOOKED ON TRAINS. The Keith Roberts Story. 120p. VGC......... $30
JEAN & GEOFF CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHER PROFILE....... $65
JOADJA CREEK. Shale oil town and its people. Knapman......... $38
LOCOMOTIVES IN THE TROPICS. Vol 2 (QR 1910-58) 176p.......$35
LOCOMOTIVES OF THE S.A.R. (1972) 60p.................................$39
LONELY RAILS IN THE GULF COUNTRY. JKnowles.62p......... $45
LOOK OUT FOR SUBURBAN TRAIN.(1998).44p.......................$25
MAITLAND TRAMWAY VENTURES.(‘65) Willson/McCarthy............$45
MERCY TRAINS. James Harvey. (ARHSnsw) 280pHC............... $25
MOTIVE POWER. Oberg. Modern Aust locos (1995) 140p......... $45
NORTH OF THE HARBOUR. LA Clark. 168p Good cond........... $55
NORTH UNDER STEAM. R Driver. 124p Good cond................. $55
N.S.W.G.R. IN STEAM. RG Preston. 150p. VGcond........................$55
ON SOUTHERN LINES. NSW steam images. RG Preston.80p..........$35
P CLASS. M Morahan (NSWRTM) (2000 Ed) . 224p..............................$109
PASSENGER CARS OF THE NSWR. (ARHSnsw) 160p sc .....$125
PATTERNS OF STEAM. Shane McCarthy. 350p....................................$75
POWELLTOWN. Stamford/Stuckey/Maynard. (LRRSA). 151p.................$45
POWELLTOWN TRAMWAY CENTENARY 1913 - 2013. 32p............$25
PUFFING BILLY IN THE MODERN ERA. Anchen.96p...........................$25
RAILWAYS AT WAR. NSW Official. 71p...................................... $25
RAIL MOTORS AND XPT’S. (ARHSnsw) 142psc....................$125
RAIL SCENE VICTORIA.(1991) Train Hobby. 64p..........................$65
RAIL SCENE VICTORIA.Vol 2 Broadgauge Steam in mid30s.81p.....$65
RAIL SCENE VICTORIA.Vol 5 Lindsay Crow Gippsland.105p............$75
RAIL SCENE VICTORIA.Vol 6 Lindsay Crow Nth Central.210p..........$75
RAILS IN TRANSITION NSW STEAM TO DIESEL. 128p......... $45
RAILS THROUGH THE BUSH. WA. (1997ed) Gunzburg.156p..........$75
REFLECTIONS OF AN ENGINEMAN. K Ames.160pHC............ $75
REMEMBER WHEN. NSWR 1950s. D Rogers.112pHC........... $65
REMEMBER WHEN II. NSWR 1960-66. D Rogers.112pHC.... $75
SKETCHES FROM BESIDE THE LINE. Ken Bowen.128p.HC.... $55
SEASONS OF STEAM. L Anderson. 114p. HC Good Con.......... $55
SHAYS IN THE VALLEY. Wolgan Valley Rwly History .164p....... $75
COLLECTORS CORNER (RARE/PREREAD BOOKS)
SIGNIFICANT SITES. Public works in NSW .192p.HCExCon...... $55
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DIESEL PICTORIAL The 80s.....................$35
SOUTH COAST LIMITED. Kim Bird. Victor Harbour Line 81p.........$35
SOUTH MAITLAND RAILWAYS. Attenborough. 128p....................$45
SPRING, SPARK & STEAM. B McDonald. (Everleigh) 144p...........$75
STANDARDS IN STEAM.The 30 CLASS.Preston. sc Excel.....$159
STANDARDS IN STEAM.The 32 CLASS.Preston. HC Excel....$175
STANDARDS IN STEAM.The 50 CLASS.Preston. sc Excel.....$149
STANDARDS IN STEAM.The 53 & 55 CLASS.Preston. c Excel.$49
STEAM AROUND PERTH. (ARHS 1986) 56p...................................$49
STEAM DAYS ON THE NORTH COAST OF NSW. Butcher. 80p...$45
STEAM IN THE AUSTRALIA. Gilbertson. (ARHS).96p............... $25
STEAM LOCOMOTIVES & RAILCARS of SA RLWYS.176p.........$59
STEAM IN THE FIFTIES. Selems. (NSWRTM). 152p................. $75
STEAM IN THE SIXTIES. (NSWRTM). 152p.............................. $75
STEAM ON THE ILLAWARRA. (NSWRTM). 60p....................... $15
STEAMING DOWN ARGENT STREET. Broken Hill trams.90p... $25
STEEL & RAILS IN NEWCASTLE. KMcDonald.116p HC VGC........$55
SUBURBAN TICKETS OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS.246p....$55
SYDNEY’S ELECTRIC TRAINS.Beckhaus&Halgren(ARHSnsw).192p..$125
SYDNEY’S WOODEN ELECTRICS. Kerry (Transit Pubs).64p.... $49
SWANSONG OF STEAM. (NSWRTM). 60p............................... $15
The 34 & 35 CLASS. M Morahan (NSWRTM) (2000 Ed) . 224p ........$125
The 59 CLASS. H Wright.NSWR 2-8-2s. 464p............................. $275
The 60 CLASS. Groves,Wright&Morahan.NSWR Garratts.226p.... $275
The A7 ERA. VR S Class Diesel History. Bermingham. 180p...........$99
The ABT RAILWAY on TASMANIA’s WEST COAST. Rae.88Edit....$25
The ABT RAILWAY & RLYS OF LYELL REGION. Rae.94Edit.........$75
The APRICOT MAIL. Rogan’s Hill Railway. Irwin.Rae. 96p...............$45
The BANKSTOWN LINE. Sydenham to Belmore 1895 28p...................$25
The BEAUDESERT SHIRE RAILWAY. (LRRSA) 70p..........................$35
The DORRIGO STEAM RAILWAY & MUSEUM. Kramer. 72p............ $55
The ELECTRIC RAILWAYS OF NSW. Dornan/Henerson. 96p............ $75
The ELECTRIC RAILWAYS OF VICTORIA. Dornan/Henerson104p.... $75
The EVELEIGH RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.DMoore photos120p......$65
The FIFTIES DECADE OF CHANGE. Stormont photos.112p.........$75
The GLENREAGH TO DORRIGO BRANCH RAILWAY. Paull. 72p...... $55
The GOVERNMENT BUS.58 years in Sydney&Newcastle.Travers. 84p.$25
The GOLDEN CITY & ITS TRAMWAYS. Ballarat’s trams 144p.. $30
The GREAT EVELEIGH RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. Butcher. 245p.........$75
The GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY. Newcastle to Maitland 112p..........$55
The GREATEST PUBLIC WORK. NSWR 1848to1889.RLee 184p........$65
The INNISFAIL TRAMWAY. J Armstrong. (LRRSA) 128p.................$35
The LAST DAYS OF STEAM. R&B Wheatley. (1971)......................$35
The ML2 STORY. VR B Class Diesel History. Bermingham.100p.....$99
The NEVER-NEVER LINE. North Aust Rlwy. J Harvey. 368p...........$99
The PUFFING BILLY LINE 1955-1991. Photo collection.100p.....$25
The PHOENIX FOUNDRY. Ballarat loco builder. (ARHSVic) 212p.....$55
The RAILWAY AGE IN AUSTRALIA.R Bromby. 194p................. $55
The RAILWAY CAME TO KU-RING-GAI.Local history.468p.HC......$75
The RAILWAYS OF NSW 1855-1955.(NSWGROfficial)304p..... $55
The RAILWAYS OF NSW - In Steam Short North. Preston...... $15
The RAILWAYS OF J.& A. BROWN.(1972) Eardley.161p poor.. $25
The RAILWAYS OF SMR COALFIELDS.(1969) Eardley.161p.... $85
The RICHMOND VALE RAILWAY. (NSWRTM) Preston.112p...... $75
The RAILWAYS OF VICTORIA 1854-2004. R Lee.304p.......... $99
The SHALE RAILWAYS OF NSW. Eardley/Stevens.(ARHS). 2000edit....$99
The SHALE RAILWAYS OF NSW. Eardley/Stevens.(ARHS).1974edit.....$99
The SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. (Gold Coast Rlwy) Arundell.100p.......$55
The STORY OF THE SYDENHAM TO BOTANY RAILWAY.Pollard...$25
The SYDNEY TROLLEY BUSES. MacCowan. 81p.................... $45
The TRAMWAYS OF AUSTRALIA. Brimson. 223p.........................$55
The TRAMWAYS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.McCowan. 152p.........$55
TENDER INTO TANK. RG Preston. (ARHS) 320p.2ndEd HC....$155
TO CESSNOCK AND BEYOND. (ARHSnsw 1976). 64p................$25
TRACKS IN TIME. Dennis O’Brien Collection.(NSWRTM) 128p...........$65
TRACKSIDE. (NSWRTM). 128p................................................ $45
TRANSPORTING THE BLACK DIAMOND. (1968). 79p................$55
UNITS IN FOCUS. Mead Cottterall Renton. (1980).........................$55
VICTORIAN RAILWAYS TO ‘62. LJ Harrigan. 299p.................. $99
COLLECTORS CORNER (RARE/PREREAD WORLD BOOKS)
A CENTENNIAL REMEMBRANCE.AlcoHist.Steinbrenner.542p.... $355
MOTIVE POWER OF THE UNION PACIFIC. Kratville. 325p. Excel......$175
HOMAGE TO THE SANTA FE. Armitage (Ltd Ed1973). 141p....... $65
SANTA FE THE CHIEF WAY. Strein Vaughan Richards.131p.................$75
The GOLDEN AGE OF TRAVEL.Williamson.(1998). 128p VGC....... $50
SOUTHERN PACIFIC DAYLIGHT V1.Wright. 656p.Rare HC............$35
RAILMAC MINI PROFILES
SAVING STEAM: RailmacMiniProfile#1. Early SAR Steam Preservation...$7.50*
STEAMING THRU THE PASS RailmacMiniProfile8.Quorn to Woolshed..$7.50*
STEAMING THRU THE PASS RailmacMiniProfile12.The Port to Woolshed..$7.50*
STEAMTOWN 1977-2005:RailmacMiniProfile#3 Steamtown history....$7.50*
STEAMTOWN RailmacMiniProfile #9 Heritage Rail Centre........................$7.50*
STEAMTOWN RailmacMiniProfile#13 Locos & rollingstock...$7.50*
REBIRTH OF A RAILWAY:RailmacMiniProfile#2 Pichi Ritchi Railway........$7.50*
RICHMOND VALE:RailmacMiniProfile#11 Pictorial history....$7.50*
TROLLEYS EAST RailmacMiniProfile 6. Adelaide Trolleybuses in East ....$7.50*
JUMBOS Early Years RailmacMiniProfile#14 STA2000 Cars.$7.50*
MAGAZINE BINDERS
Quality binders hold 12 issues of our own Australian magazines.
ARH/BULLETIN A4 binders, red with white lettering. $18
RAILWAY DIGEST A4 binders, silver with red lettering $18
and plain (unlettered) A4 binders in blue or green $15
ARHSnsw ARCHIVAL DVDS
CURVE AND GRADIENT DIAGRAMS 1894, 1907 & 1932..$59*
NSWR 1894,1907&1932 CURVE & GRADIENT DGMS.(CD).$59*
NSWR GENERAL APPENDICES Pre-1955. (CD)..................$45*
NSWR LOCAL APPENDICES Pre-1955. (CD).......................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1889-1894............................... $45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1895-1899............................... $45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1900-1905............................... $45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1906-1910................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1911-1915................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1916-1920................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1921-1925................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1925-1930................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1931-1935................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1936-1940................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1941-1945................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1946-1950................................$45*
NSWR WEEKLY NOTICES 1951-1955................................$45*
NSW RAILWAY BUDGET Vol 1-26 1893-1917 on DVD................$55*
NSW RLWY & TRAMWAY MAGAZINE Vol 1-6 1917-23 on DVD...$45*
N NSW TRACK & SIGNAL DIAGRAMS.(V4 Win or Mac) USB.....$79*
The STAFF NSW RLWY & TRAMWAY Pub Vol 1-7 1924-30 on DVD.$55*
RAILWAY DIGEST 1963-1973 on DVD. (ARHSnsw).............$25*
RAILWAY DIGEST 1973-1982 on DVD. (ARHSnsw).............$25*
RAILWAY DIGEST 1983-1992 on DVD. (ARHSnsw).............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN 1937-1950 on DVD. (ARHSnsw)..............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN 1950-1959 on DVD. (ARHSnsw)..............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN 1960-1969 on DVD. (ARHSnsw)..............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN 1970-1979 on DVD. (ARHSnsw)..............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN 1980-1989 on DVD. (ARHSnsw)..............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN 1990-1999 on DVD. (ARHSnsw)..............$25*
ARHS BULLETIN/ARH 2000-2009 on DVD. (ARHSnsw).....$25*
RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION 1951-1974 (4 DVD set)ARHSnsw .$45*
The RAILWAY NEWS 1956-2006 on DVD. (NSWSRCA)........$35*
BUSES/TROLLEYBUSES/TRUCKS BOOKS/DVDS
BEDFORD BUSES AND COACHES. Furness. 224p HC col/bw............$90*
BLUE BUSES OF FOREST ROAD.John Birchmeier. 94p sc col/bw.......$35*
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. Aust bus/coach all over advertising. 268p.$85*
N GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. Australia’s Long Distance Bus. 268p.........$80*
JUST AUSTRALIAN BUSES. Travers. Syd buses,BHP Atlanteans74’..$30
N JUST AUSTRALIAN BUSES 2. Chullora Workshops+ Travers. 120’...$40
N JUST AUSTRALIAN BUSES 3. Greg Travers. NSW Mercedes 120’....$40
N JUST AUSTRALIAN BUSES 4. Travers. Olympics/Brisbane trolley.....$40
RYLE’WY. How horse buses transformed Sydney MacAuslan.128p..$59*
THE TRUCKIE WHO LOVED TRAINS. TNT History. 294p......$35*
TASMANIA’S TROLLEY BUSES. Cooper. 208p col sc...........$69*
The BIG RED BUS:RailmacMiniProfile#7 Bristol Lodekka..... $7.50*
The LONDON BENDY BUS. Wharmby. Pen&Sword.112p...... $60*
The LONDON DMS. Wharmby. Pen&Sword.272p.................. $90*
MODELLING
AMRM Volumes 1 to 18 in stock. Each CD covers 12 issues.....ea $25
DATA SHEETS by G Edwards.NSW Locos/rolling stock/infrastructure. ea $6.60
MODELLING THE RAILWAYS OF SA CONVENTIONS 11 to 15 DVD.$28*
PICTORIAL HISTORIES FROM KINGSCLEAR BOOKS
Big picture black & white archival heritage albums. $25* each:
•BLUE MOUNTAINS•
•CAMDEN & DISTRICT•
•N CAMPBELLTOWN & DISTRICT•
•CANADA BAY•CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN•
•CITY OF SYDNEY•
•CRONULLA•
•EASTERN SUBURBS•HOLYROYD•
•HORNSBY SHIRE•HUNTERS HILL•
•MANLY•
•KINGS CROSS•NEWTOWN•
•LAVENDER BAY TO THE SPIT•
•LIVERPOOL & DISTRICT•PARRAMATTA & DISTRICT•
•PENRITH & ST MARYS•PITTWATER•
•RANDWICK•
•SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS•
•ST GEORGE•SUTHERLAND SHIRE•
•The HILLS•WILLOUGHBY•WOLLONGONG•
2018 CALENDARS
PASSING TRAINS 2018. NZ Railfan.................................... $24
TRAINS 2018. Australian railway images.(Topmill)................ $15
TRAINS OF THE FERNLEIGH TRACK. Ed Tonks................... $15
STEAMSCENES. BNSF.........................................................$25
Our second hand book list now
available to download as a pdf :
Go to:
http://www.arhsnsw.com.au/
current/2handbustrambooks.pdf
62
RAILWAY DIGEST

AUSTRALIAN DVD TITLES
ALCO’S ON THE SMR. ALCo DL531 70’....... $30
CABRIDE II The ‘AK’ Cars. Bernie Baker.75’.... $34
CABRIDE WORKING THE STREAMLINERSBaker.$34
CATHEDRALS OF STEAM.(RossRail).locosheds 82’..$40
CLOSED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.VR Branches. 70’.$39
DAYS OF STEAM 1 or 2 Belbin NSWR.60’ each...$40
DIESEL REVIVAL. (Belbin).60’.......................... $40
FILM NIGHT:STEAM IN NSW (Belbin) 60’........ $40
FILMS FROM THE ARCHIVES. (JPowe). 70’.... $32
FORGOTTEN FILMS Aust Steam 40s & 50s (Belbin)..$40
FULL STEAM AHEAD II. NSWRTM 1994-2013......$25
HERITAGE STEAM IN NSW. (BrockVideo) 82’. $35
JUST AUSTRALIAN TRAINS. Nat Film&Sound.141’...$25
JUST PILBARA TRAINS 2013. Travers.100’.............$40
JUST QLD SUGAR TRAIN HIGHLIGHTS.140’.. $39
IN STEAM 5711.(Visions of Steam) 60’............ $32
MELBOURNE’S TRAMS (Highball) 80’ Blu-Ray............$38
MEMORIES OF A RAILFAN. NSWR ‘57-63.Powe.64’....$32
MOSS VALE TRAIN. Jim Powe. C38 footage.... $32
NSW IN STEAM 2013(Fotoz) 2-Disk set(215’)BR...$75
Rr PHANTOM STEAM. (T/P ArchiveRollingstock). 55’....$35
PIONEERS OF FILM. (Belbin) NSWGR .70’........ $40
POWER OF THE GARRATTS 1, 2 or 3 World.70’ ea .$40
PREMIER STATE C CLASS. (AC Video)140’..... $45
PUFFING BILLY RLY SUMMER OF 1988. (SteamArt)..$35
RAILMOTOR JOURNEYS OVER LOST VR LINES 47’ ..$35
RAILMOTORS ACROSS VICTORIA 50s-60s 104’ .$38
SIGHT & SOUND OF STEAM (Belbin) b&w 55’...$40
SINGLE DECK SUBURBAN or INTERURBAN 65’ ea.$20
SIXTIES IN STEAM-NSW.(C5).Films KAtkinson74’........$39
STEAM IN THE HUNTER. (RossRail). 60’ ...................$40
STEAM ACTION 3. AC Videos. 54/62’........................$35
STEAM HIGHLIGHTS.(Belbin).60’..................... $40
STEAM IN NSW Parts 1 & 2 Combo 126’ ..... $40
STEAM IN NSW Parts 3/4/5 (Ross Rail) each.$40
STEAM IN VICTORIA Part 3 (RRV) ................... $40
STEAM ON 16MM IN THE SIXTIES. NSWGR 50’....$35
STEAM TIMES 5. Aust & Overseas 50s to 70s... $38
SYDNEY’S COLORFUL TRAINS.(Hball)(2004)105’....$38
The ALEX GRUNBACH FILMS.’60s NSW Steam 57’......$40
The CENTRAL COAST LINE.Cowan/Newcastle BluR.$45
The GASLIGHT FILMS NORM WADESON(Vic)60’.......$30
The LAST FLYING BOATS. Ansett Norfolk Is Service..$35
The WAY IT WAS Vol 9. (Water Street) 53........ $44
TASMAINIAN RAILWAYS V1 74’. $40 V2....... $45
TAS RLWYS “TASRAIL’S” TR CLASS 74’. DVD.....$30
TRAINS AROUND ADELAIDE. Redhens V26 32’....$16
TRACKS IN SUN/DOWN ARD BEAUDESERTTwinPack $60
TRAIN TIME STH AUST. 1995 Vol1 113’......... $39
TRAIN TIME STH AUST. 2009 or 2010 70’ea.. $30
TRAIN TIME VICTORIA.1985/88or2010 70’ea.. $30
TRACKSIDE DVDS (Australia)
46, 85 & 86 CLASS ELECTRICS. 104’........... $36
ALCO’S C/M 636 CENTURY LOCOS. 104’.... $36
ALCO’S DL500&541.NSW44/45 SAR930/600 02’..$36
ALCO’S DL 500G. NSW 42/SAR700 101’..... $36
ALCO’S DL 531.NSW48/SAR830/STC 105’. $36
N BOTANY LINE 2017. 105’.....................................$36
BORAL’S MARULAN SOUTH OPERATIONS 100’..$36
CAB RIDES Pt1 442,48 & 80 Class 100’.........$36
CAB RIDES Pt2 G,T & 81 Class Western100’...$36
N CAB RIDES Pt3. Unique locations.100’...........$36
CLYDE GM 49 CLASS. 2 disks=143’..............$36
N CLYDE GM’S 81 CLASS Pt1 Early Years 159’.$36
CLYDE GM G CLASS. 101’.............................$36
N CLYDE GM N CLASS. 91’..............................$36
CLYDE GM T CLASS 101’or X CLASS. 104’.ea$36
CLYDE GM’S LATE BULLDOGS. 105’.............$36
CLYDE GM’S MODEL GT26C. 102’................$36
CLYDE GM’S MODEL J26C422,22&DC.136’.$36
N CLYDE/EMD’s MODEL J42C 82,GML,RClass.104’.$36
N CLYDE/EMD’s 90 CLASS. Model GT46CWM 104’.$36
COMENG ALCO’S CE615. NSW 80 Class140’.$36
COMENG’S XPT. 105’....................................$36
GONINAN’S 47 CLASS. 90’............................$36
GONINAN’S GL CLASS. CFCLA Rebuilt 442Cl100’.....$36
ILLAWARRA LINE P1 to Otford P2 (to Nowra) 82’ ea.....$36
MAIN SOUTH LINE Parts1,2,3,4,5or6 80’ea. $36
NATIONAL RAIL: The EARLY YEARS. 102’......$36
NATIONAL RAIL: The LATER YEARS. 92’........$36
NOHAB’S MZ CLASS. Danish Delights! 75’.......$36
NORTHERN COAL 2013 Pts 1, 2 ,3, 4 or 5 95’ ea.....$36
ORANGE to BROKEN HILL.1, 2 or 3 ea ............... $36
N PACIFIC NATIONAL: The EARLY YEARS 104’.$36
N PACIFIC NATIONAL: The LATER YEARS.122’.$36
QR NATIONAL STANDARD GAUGE (2disks)130’..$36
SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK.Bris. to Longreach 97’.$36
TRAINS IN TROUBLE 1, 2 or 3. 68’ea..................$36
The MAIN WEST LINE. Parts 1, 2 or 3. 58’ ea...$36
The NORTH COAST LINE. Parts 1 or 2. 58’ ea....$36
The SHORT NORTH Parts 1 or 2. 58’ ea............$36
The SOUTHERN LINE P2-MossVale/Goulburn90’...$48
WERRIS CREEK Parts 1, 2 or 3. 58’ each...... $36
WERRIS CREEK LINE REVIEW P1or2.95’each.. $36
UK DVD TITLES
925 CHELTENHAM SCHOOLS CL.Kingfisher 42’....$25
CARRY ON CLAGGING 7 (DVD) 93’..........................$47
BLUEBELL RLY into East Grinstead.(GWP)75’(BRay).$48
BLUEBELL RLY into East Grinstead.(GWP)75’(DVD)..$44
FFESTINIOG RAILWAY 2010.(GWP)80’(BluRay)...$39
N FIRST GBRF PROFILE (TeleRail) 65’. dvd..........$45
HOW TO DRIVE STEAM LOCOS (GWP) 60’.......$44
GLASGOW-LONDON PENDOLINO CAB RIDE.240’.$55
IN THE CAB Vol11 Marylebone to Birmingham. 96’...$60
MAINLINE STEAM 2012 V1or 2 (BluRay)150’....$50
MAINLINE STEAM 2013 V2 (BluRayonly)130’....$65
MAINLINE STEAM 2014 V1 (BluRayonly)135’....$60
MAINLINE STEAM 2014 V2 (Std&BluRay)135’... $58
MAINLINE STEAM 2015 V1$60 (Std&BluRay)140’....$60
MAINLINE STEAM 2015 V2 (BluRay) 140’.......$60
MAINLINE STEAM 2016 V1$60 (BluRay)160’....$55
MAINLINE STEAM 2016 V2$60 (BluRay)160’....$55
MAINLINE STEAM 2017 V1(Std&BluRay)140’....$54
MINIATURE RAILWAYS 2 (BluRay) GWP.90’..............$43
NARROW GAUGE STORY 2.(GWP) 120’............$44
PITS & POWER STATIONS Jon Marsh Cine 78’........$30
RAILWAY ROUND-UP.No.5 Kingfisher.120’...............$22
RAVENGLASS & ESKDALE RAILWAY.(GWP)95’(BR)...$19
RETURN OF A PACIFIC. 4472 Flying Scotsman.40’.$34
STEAM VIDEO #124 (TVP) (Std&BluRay)145’..................$32
STEAMING THROUGH WESSEX.Kingfisher. 90’.. $46
TALYLLYN RAILWAY 2014.(GWP)79’ (BluRay)...........$40
The GLORY DAYS OF STEAM. (1961-65) V174 90’.$42
The ROMNEY HYTHE & DYMCHURCH 2011105’BR..$32
The VALE RHEIDOL RAILWAY BR (BluRay) 95’..............$55
TRACKSIDE BRITAIN NORTHEAST (Hball)120’ BRay.......$33
TRACTION 2011 Pt 2 Locomaster 100’..........$39
TRACTION 2012 Pt 2 Locomaster 100’..........$36
WELSH HIGHLAND RLWY.360Interactivejourney.103’.$66
WELSH HIGHLAND RLWY.Completejourney.103’.$44
WELSH STEAM 2.Talyllyn Rlwy(Highball)100’... $40
VIDEO 125 ~ DRIVERS EYE VIEW
N ABERDEEN TO INVERNESS. 158’ DVD ........ $34
N BELFAST TO LONDONDERRY. 130’ DVD ..... $44
C2C Shoeburyness FenchuRCH (DVD) 116’...... $44
CENTRAL LINE (DVD).110’............................ $45
CONNEX EXPRESS (DVD) 52’.........................$23
COTSWOLDS & MALVERNS LINE.DVD$44.(Blu-ray).$54
N DEVON BRANCHES:Exmouth to Barnstaple.84’ DVD ..$45
N DEVON BRANCHES:Plymouth/Gunnislake.67’ DVD .....$45
DUBLIN TO CORK (DVD) 110’...............................$34
EAST COAST & MARCHLINK. 115’ (DVD)....... $44
EUROSTAR DRIVERS EYE VIEW DVD$40 (Blu-ray)..... $44
EXETER TO BASINGSTOKE. 131’.BR$54 DVD $44
HAMERSMITH & CIRCLE.98’ DVD$45 (Blu-ray)..$55
JUBILEE LINE. 85’ (DVD)............................................$35
LICKEY VOYAGER.107’ DVD............................$34
LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER. (DVD)................$39
MANCHESTER TO CLEETHORPES.DVD$44.(Blu-ray).$54
MARSILLE TO PARIS. 107’..................................$32
NORTH WALES COAST.Crewe/HolydDVD$44.(BR)..$54
PICCADILLY. 105’ London Tube...................... $34
READING TO WATERLOO. 76’ DVD $44 / BluRay .......$54
STRASBOURG to PARIS (also BluRay$35)103’..$39
The DOWN FISHGUARD. 118’ DVD................. $35
The FLYING SCOTSMAN.190’........................ $44
The ISLE OF WIGHT DRIVER’S VIEW$35/BR....$38
The JACOBITE. FtWilliam/Mallaig. DVD ....................$44
The ROYAL SCOT Parts 1& 2.189’......................$39
The WEST HIGHLAND. 96’ DVD...................... $34
The WESTERN CORRIDOR.155’ DVD $44 / BR....$54
The WIRRAL LINE. 100’ DVD.......................... $44
TGV ITALY FRANCE.Turin/Chambery.123’DVD $44 / BR..$54
THAMES BRANCHES. 72’ DVD $44 / BluRay .......$54
VICTORIA LINE. 110’ DVD............................. $34
WELSH MARCHES.Std & BluRay 115’............. $39
WEYMOUTH TO BRISTOL. 117’. DVD............ $44
FFESTINIOG RAILWAY UK
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE F&WHR 2013. (Bluray) $54
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE F&WHR 2013.DVD $50
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE F&WHR 2014 DVD...$50
A TRAVELLER’S VIEW OF THE FFESTINIOG RAILWAY
& THE WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY 105’(Bluray) $55
The WELSH HIGHLAND RLWY-A Traveller’s View.DVD.$30
HARBOUR STATION - The Whole Story146’(Bluray).$55
THE GREASERS’ EXPRESS 2011. 76’ (DVD)..............$35
LYD - A NEW LOCOMOTIVE 60’ (DVD).........................$35
QUARRYPOWER. 60’ (DVD)...............................................$35
OVP VIDEO ~ STEAM DRIVERS EYE VIEW
MAINLINE DIARY 2015. 120’ Bluray.................... $40
BORDERS RAILWAY. EdinburghTwe DVD/Bluray ......... $40
CLAN LINE SURREY HILLS DVD/Bluray............... $40
COTSWOLD MAINLINE. OxfordDVD/Bluray ........ $40
DUTCHESS OVER DEVON BANKS.DVD............. $40
EARL OF MOUNT EDGCUMBE.DVD/Bluray........ $40
NORTH WALES COAST LINE. DVD/Bluray.......... $40
WEST SOMMERSET RLWY.2016 DVD/Bluray.... $40
Z48 A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER.DVD/Bluray.....$40
2010 MIDWESTERN REVIEW HD (Greenfrog) 92’..$30
A TRIBUTE TO ILLINOIS CENTRAL (CVision) 100’......$35
RrACROSS ARIZONA P1 Needles/Williams (7idea) 108’.$36
RrACROSS ARIZONA P2 Williams/Lupton (7idea)89’..$36
ACROSS UTAH DESERT- UP GREEN RIVER DVD/BR $36
ALONG THE HUDSON DIVISION COMBO (Pentrex) .$44
ARKANSAS ALCOS. (Greg Scholl). 68’................$44
BEST OF 1991 (Pentrex) 120’............................$38
BNSF GALOPING THRU GALLUP (Highball) 105’..$39
BNSF”S NEW MEXICO Sub.(7idea). [std/bluray] 105’... $35
BNSF RAILWAY’S KOOTENAI Sub.(7idea).[DVD] 127’..$36
BNSF STAPLES EAST Bluray.CVision.120’...........$32
BY COAL VOLT & OIL (Yardgoat) 137’................$32
C420 ALCOS ON THE A&A&MISSOURI (Highball) 60’..$32
N CANADA’S FRASER CANYON (7idea).97’DVD/BR..$38
N CANADA’S THOMPSON CANYON (7idea) DVD/BR...$38
N CANADA’S YELLOWHEAD PASS. (7idea) DVD/BR.....$38
CAJON PASS (7idea).120’ DVD....................... $36
CINCY DIESELS.(Greg Scholl) 88’........................$44
CLASSIC TRAINS Galesburg/Cameron CVision.71’..$35
SpCOAL SMOKE OVER CUMBRES(Hball)[std/bluray]....$15
COLUMBIA RIV GORGE PtI UP [dvd)] (7idea)..........$36
COLUMBIA RIV GORGE Pt2 BNSF[dvd] (7idea)...........$32
DRESHLER OHIO-CSX CROSSROADS[bluray] GF... $36
EAST TO SPOKANE.BNSFLakeside DVD135’..........$33
GEARS IN THE WOODS Shays at Cass (Hball) 105’..$33
GUILDFORD ON THE B&M. (Highball) 105’ ..........$36
SpHOTSPOTS 20 DESHLER. [Highball) DVD] 70’........$10
SpHOTSPOTS 27 POINT OF ROCKS. [bluray] 100’...$15
HOTSPOTS 28 LOGAN HILL Sp 135’..........................$30
SpHOTSPOTS 29 DOLTON. (Highball) (std/bluray) 120’..$15
SpHOTSPOTS 31 BLUE ISLAND.(Highb)70’[bluray]..... $32
SpHOTSPOTS 32 BAYVIEW JUNC.(Highb)70’[bluray].. $19
ILLINOIS JOINT LINE (Highball) CSX/UP105’.......$44
INTO THE FEATHER RIVER CANYON (Idea) 110’..$28
JUICE ELECTRIC INTERURBAN FREIGHT SURVIVORS..$30
KICKING HORSE PASS (7idea) std/bluray) 94’.........$35
MIDWEST STEAM 2009 P1orP2 (Yardgt)ea.........$34
EUROPEAN (TICKET TO RIDE)
BTL16 SPRING 2013 - BluRay 80’..................$29
BTL17 SUMMER 2013- DVD. 65’...................$38
TTR119 Railways of SWEDEN Pt2 95’DVD/BRay.$40
TTH138 Railways of SWEDEN Pt3 DVD/BRay...$41
TTH139 Railways of SWEDEN Pt4 BRay.............$50
TTR141 RLYS OF HUNGARY Pt 1 DVD.............. $36
TTR148 OVER THE ALPS WITH MIGROS BluRay..$36
TTR150 LAST YRS OF OLD GOTTHRD PT2B/R..$45
TTR153 OUT & ABOUT BODENSEETBRay60’.$34
TTR161/162 RLYS CZECH REPUB Pt 1or2 (std/blu).$41
TTR170 CZECH REPUBLIC Pt 3 80’ (BluRay).80’...$39
TTR183 CZECH REPUBLIC Pt 5 OSTRAVA 80’.....$50
TTR190 Railways South Africa Pt1 BRay 60’........$47
TTR191 Railways South Africa Pt2DVD/BRay 60’.$47
TTR194 Joensuu to Simpele DVD/BRay 85’...$42
TTR195 Simpele to Kouvola BRay 90’...........$40
TTR196 Kouvola to Helsinki BRay 85’............$42
TTR 202 Railways of Czech Rep Pt6DVD/BRay 80’ $50
N 211 Malmo to Hassleeholm DVD 50’.............$45
N 212 Hassleeholm to Alvesta DVD 45’............$45
N 213 Alvesta to Linkoping DVD 98’.................$50
N 214 Linkoping to Stockholm DVD 98’................$118
N 224 Swiss Railways from Air P2 DVD 69’..........$45
N 225 Swiss Railways from Air P3 DVD/BRay 80’.$45
N 229 British Railways from Air P1 DVD 80’.......$45
BEVAN WALL DVDS/BLURAYS
DIESEL DIARY ARG IN NSW. 47’ DVD ............$39
DIESEL DIARY Vol 1, 2, 3 or 4.1993-97ea.$34
DIESEL DIARY Vol 22.................................$34
DIESEL DIARY Vol 23.or 24 85’ ................$34
DIESEL DIARY 44 Class FAREWELL 91’DVD .$39
DIESEL DIARY SSR. DVD $39 BR .....................$49
DIESEL DIARY DIESELS UNDER WIRES.DVD .. $39
N DIESEL DIARY HD V1, 2, 3 or 4.BRay ea....$50
DIESEL DIARY USA-Pt 3.Special Edit .108’..$50
N DIESEL DIARY USA-Pt 4.Special Edit.90’.....$49
DIESEL DY SIMPLY STREAMLINERS.DVD$39 BR .$49
DIESEL DIARY SPECIAL USA P1/2.DVD$39 /BR.$49
DIESEL DIARY. The 4168 Files. LVRFreight.60’ .$39
HD TRAINS BULLDOGS ON BLU_RAY.130’.$50
JUST NSW TRAINS. Travers.74’. DVD $30 /BRay.$35
JUST SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TRAINS.(HD) 72’... $29
JUST VICTORIAN TRAINS 2.73’... DVD$30BR $40
SINGLE DECK SURVIVORS.90sFarewell83’ .$39
STORIES OF STEAM HD V2 2005-15. 100’.... $50
STORIES OF STEAM HD V3 2006-12. 90’.... $49
STORIES OF STEAM V1,2,3 or 4 Remastered 92’ea.$39
STORIES OF STEAM V3 & 4.Remastered 86’.... $39
STORIES OF STEAM Vol 12 or 13. (Wall) 60’ea.$34
STORIES OF STEAM SPECIAL ED 38s P1or2. each.$39
STORIES OF STEAM SPECIAL ED 3830.DVD.......$39
STORIES OF STEAM SPECIAL ED 6029 DVD.......$39
STORIES OF STEAM SPECIAL NSW150th ..... $39
STORIES OF STEAM SPECIAL 38soverMountains ....$39
NTH AMERICAN DVD TITLES
MINNESOTA TRAIN ACTION V1CVision.DVD/BR.$25
MINNESOTA TRAIN ACTION V7 CVision DVD......$21
MINNESOTA TRAIN ACTION V9 CVision.DVD........$27
MRL MONTANA MAIN LINE Part 1( 7Idea)116’$36
MRL MONTANA MAIN LINE Part 2( 7Idea)124’$36
NORFOLK SOUTHERN Vol 5 GreenFrog 95’.........$28
NORFOLK SOUTHERN, RAILFANNING OHIO V1.$40
NORTHEAST INDIANA RAILS (Greenfrog) 142’....$40
NORTHEAST SAMPLER (Pentrex) 95’.................$25
NORTHERN MEXICO RAILS (Pentrex) 105’........$35
N NORTHWEST HERITAGE RLYS(7idea).[std/bluray] 24’..$40
NS HERITAGE FLEET VOL.1 [std/bluray]119’..... $40
PAN AM/NS PATRIOTCORRIDOR(Hball)$32/BluR $32
POWDER RIVER POWER (C-Vision) 85’.............$32
PRAIRIE COAL BNSF Jamestown Sub (Hball) 90’..$16
REFLECTIONS OF 70s & 80s steam (GreenFrog)82’.$27
ROGERS PASS(CPMountainSub)[std DVD7idea......$36
RUNNING THE HIGH LINE BNSF(Pentrex)107’...$35
SANTA FE ODYSSEY V.2 GF101’DVD$30/BluRay.$30
SOLDIER SUMMIT 7idea 131’ BluRay...................$36
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAIL JOURNAL 2008..$28
SOUTH BALTIMORE (MARC ‘92) (Highball). 60’.....$30
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL Assoc.4discset#1’.DVD.....$48
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL Assoc.4discset#2’.DVD.....$48
STEAM SPECIALS IN THE HEATLANDS(Yardgt)...$34
The BEST OF SOO Vol 1. (CVision) 100’...................$32
The FUNNEL(BNSFSpokaneSub)[std/bluray]7idea.....$36
The MOFFAT ROAD PART 1(7Idea Prod) 108’......$36
The POKEY-ELKHORN GRADE (Highball) 105’........$30
The RATHOLE (NS) (Highball) [std/bluray] 110’.........$37
The RATHOLE COMBO DFD (Pentrex) 148’............$32
The RETURN OF STAMPEDE PASS (MofI) 70’........$34
The SHASTA ROUTE (7Idea Prod) DVD 118’..........$36
The TRAINS OF LAFAYETTE DVD 90’...................$33
N The WASATCH GRADE UP (7Idea) 165’ DVD/BR.....$38
THROUGH OREGON CASCADES P1 (7Idea) 155’.$38
THROUGH OREGON CASCADES P2 (7Idea) 142’.$38
THRU SHADOW MT SHASTA (7Idea)155’DVD/BR... $38
TRAINS ACROSS THE MIDWEST V6.(CVision)109’.$32
UNION PACIFIC ODYSSEY V2 108’ DVD Set......$27
SpUNION PACIFIC’S ARIZONA MAINLINE 90’Blu Ray$16
N UNION PACIFIC 844 RETURNS (HB)70’ DVD/BR..... $55
UP’s CASCADE SUB Parts 1&2 (7idea) std 180’....$43
UTAH RLWY OVER SOLDIER SUMMIT.(Hball).102’...$45
WISCONSIN & SOUTHERN RRD V1 Northern....$35
WISCONSIN & SOUTHERN RRD V2 Southern....$35
WORLD DVDS
N AN AFFAIR WITH CONNIE. Constellation 50’... $40
AUSTRIAN EXPLORER. (TeleRail) 80’. dvd......... $45
N GERMAN EXPLORER. (TeleRail) 110’. dvd...... $45
N NEW ZEALAND EXPLORER. (TeleRail) 90’.dvd.$45
N SCOTTISH EXPLORER. (TeleRail) 90’. dvd...... $45
SWISS EXPLORER. (TeleRail) 80’. dvd................ $45
N TIBETAN EXPLORER. (TeleRail) 80’. dvd......... $45
BATTLEFIELD HEROS P1 Xingyang Brickworks rly 90’..$38
BATTLEFIELD HEROS P2 Yinghao coal rly 100’.............$38
CLOUDS RISING IN THE SKY. Nilgiri. 38’.........$20
SHIBANXI China coal rly. ((Highbl) (Bluray)140’...........$32
N STH AFRICAN RLWY ROUND.140’DVD$45BR $50
STEAM IN CUBA. (RossRail). 2012 footage. 47’.$30
STEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA.(RossRail).91’.....$40
NEW ZEALAND DVDS
ENGLISH ELECTRIC SWANSONG. electics..$15
NZGR Ka942 IN STEAM.(Fotoz).45’ ............$29
SpNZ RAILSCENE 71, 72 & 73, each...........$25
NZ RAILSCENE 75. Majik Video. 60’............$35
NZ RAILSCENE 78. Majik Video. 60’............$40
NZ RAILSCENE 85......................................$42
NZ RAILSCENE 89. Majik.Dec Q16 RM31.....$42
NZ RAILSCENE 90. Majik.Mar Q17 RM31.....$43
NZ RAILSCENE 91. Majik.Jun Q17 RM31.....$43
NNZ RAILSCENE 92. Majik.Sep Q17 RM31.....$43
New!
Track &
Signal
Diagrams
Version 4
More
plans &
diagrams
now on
USB drive
for both
Windows &
Mac.
Still only
$79*
FEBRUARY 2018
63

64 RAILWAY DIGEST