Calling all steam railway fanatics!

[robbotd5]

G'day all.
I have many passions/interests. Some include Motor vehicles, tropical fish keeping, caravanning. But one on my passions is defiantly steam locomotion. In all forms, road, rail, marine and stationary. It Facinates me to no end. These machines are really alive and have many charactoristics of living things. The breathe, snort, excreet water and at speed, sound like a racehorse at full gallop. Whenever I hear a whistle it stirrs emotion and has me running for the nearest vantage point to see the loco go past!. I particularly love the older engines such as the NSWGR 12 class 440 of the 1870's. I am currently looking very seriously into starting to make my first scale live steam model, an 040 tank. Love the ride on gauges, there next!!!
So who else on AULRO shares this obsession with steam and rail??? Love to hear from you!!!
Regards
Robbo

[dullbird]

I dont share the obsession but I live pretty much next to the thirlmere railway museum and I do love it when the train goes past on the weekend the the smoke fills my paddock when the wind is blowing the right way:D

does that count?:p

[isuzutoo-eh]

Well...my full time job involves designing and making model trains, so you could say I am up to my neck in the enthusiast side of railways... but i'm not much of a gunzel. On the desk in front of me is a trial laser cut of a wooden box car, a photoetched brass flat car that I'm having manufactured in S.E. Asia and some loco kits that I am upgrading for their owner.

This little fellow is looking over me at the moment:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/07/770.jpg
It was made in the late 60s I think, bet you can't identify the prototype...

Z12s are ok, i'm a sucker for a standard goods or 59, European style compound articulation or something with gears- the Shay, Climax, Prices, Johnstons et al.

Have a chat to Ernest at E & J Winter (EJWinter Catalogue - Home (http://www.ejwinter.com.au/)), they're up your way, before you build a loco let him talk you into building a stationary engine and boiler.

Wouldn't mind building a live steamer one day, 12":1' scale, 2' gauge ideally...

[strangy]

Grew up with my own 5 inch gauge track to play on that Dad had built:), Kids at school were quite envious.
A Rail Motor, 32 class (almost finnished), 56 Class, 57 Class (still in build) and a Simplex Tank Engine which my Grand Father built, are amongst the stable.
I reckon you are on the "right track" :D looking at a Tank engine for your first toy.

I thought Ernest had stopped building. So good to know he is still out there.

[87County]

I too find them fascinating and the Maitland Steamfest is an absolutely interesting and enjoyable weekend.

I recently spent a very interesting day with the owner? of all the locos and rolling stock at Dorrigo - now there is a real enthusiast...

Unfortunately the heritage rail enthusiasts are very concerned because the bean counters, the safety nannies and environmental do-gooders have recommended that the NSW Government cease all support of, and permission for, heritage rail activities -

I, for one, hope that they can continue, or we will only have the models (the models are interesting as well).

[Mick_Marsh]

Wouldn't mind building a live steamer one day, 12":1' scale
I know some people who are into train sets of that scale.
I've seen them run their trains round the track. It's fun.

[F4Phantom]

did anyone go to the steam museum open day on burwood hwy? good day out.

[robbotd5]

Thanks fellas very intereting, when I was a lad I used to volunteer at the Richmond vale railway on the weekends. Mainly helping laying track, carriage maintenance but I always loved going down to the engine shead the most. The only steam there at that time was a little 040 saddle tank called Marjorie. I got to know Ernie Winter during my time there so it would be good to reacquaint with him. I'm a fitter/turner by trade and a mill/drill and small lathe are on the wish list. Strangy, your living my dream!!!!
Regards
Robbo

[StephenF10]

Living in Goolwa, SA, I can sometimes hear the whistle of a Steamranger loco in one ear and the whistle of the Oscar W paddle steamer in the other.

Stephen.

[Mick_Marsh]

Living in Goolwa, SA, I can sometimes hear the whistle of a Steamranger loco in one ear and the whistle of the Oscar W paddle steamer in the other.

Stephen.So, will I see you on the "Red Hen" coming back from the fireworks at Victor very early 2013 or will you be at the local display on the wharf?

[StephenF10]

So, will I see you on the "Red Hen" coming back from the fireworks at Victor very early 2013 or will you be at the local display on the wharf?

Red Hen? :o Just looked at the Steamranger website and all (both) steamers are out of service! At least the Oscar is still puffing.

Anyway, I'll be in Adelaide :(

Stephen.

[Mick_Marsh]

Red Hen. They've got at least two. 412 and 428.
And the Brill.

[robbotd5]

Isuzutoo-eh, looks like a Tas Gov B class from 1885????
What gauge is it? I'd love a 7.25" railway in my yard but yard not big enough.
Regards
Robbo

[isuzutoo-eh]

Isuzutoo-eh, looks like a Tas Gov B class from 1885????
What gauge is it? I'd love a 7.25" railway in my yard but yard not big enough.
Regards
Robbo

Good guess, correct gauge but wrong island. Fairly close to an SAR D class too by memory. The model's gauge is 16.5mm. It isn't quite HO or OO scale though...

[JackH]

I was a fireman based at Everleigh in my younger years. I fired all types of engines based there...19 class, 30 and 30T, 32 class and everyone's favourite '3801'. Although it's many years since I was on the footplate I still love the sounds, sight and smell of a steam loco.

[shorty943]

Cut my teeth as a teenager on Admiralty Pattern boilers and Parsons turbines in the Navy.
Nothing compares to the power those turbines make, driving 50 thousand HP as a youngster put the love of silly mountains of power in me.

Really love the old recips though, and quite often do trips on PS Industry out of Renmark.

One good thing about steam power is the engines run at full HP right from idle, they just go faster and louder as you open more throttle.

[drivesafe]

I was a fireman based at Everleigh in my younger years.

Hi jack and I too spent some time at Eveleigh, in the last 3 years of steam, but I have to be honest, while I love watching them pass by but hell I hated working on them.

The largest I was qualified to fire was a pig.

And I fire my last steam engine in 1979, from the Creek to Broadmeadows, and I have no interest is firing another one.

My hat is off to anyone who has the patience to make one though.

[mox]

For those interested in technical aspects of steam locomotives, particularly regarding thermal efficiency, www.5at.co.uk (http://www.5at.co.uk) is a very interesting site. It was originally set up as a project to build a new steam locomotive incorporating developments that have been made since around 1950 but have so far only been used as modifications on existing engines. If the work of engineers Andre Chapelon and L D Porta had been taken up and continued further earlier, there obviously would not have been such a rush to replace steam with diesel electrics as a cost saving measure. It seems if a bit more development work is done there is potential for commercial use of steam locomotives using low cost fuels and with relatively low maintenence requirements compared with "classic steam"

[JackH]

Hi jack and I too spent some time at Eveleigh, in the last 3 years of steam, but I have to be honest, while I love watching them pass by but hell I hated working on them.

The largest I was qualified to fire was a pig.

Yeah I fired a pig as well but my favourite was the 'P' class, they were so easy to work on. It was a dirty job with terrible hours but I'd still like to fire one again. I left Everleigh in early 1968

[robbotd5]

Thanks Shorty943. Yep, marine steam is awesome. The size and power produced is amazing. Would have loved to see the recips on the "Olympic" class liners ie Titanic, 40000hp a piece. With a 50000Hp Parsons turbine in between them. On a recent trip to Victoria, we visited Echuca and had the pleasure of a cruise on the PS Canberra, that is powered by a wonderful wood fired Marshall compound. Watching it work was something I won't forget. Did not see much of the Murray though!!!!
Regards
Robbo

[robbotd5]

Jack, talking P class, 3237 has been fairly active lately making trips on the north coast line. Awesome clips on YouTube.
Regards
Robbo

[zedcars]

Ah ha Steam Locos.
Here in Denver during the summer the Union Pacific shows off its steam loco stock housed in Cheyenne Wyoming.
Running the 100 odd miles from Denver to Cheyenne it take rodeo passengers up to Wyoming for Frontier Days a two week western festival.

Here's one running lst year in Nunn Colorado.
UP 844 Nunn to Carr, Co - 2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train - YouTube

If you can't get enough of UP 844 here she is again.
Union Pacific 844 - 2012 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train - YouTube
By the way Federal horn whistle blowing regs--Two longs one short and a long as you go over the grade crossing.

If you are interested in that biplane then look no further:-
Colorado to Dayton Ohio for a biplane festival fly in!
Enjoy:-
Vintage Aero Flying Museum: Dayton 2009 - YouTube
See below the farms and hamlets of eastern Colorado
Dennis

[zedcars]

I know this is NOT steam, but I have to have a chuckle at this.
3TE 10U - smoking - YouTube

If there's a bloke in the pusher unit he must be coughing:twisted: his guts up in that tunnel!
Dennis
zedcars
Talk about carbon emissions!:o

[alien]

did anyone go to the steam museum open day on burwood hwy? good day out.
Missed the big one they had recently:(
We also gave up on the Lake Goldsmith 100th rally due to the que and time:mad:
But few of us got over there for a day out 2 years ago:)
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/victorian-reports/114060-vic-melbourne-scoresby-social-steam-off-day-sunday-26-sept-10-a.html?highlight=gully

There is talk of Lake Goldsmith in May next year as a forum trip.

[Ausfree]

Thought I would show a few piccies of the last Steamfest at Maitland, the bride and I went on the "Great Train Race" from Maitland to Newcastle and back. It was a race with two steam loco's on parallel tracks racing against a Tiger Moth plane. The plane was knobbled in as much as it had too do loops in the sky to make the race more even, any way here are a few photo's from the day, which we enjoyed very much.:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/35.jpg
This is "our" engine changing ends at Newcastle before returning to Maitland.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/36.jpg

Our opposition Loco, the sights sounds and smell of steam was great.:D I'm hanging out of the carriage window as far as I'm game to get this shot.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/37.jpg

The Tiger moth we were racing against.I was only using a compact camera so please excuse the blurriness.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/38.jpg

Taken at Newcastle station.The loco is running down to the other end of the carriage set.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/39.jpg

A close up of "our" loco. That's Mrs Aus hogging the photo!!:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/40.jpg

Even had small scale loco's at Steam Fest.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/41.jpg

Another view of "our" train at Newcastle Station.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/42.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/43.jpg

Other steam engines at the Steam Fest, we had a great day and hope to go back next year.

Finally I have been hearing of the Politicians and their plans to stop steam loco's from travelling on the main lines on special occasions, that would be tragedy and I certainly hope the idea does not get off the ground.

[Disco44]

Ah ha Steam Locos.
Here in Denver during the summer the Union Pacific shows off its steam loco stock housed in Cheyenne Wyoming.
Running the 100 odd miles from Denver to Cheyenne it take rodeo passengers up to Wyoming for Frontier Days a two week western festival.

Here's one running lst year in Nunn Colorado.
UP 844 Nunn to Carr, Co - 2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap0Itv2bIBA)

If you can't get enough of UP 844 here she is again.
Union Pacific 844 - 2012 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhbCQ85nYNM)
By the way Federal horn whistle blowing regs--Two longs one short and a long as you go over the grade crossing.

If you are interested in that biplane then look no further:-
Colorado to Dayton Ohio for a biplane festival fly in!
Enjoy:-
Vintage Aero Flying Museum: Dayton 2009 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBR4ivfTCY)
See below the farms and hamlets of eastern Colorado
Dennis
There have enough motive power on it two diesels and a steamer.
Cheers,John.

[zedcars]

John
I have a mate who is a conductor for the UP on coal trains.
Apparently the two diesels are there just in case the steamer takes a dump on the main line.
Talk about confidence!!! But the UP is a commercial railway so I suppose having the tracks open for freight revenue comes first.

Anyway on the other more scenic Colorado mountain railway lines, there is the narrow gauge stuff and NO diesel back ups!
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad "Winter photo special train" - YouTube

Then if you are into the "unorfadox" there's the Shay locomotives about 40 miles west of me in Georgetown.
Shay on the Devil's.
Dennis

[Bigbjorn]

Ah ha Steam Locos.
Here in Denver during the summer the Union Pacific shows off its steam loco stock housed in Cheyenne Wyoming.
Running the 100 odd miles from Denver to Cheyenne it take rodeo passengers up to Wyoming for Frontier Days a two week western festival.

Here's one running lst year in Nunn Colorado.
UP 844 Nunn to Carr, Co - 2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap0Itv2bIBA)

If you can't get enough of UP 844 here she is again.
Union Pacific 844 - 2012 Cheyenne Frontier Days Train - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhbCQ85nYNM)
By the way Federal horn whistle blowing regs--Two longs one short and a long as you go over the grade crossing.

If you are interested in that biplane then look no further:-
Colorado to Dayton Ohio for a biplane festival fly in!
Enjoy:-
Vintage Aero Flying Museum: Dayton 2009 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBR4ivfTCY)
See below the farms and hamlets of eastern Colorado
Dennis

That is one big mother locomotive. Yanks ran much bigger steam gear than we did here.

When do they run this? I like riding in trains and will be back in the US in May 2013 and August-September 2013. Love to do a Rocky Mountain trip in a big steamer. Likewise would love to do the Durango & Silverton.

I wondered about the constant whistle blowing. I had three trips on Amtrak last year and on the East Coast in populated areas the bloody whistle seemd like it was going non-stop. Lancaster-Philly-NYC and NYC-Washington Union Station. Not so going over the Sierra Nevada, Sacramento-Reno.

Yanks built fancy railway stations. Union Station in Los Angeles, Penn & Grand Central in NYC and Union Station in Washington were real eye openers to an Aussie more familiar with QGR & NSWGR modest efforts.

[justinc]

dennis, thanks for those vids! at 4:17 in the first one the wheel spin is crazy:D

gotta love steam:)


jc

[justinc]

Gauge One Live Steam Volume 6 part 1 (HD) - YouTube

this is amazing, hand built from scratch apparently:o


jc

[zedcars]

That is one big mother locomotive. Yanks ran much bigger steam gear than we did here.

When do they run this? I like riding in trains and will be back in the US in May 2013 and August-September 2013. Love to do a Rocky Mountain trip in a big steamer. Likewise would love to do the Durango & Silverton.

I wondered about the constant whistle blowing. I had three trips on Amtrak last year and on the East Coast in populated areas the bloody whistle seemd like it was going non-stop. Lancaster-Philly-NYC and NYC-Washington Union Station. Not so going over the Sierra Nevada, Sacramento-Reno.

Yanks built fancy railway stations. Union Station in Los Angeles, Penn & Grand Central in NYC and Union Station in Washington were real eye openers to an Aussie more familiar with QGR & NSWGR modest efforts.


Brian mate
Here's the Cheyenne Frontier days schedule:-
Cheyenne Frontier Days (http://www.cfdrodeo.com/rodeo/event/518)

The Durango and Silverton is open year round, the Georgetown loop is seasonal.

There is the museum Council Bluffs/Omaha area:-
UPRR Museum (http://www.uprrmuseum.org/)

Yes they (Yanks) were into giant locomotives even the wheels are wider to support the weight, still standard gauge as UK/British design hence Brit train will run on Yank tracks but not "vickey verkey" they will get caught up in the the switches or points are they are called.

As to the whistle blowing regulations there is a whole train language in the US so far as Fed regs are concerned. If you are running opposite the normal flow and different series of blows are required , it alerts track repair crews etc.
Down the east coast as you traveled the denser population and city ordinances demand extra whistle blowing and speeds when going over grade crossings and open areas.
How do I know all this you might ask?
Well back in the 90's I got sent by British Leyland to support a Railbus project and I actually drove a train on US tracks all the way down the east coast and up to Cleveland Ohio . You might say I am one of a few Brits who has legally driven a train in the US on Fed real tracks.
For that I had to pass a federal exam on train operation for operators or engineers as they are called over here.

Here it is now in a preservation line/club back in the UK:-
Leyland National Railbus (http://www.wtht.co.uk/railways/railbus/bre_railbus.htm)

For a feast of reciprocating valve gear what about this monster:-
UP 3985 70mph Highball @ PineBluffs in HD - YouTube
Cheers Dennis

[drivesafe]

Bit off subject but I found this while looking for some old 38 class pics.

This is at Cook in 1973, sorry about the quality.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1156.jpg

[Disco44]

There is a DVD available here in Oz which depicts NSWG loco 3801 and another ( I cannot remember it's class or number) going from Sydney to Perth for the 1970 bicentennial of Cook's discovery of Australia.The two steamers pulled it to Broken Hill where one diesel was hooked on for the rest of the trip to Perth.Coal and water were shipped to sidings that serviced steam in the glory days .The section from Port Augusta (SA) across the Nullarbor to Perth (WA) has the longest straight stretch of railway in the world...396 miles as straight as a gun barrel and don't all steamers and diesels get along on it.

[Bigbjorn]

Here it is now in a preservation line/club back in the UK:-
Leyland National Railbus (http://www.wtht.co.uk/railways/railbus/bre_railbus.htm)

Cheers Dennis

Brisbane City Council bought seven (I think) Leyland National buses about 1975. The last Leyland buses they bought. Rarely bought anything else before. They were powered by the Headless Horror 500 series engine and had Eaton diffs. These were very troublesome units seemingly spending more time in our service division than out on the routes. I saw one in East Brisbane one morning on the way to work. I commented to the service manager that he should have a stocktake as one of the Nationals had escaped from his workshop overnight.

[drivesafe]

Hi Disco44, the there is real ironic twist to this thread.

In 1969, the yanks were planning to run a steam special across the USA at part of the Gold Spike Centennial celebrations.

BUT, UP had just taken delivery of their DDA40X, 6600Hp Diesel Electric monster and decided to haul part of the special trains journey with one of their new 6900 class, the Centennial D/E loco.

Had the trip been steam hauled all the way, it would have been the long steam hauled journey in history.

In 1970, the 38s got that distinction when they ran from Sydney to perth, but if UP hadn’t been so keen to show off their new diesel, they would have still held the record, by about 400 Kms.

So the steam videos above with the Centennial D/E in them is a twist on fate.

BTW, does anybody know if the 38s still hold that record?

[robbotd5]

Gauge One Live Steam Volume 6 part 1 (HD) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqw2aQWA0VE)

this is amazing, hand built from scratch apparently:o


jc

Thanks JC, wow what a backyard!!! Notice the 5" track as well? Awesome. England is the place for steam. Ps: when I figure out how to post pics I will send you some of my 1800S.
Regards
Robbo

[zedcars]

Brisbane City Council bought seven (I think) Leyland National buses about 1975. The last Leyland buses they bought. Rarely bought anything else before. They were powered by the Headless Horror 500 series engine and had Eaton diffs. These were very troublesome units seemingly spending more time in our service division than out on the routes. I saw one in East Brisbane one morning on the way to work. I commented to the service manager that he should have a stocktake as one of the Nationals had escaped from his workshop overnight.


Brian
A bit off topic this but:-
The Leyland National AND yes the headless horror!!
It got better with the MK2 version with the 680 engine. But only just!
The body was a marvel its saving grace, and very easy to fix in a collision being riveted together.

I got a job with Metro de Caracas when Leyland went phutt as a rehab contractor. I spent 8 years in Venezuela thanks to The National and converted it with a DAF engine and ZF gearbox. In fact I did a major rehab of the whole bus itself and the large derelict fleet got back re-introduced into service feeding the new subway underground city system. I would have stayed if it wasn't for the arrival of Chavez, I saw the writing on the wall before it got written!
So I drifted up here!

I had 136 Latinos working for me at one time , lots of funny blokes from all walks of life as undocumented illegal immigrants.
Here's one of my renditions relegated now to a driver training bus after having done a second stint as a commuter fleet:-
Metrobus Caracas 967 por Edgardo Gonzlez - Caracas-Distrito Capital - Venebuses.com (http://venebuses.com/foto/5186/)
Cheers Dennis

[zedcars]

There is a DVD available here in Oz which depicts NSWG loco 3801 and another ( I cannot remember it's class or number) going from Sydney to Perth for the 1970 bicentennial of Cook's discovery of Australia.The two steamers pulled it to Broken Hill where one diesel was hooked on for the rest of the trip to Perth.Coal and water were shipped to sidings that serviced steam in the glory days .The section from Port Augusta (SA) across the Nullarbor to Perth (WA) has the longest straight stretch of railway in the world...396 miles as straight as a gun barrel and don't all steamers and diesels get along on it.


For info a few years ago our local public TV station aired a few weeks worth of programs about rail in Australia. They focused in not only on the high speed modern stuff like the Ghan and the Indian Pacific but also the smaller preservation lines and the live steamer stuff.

I have a strong feeling that the DVD you mentioned formed part of it!
It was very popular with the locals who are steam train mad here, it did three repeats by popular request.
I have a railway museum just a few miles form my workshop/business:-\
http://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/
Dennis

[Bigbjorn]

Brian
A bit off topic this but:-
The Leyland National AND yes the headless horror!!
It got better with the MK2 version with the 680 engine. But only just!
The body was a marvel its saving grace, and very easy to fix in a collision being riveted together.

Cheers Dennis

Ours had exterior panels glued on to a skeleton frame with some special super glue. Our shop foreman used to keep the glue in his office safe only to be used by assemblers under close supervision. This was after taking assemblers and attached panel on two separate occasions to the PA Hospital in the back of the workshop ute to have said assemblers surgically separated from the panel.

The Nationals were Headless Horror, homosexual gearbox and Eaton diff. The diffs didn't give trouble. About the only part of the bus that didn't. I am sure their performance helped council to make the decision to buy Volvo and MAN in the next round of tenders. Interestingly, Volvo's mechanics couldn't handle the homosexual gearbox and would send them down the road to Leyland for any necessary work. All mechanics hated the box with a passion.

[zedcars]

Brian
To understand some of the Leyland shortcomings you have to look at the roots of some product lines.

The Leyland National was built for the UK market--The National Bus Corp of which Leyland was a major shareholder. It sold like hot cakes under the National Bus subsidies from Central Gov for UK bus authorities.
Then there was the biggest order Leyland had in one go! The first order of 1000 units to Venezuela and then Trinidad & Tobago in the WI.
To make them cool, they simply increased the fan speed by 30%, forget the U pattern cooling air flow which has a serious recirculation defect at 75kph!

There was a culture of arrogance within the company, simply that if it worked in the UK, then it must work in every place in the world!
Australia was a good choice/place to sell them, you blokes drive on the same side of the road right.
Forget the heat, forget the climatic conditions, Brizzy is like London area on a warm day! Isn't it?
If they moan give 'em cake, British fruit cake of course:D
Just sling it out there and resolve problems as they arise was the mentality!

I had the same with the Olympians in San Francisco, the Atlanteans in Baghdad and let's not mention the trucks 'cept for a funny!

The only time I have been Down Under was to Sidney for the launch of the Power Plus Series--oopdie doo! Another truck line made for the UK market
With the same headless horror, we had the Bison, the Bear, the Buffalo etc etc all different truck configs.

Having flown non stop from London I was like death warmed up when I landed going straight to this Sydney auditorium for the launch of the trucks in Australia.

Morton the chief sales director guy was on the podium and was flashing up big projected pictures of the model range on wall screens in front of the hoi-po-loy of the Oz trucking world in the front, and the diggers from the Northern Territories and Queensland up the back with the beards and corks.

Saying "Well ladies and gentlemen in true Leyland tradition we are naming the truck range after animals the Bison, the Bear , the .Buffalo".........when a voice booms out from the back of the circle upstairs------In best Auzzie voice !

"Hey Mr Swift if they are so good as you say they are mate----- then you ought to call one a flaming fluke!:D

It brought the house down, we all burst out laughing--even poor old Moreton!:D:eek:
Simply because as usual Leyland trucks didn't work too well "Down Under" the conditions are a bit arduous and the abrasive DUST like talcum powder --I won't mention that!, they must be some equivalent in the UK!!! I can almost hear them saying in in the directors wing!

Anyway a few weeks alter I passed Moreton in the main office in Spurrier works--I had to blurt out Hey mate seen any good flukes lately!:D
Dennis

[Bigbjorn]

I was Wholesale Manager at Leyland Truck & Bus, Brisbane from 1973-76. Our sales area was about a quarter of Australia. Patronising and arrogant describes the pommie management. Father knows best and ignorant colonials know nothing.

We tried to get them to rescue the Land Rover business by making the obvious and urgently needed improvements to compete with Toyota and Nissan. Enough horsepower to cruise comfortably at 70 mph, decent seats, reliable electrics, axles that didn't break.

Leyland had lost the heavy truck business to the American brands. This could have been rectified by going to US power trains which are available off the shelf and cabs that didn't crack up and fall off. We asked for a 400 horsepower prime mover right now, not in ten years. The stunning answer was that no truck needed 400 hp. We wanted a line haul prime mover that could cruise at 60mph grossing 45 tons or at 55mph pulling a double. We got the Crusader, Buffalo, and the bloody useless Marathon with a 290 Cummins. Mind you, the launch party for the Crusader was a bloody ball tearer. Talk about over catered. We were still drinking the special bottling of Crusader Champagne two years later.

We were used to doing local engineering to rectify the glaringly obvious design stupidities like small oil bath air cleaners. We were not alone. The Scania distributors had lots of trouble and took years getting the Swedes to understand about Donaldson air cleaners and bull bars.

The bloke who called out the fluke comment might have been the one at the launch of Volvos with their then new 16 litre engine. After getting a spiel about the engine's development and that it took sixteen years, someone in the crowd called out "Just as well it's not 20 litres."

[VK3UTE]

G'day All. I stumbled across this thread and thought you might be interested in the project I have been working on for a while now, 12 years actually...

She is an 040 tank loco, 7 and a 1/4 Gauge called Hercules.

With the following
> Steel Briggs boiler
> 11 liter capacity
> 18 number 5/8 diameter fire tubes
> 2 injectors for boiler water feed (yet to be made)
> 2" diameter pistons
> Slide valves
> Walschaerts valve gear
> 1150 hours spent to date on its construction
> All the rivets are real! 3 months it took to do the water tanks in my spare time
> Raw casting were used for the wheels and cylinders, all other parts were made from scratch

If I was to do one again I would build something bigger, I found the smaller work quite difficult. There is the same amount of work if its a 3 and 1/2 inch Gauge or a 12 inch Gauge loco and with a 12 inch model you can by the plumbing fittings from Reece! Making plumbing unions 1/4 inch and 40 TPI is a pain, not to mention tapping 12BA threads...

It takes 5% skills and 95% motivation to make something like this, and the motivation is hard to find some times. You just have to make each piece, celebrate and go on to the next:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1138.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1139.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1140.jpg

Boiler plates in construction
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1141.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1142.jpg

Cheers Simon

[Bigbjorn]

G'day All. I stumbled across this thread and thought you might be interested in the project I have been working on for a while now, 12 years actually...

She is an 040 tank loco, 7 and a 1/4 Gauge called Hercules.

With the following
> Steel Briggs boiler
> 11 liter capacity
> 18 number 5/8 diameter fire tubes
> 2 injectors for boiler water feed (yet to be made)
> 2" diameter pistons
> Slide valves
> Walschaerts valve gear
> 1150 hours spent to date on its construction
> All the rivets are real! 3 months it took to do the water tanks in my spare time
> Raw casting were used for the wheels and cylinders, all other parts were made from scratch

If I was to do one again I would build something bigger, I found the smaller work quite difficult. There is the same amount of work if its a 3 and 1/2 inch Gauge or a 12 inch Gauge loco and with a 12 inch model you can by the plumbing fittings from Reece! Making plumbing unions 1/4 inch and 40 TPI is a pain, not to mention tapping 12BA threads...

It takes 5% skills and 95% motivation to make something like this, and the motivation is hard to find some times. You just have to make each piece, celebrate and go on to the next:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1138.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1139.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1140.jpg

Boiler plates in construction
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1141.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/12/1142.jpg

Cheers Simon

I stock 1/4" x 40 taps and dies. The fuel needle in pre-war Schebler carburettors on US motor cycles is one usage. Bruce Gardner, B.S.F. Bolts in Melbourne has a full range of BA taps and dies including some left hand. He also has BSF, BSC, BA nuts and bolts.

[robbotd5]

VK3UTE.
That is a great looking loco Simon, very envious!!! Very similar to the engine that I am going to build first. From the book " Steam trains in your garden". Now all I have to do is convince the minister for war and finance to let me buy a lathe and a mill/drill!!!!
Regards
Robbo

[VK3UTE]

Thanks Robbo.

Have a look on line at the Simplex designs, they are an 060 but you can get heaps of casting which saves on machining time. The cylinders and wheels I used are from the simplex. Good machinery will last a life time if looked after so it's worth the investment! (Handy for working on the landy too)
I must finish it soon, I haven't done a thing on it for two years;) having kids slowed things down. I recon I have about 300 hours to go, she runs on compressed air so just the plumbing, firebox, boiler lagging and paint to go...


Cheers Simon.

[zedcars]

Simon
Very impressive and I can see a labour of love in the making!

You know you steam model engineers have a lot to answer for!

Going way back when growing up in England, I was about 8 years old when I accompanied a boy in the same street to go down town on the bus to buy some butter. To save on the bus fare given to us we decided to walk the 5 miles home. On the way we passed the local swimming baths who were running a model engineering exhibition, it was a Saturday afternoon.
Being snot nosed kids we scrounged our way in for free!

Once inside looking at the live steam exhibits I was hooked, totally mesmerized in fact. I got talking to this guy who had made from scratch a scale replica of an early US locomotive like this.
1855 by Rogers & Ketchum Loco Works:-

Locomotive General Civil War Museum Interactive Tour – Frequently Asked Questions! (http://www.locomotivegeneral.com/faq.html)
There it was all steamed up and running on an indoor track, bloody marvelous!

Then another of the Flying Scotsman running on rollers! Very impressive!
From then on I was hooked on things mechanical we stayed there until we were booted out.

We both got home in the dark, the local cops were looking for us reported as lost and the butter had melted into my friend's pocket--but we had fun!

From then on it was the magazine the Model Engineer I got every month, instead of the Eagle comic and tales of British daring do!

Years later working for a local authority I even passed my road roller test (Class 8) using the County owned preserved Aveling Porter steam roller in Bourton on the Water in my native Gloucestershire.

Years roll on, married and living in Colorado, I take my American wife and young kids over to England staying with my brother who lives near Frampton upon Severn.
After a late Sunday morning in the pub I borrowed a bike to pedal off a guts full of beer. With the promise that I would be back for an extended family visit to a steam fair on the village green.

Wending my way down the back lanes I came came across a bloke with a Burrell traction engine stalled in the road; the owner had lost his head of steam.
Taking a look I said Oh your fire's all to cock mate!--"here lets have a go"! After some shoveling and raking! & after a "few", we got some steam. I bunged the bike on the tender, and being properly licensed we set off for the steam fair--totally forgetting my family commitments!

As we approached to fair site, I then saw my wife and kids on the side of the road--Crikey I had totally forgotten them!
My eldest daughter who was about 4 at the time spotted me first ,"Hey there's pappy", waving frantically!
I could see my brother and his missus totally gob smacked, and lip reading I could make out "what the---are you up to"?:angel::D

My missus of course just shook her head as if to say I'm married to a crazy Limey waddah yah expect!:D
Nah luv steam power its infectious!;)
Dennis
zedcars

[Bigbjorn]

One of my customers is building this. The photos were taken in 2005. It is now almost finished. It is a South Australian Railways main line loco and the builder says it was the biggest one they used. He was apprenticed to SAR as a toolmaker in the 1930's. He is but a boy of 94.

Workmanship is immaculate. He did full scale drawings before starting and these are works of art.

Another customer had two 7.25" gauge locos but had a busy job and a young family then and not enough time to play with the locos. He sold them and I was quite staggered at the price obtained.

He then commenced building a 15" gauge loco like your "General", an American Wild West woodburner.

Twenty-five years later he is retired and lives on 40 acres near Beaudesert. The loco is almost finished. He has acquired a big heap of ex sugar mill tramline and is going to have his own track to run his loco on. No worries about club officials and infighting.

[zedcars]

Brian
I like his workmanship and the boiler?? WOW!
Very nice!
These skills are disappearing, and most of the young guys I employ don't even have an iota of an idea what is involved in learning skills like this.
Love to meet that bloke, I admire old school skill and endeavor.
Thanks for posting that.
Really nice!

For more relevant info as I have a "remaining foot" in South America there has been a bit of a revival of steam down there.
Equador not short of an idea to generate tourist revenue, has revived its old Yankee locomotives for trips up the Andean Cordillera. The President re-inaugurate one such system recently and so did Morales of Bolivia.
I rode the one in Equador up the Devils Nose not so long ago.

Now I read that Peru is doing the same to get to the Matchu Pitchu. So is Costa Rica from San Jose to the Pacific Coast.
(Note the ingenious way of stair stepping up to the summit of the Nariz de Diablo .)
Tren al Cielo 2010 (ECUADOR) - YouTube

Dennis

[V8Ian]

(Note the ingenious way of stair stepping up to the summit of the Nariz de Diablo .)
Tren al Cielo 2010 (ECUADOR) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyYQla_JdaE&lc=3Tjjv5Ls-8GfcgOIPAsyNHkB0MgMSAq2_NLcRFlkoJA)

Dennis
The same system is used on the Zig Zag Railway in the Blue Mountains.

Zig Zag Railway - Blue Mountains Premier Tourist Attraction (http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/)

[zedcars]

Ian
Thanks for the link.
I took a look at it and see that the system is shut down by the ITSR.

ITSR????!!!!!
I had to take a look being a curious bod!~
Zig Zag Railways heading off the tracks - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-05/zig-zag-railways-goes-off-the-tracks/4053536)
Found this.
It sort of mirrors what went on recently with a preservation line near me in Georgetown.

We forget at time that it costs a huge amount of money to run an Old Tymer system not to mention the skill levels required for maintenance. And I won't mention boiler certification!

Getting public sponsorship and rider revenue is a dance act and if the public interest doesn't get you the operating regulations and government will.

This brings me to the saga concerning the Natchez.
A fine old rera paddle steamer that had run/plied a route up the Mississippi and a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike.
Save the Delta Queen Part 1 - YouTube
Save the Delta Queen Part 2 - YouTube

Take a look,
Dennis

[Disco44]

One of my customers is building this. The photos were taken in 2005. It is now almost finished. It is a South Australian Railways main line loco and the builder says it was the biggest one they used. He was apprenticed to SAR as a toolmaker in the 1930's. He is but a boy of 94.

Workmanship is immaculate. He did full scale drawings before starting and these are works of art.

Another customer had two 7.25" gauge locos but had a busy job and a young family then and not enough time to play with the locos. He sold them and I was quite staggered at the price obtained.

He then commenced building a 15" gauge loco like your "General", an American Wild West woodburner.

Twenty-five years later he is retired and lives on 40 acres near Beaudesert. The loco is almost finished. He has acquired a big heap of ex sugar mill tramline and is going to have his own track to run his loco on. No worries about club officials and infighting.

When I was in the Queensland Fire & Rescue Service I was a platoon commander in the station in the station that had in its area the Redbank Railway Workshops.In that precinct was the the Old QGR Pattern Shop. I had many alarm there thankfully only false ones but we still had to go.One night while going through the shop with the Security Guard I asked if the patterns were ever used ,he said not to his knowledge as all the tradesmen now were retired and young apprentices were not taught steam engines.That's a shame maybe something is being passed down at the Old Ipswich Workshops which is now a rail museum as they have a string of restored Old Locos.

[Disco44]

Brian
I like his workmanship and the boiler?? WOW!
Very nice!
These skills are disappearing, and most of the young guys I employ don't even have an iota of an idea what is involved in learning skills like this.
Love to meet that bloke, I admire old school skill and endeavor.
Thanks for posting that.
Really nice!

For more relevant info as I have a "remaining foot" in South America there has been a bit of a revival of steam down there.
Equador not short of an idea to generate tourist revenue, has revived its old Yankee locomotives for trips up the Andean Cordillera. The President re-inaugurate one such system recently and so did Morales of Bolivia.
I rode the one in Equador up the Devils Nose not so long ago.

Now I read that Peru is doing the same to get to the Matchu Pitchu. So is Costa Rica from San Jose to the Pacific Coast.
(Note the ingenious way of stair stepping up to the summit of the Nariz de Diablo .)
Tren al Cielo 2010 (ECUADOR) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyYQla_JdaE&lc=3Tjjv5Ls-8GfcgOIPAsyNHkB0MgMSAq2_NLcRFlkoJA)

Dennis

Thanks Dennis what a bloody great tape.

[Disco44]

VK3UTE.
That is a great looking loco Simon, very envious!!! Very similar to the engine that I am going to build first. From the book " Steam trains in your garden". Now all I have to do is convince the minister for war and finance to let me buy a lathe and a mill/drill!!!!
Regards
Robbo

You are just a wee bit late Robbo.When they closed the Old Ipswich Railway Workshops a few years back they DE-commissioned the Tool and Machine Shop and sold off all the old English built lathes etc.They went for a song .My mate bought a monstrous lathe made in Birmingham for a song , Two Grand. in perfect working order. All the stuff went that cheap crazy wasn't it.
John.

[forester_neil]

Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club opens on the weekends, and has a running day on the last Sunday of each month. The September running day (the one you have photos of) is usually pretty good as the club tends to run it as an inter-club event rather than for just for general public.

At the moment, most engines are being prepared and pulled down for their annual inspection so they won't be run again until the new year (December is pretty quiet, and fire restrictions can limit the engines that can be used, so its a good time to get this work done)

The MSTEC Rally (Steamfest) on the March long weekend in 2013 should be a fantastic event - it's the club's 50th birthday, so a special effort is being made, and engines seem to be coming from near and far!

If there's a bit of interest, I'm sure I could organise a bit of a "drive-it/steam training" day, but numbers would have to be a bit limited depending on whether you just want a bit of a drive, or learn how to run these old engines. Either way, I'm sure we could work it out! Sunday February 24 might be a good day...the rally gets a bit too busy to do this sort of stuff.

Cheers

Neil
President, MSTEC
...& Series 3 owner....


Missed the big one they had recently:(
We also gave up on the Lake Goldsmith 100th rally due to the que and time:mad:
But few of us got over there for a day out 2 years ago:)
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/victorian-reports/114060-vic-melbourne-scoresby-social-steam-off-day-sunday-26-sept-10-a.html?highlight=gully

There is talk of Lake Goldsmith in May next year as a forum trip.

[robbotd5]

Damn it Neil!!! Why can't it be in Newcastle!!! Would love to take you up on your offer.
Regards
Robbo

[Bigbjorn]

You are just a wee bit late Robbo.When they closed the Old Ipswich Railway Workshops a few years back they DE-commissioned the Tool and Machine Shop and sold off all the old English built lathes etc.They went for a song .My mate bought a monstrous lathe made in Birmingham for a song , Two Grand. in perfect working order. All the stuff went that cheap crazy wasn't it.
John.

The workshops actually made a lot of their own machine tools. The biggest lathe in Qld. was made there during WW2. I saw it in use at English Electric works Evans Rd. Salisbury, 1960's. 40' between centres, 7' centre height. I inspected one for private sale that likewise had been made at the shops. Obviously for a special purpose, maybe long shafts or gun barrels, it was about 15' between centres but only had a 12" centre height. It was installed under a small house at Ebbw Vale and the house would need to be jacked up and a couple of stumps taken out to remove the lathe.

[Disco44]

Old Pacific Steamer (1079 ) went past my place two days ago and back yesterday.What a sound when it is opened up...magically sound of yesteryear.This is a recently taken photo of her, She was too quick for me yesterday.

John.

[V8Ian]

Some familiar scenes here Brian, a real trip down memory lane. Don't you love the accent and pronounciation (Mareeba). :D

Beyer Garratt Locomotives Round The World - Queensland. - YouTube

[forester_neil]

Well, if you're ever down this way, look us up!

You should also realise that MSTEC is not only steam, but oil engines/tractors/ earthmoving/digging as well - which are all excellent things specially when you can see them all in one place and see how oil engines developed from earlier steam technology.

My preference is steam - and you can usually find me either fixing, servicing or driving tractions, rollers or steam trucks. If you think Landrovers are overgrown mecchano sets, you should work on an a 100+ year old Burrell or a Field Marshall tractor!

Cheers

Neil


Damn it Neil!!! Why can't it be in Newcastle!!! Would love to take you up on your offer.
Regards
Robbo

[Tote]

Simon

Locomotive General Civil War Museum Interactive Tour – Frequently Asked Questions! (http://www.locomotivegeneral.com/faq.html)

My missus of course just shook her head as if to say I'm married to a crazy Limey waddah yah expect!:D
Nah luv steam power its infectious!;)
Dennis
zedcars

I've been to the museum referenced in the link, that loco has an interesting history having been part of a chase across Georgia and Tennesee during the civil war
Regards,

Tote

(part time train nutter....)

[Tote]

On another note these are impressive locos. Built to haul express passenger services across the Sierra Nevada.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/toteau/HPIM0841.jpg

At the Railway Museum in Sacramento CA

Regards,
Tote

[Disco44]

Mods....let's start a forum on locomotives,there appears to be a hell of a lot of interest in it when a member starts a thread.
John.

[robbotd5]

Mods....let's start a forum on locomotives,there appears to be a hell of a lot of interest in it when a member starts a thread.
John.

I'll second that!!
Regards
Robbo

[zedcars]

Mods....let's start a forum on locomotives,there appears to be a hell of a lot of interest in it when a member starts a thread.
John.

Hey I think it stems from the fact that LR folk are a bit mechanically inclined on the whole and appreciate stuff that goes suck squeeze bang blow.

If you are an LR buff you just seem to get the idea of things & appreciate things mechanical.
Example:-
In Iraq when I was doing a job there, I was out at Waddi Tharthar when I saw this Swedish bloke and his Nissan patrol sunk up to his axles in mud on the lake shore.

My truck was a Series 3 at the time, having got a chain on it, I managed to stop in from sinking some more, but not enough grunt to pull it out!.
Then from nowhere came some Auzzies in a Range Rover with a Wormold construction sticker on the side!
No need to explain what was up, they instantly grabbed another chain from my LR and together we pulled the blighter out!

We congratulated each other on a job well done, then celebrated from a cooler in the back of the Classic --Fosters--I bet the cans are still rolling about in the desert even today.
New mates to have beers with at the Brit Club in Baghdad!
Talk Rovers! Trains, Women, Rugby, Cricket, Beer, things that interest real men, nuff said!
Dennis

[Ausfree]

I'll second that!!
Regards
Robbo Me Three!!!!:D:D

[Disco44]

Hey I think it stems from the fact that LR folk are a bit mechanically inclined on the whole and appreciate stuff that goes suck squeeze bang blow.

If you are an LR buff you just seem to get the idea of things & appreciate things mechanical.
Example:-
In Iraq when I was doing a job there, I was out at Waddi Tharthar when I saw this Swedish bloke and his Nissan patrol sunk up to his axles in mud on the lake shore.

My truck was a Series 3 at the time, having got a chain on it, I managed to stop in from sinking some more, but not enough grunt to pull it out!.
Then from nowhere came some Auzzies in a Range Rover with a Wormold construction sticker on the side!
No need to explain what was up, they instantly grabbed another chain from my LR and together we pulled the blighter out!

We congratulated each other on a job well done, then celebrated from a cooler in the back of the Classic --Fosters--I bet the cans are still rolling about in the desert even today.
New mates to have beers with at the Brit Club in Baghdad!
Talk Rovers! Trains, Women, Rugby, Cricket, Beer, things that interest real men, nuff said!
Dennis

Funny thing Zedcars hardly anyone drinks Fosters in Australia.Highjack I know but the only place I found it was in the UK here it's mainly VB or the like.
John.

[Bigbjorn]

Hey I think it stems from the fact that LR folk are a bit mechanically inclined on the whole and appreciate stuff that goes suck squeeze bang blow.

If you are an LR buff you just seem to get the idea of things & appreciate things mechanical.
Example:-
In Iraq when I was doing a job there, I was out at Waddi Tharthar when I saw this Swedish bloke and his Nissan patrol sunk up to his axles in mud on the lake shore.

My truck was a Series 3 at the time, having got a chain on it, I managed to stop in from sinking some more, but not enough grunt to pull it out!.
Then from nowhere came some Auzzies in a Range Rover with a Wormold construction sticker on the side!
No need to explain what was up, they instantly grabbed another chain from my LR and together we pulled the blighter out!

We congratulated each other on a job well done, then celebrated from a cooler in the back of the Classic --Fosters--I bet the cans are still rolling about in the desert even today.
New mates to have beers with at the Brit Club in Baghdad!
Talk Rovers! Trains, Women, Rugby, Cricket, Beer, things that interest real men, nuff said!
Dennis

Fosters made by the Oil Can Brewery in Georgia. Probably an even worse brew than the rubbish made in Australia by Foster's Brewing. Australian equivalent of Bud, brewed without taste for customers without taste.

[V8Ian]

Crank up the sound, sit back, enjoy.

Garratts- Double AD 60 Class with Coal Trains near Newcastle. Quad steam at Zig Zag - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=T6gEjZYFs0M&feature=endscreen)

[bob10]

Fosters made by the Oil Can Brewery in Georgia. Probably an even worse brew than the rubbish made in Australia by Foster's Brewing. Australian equivalent of Bud, brewed without taste for customers without taste.
Steady, old fella, I've had many a Bud. with Asian ladies , in the Phillipines, purely on a social basis, of course. At the time I thought it was a sophisticated beverage, which opened up all sorts of interesting discourse. Bob

[Didge]

Hi guys, I'm not a train buff but took this little video in southern Sydney where I went to collect mulberry leaves for my mother's silkworms. The owner's name is Pete and he's an elderly chap who's had these locos for at least 30 years. Some one else I know referred to him as a gunzel (had to look that one up). Apologize for the commentary - was done for my workmate. As you can I don't know much about trains. If anyone is interested in contacting the owner I;m sure I could pop past and get his details (if he gives them to me)
See : Loftus trains 1 - YouTube
cheers Gerald

[isuzutoo-eh]

Pete's a regular at my hobby shop ;)


Hi guys, I'm not a train buff but took this little video of a front yard in Loftus, south of Sydney where I went to collect mulberry leaves for my mother's silkworms. The owner's name is Pete and he's an elderly chap who's had these locos for at least 30 years. Some one else I know referred to him as a gunzel (had to look that one up). Apologize for the commentary - was done for my workmate. As you can I don't know much about trains. If anyone is interested in contacting the owner I;m sure I could pop past and get his details (if he gives them to me)
See : Loftus trains 1 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFBx6_gO9YU)
cheers Gerald


For the affionados of big steam, latest news is Union Pacific are looking into restoring a Big Boy to operation. Would love to see that battling Sherman Hill!

[Ausfree]

Crank up the sound, sit back, enjoy.

Garratts- Double AD 60 Class with Coal Trains near Newcastle. Quad steam at Zig Zag - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=T6gEjZYFs0M&feature=endscreen)
Ah, yes, brings a tear to my eye, I remember watching the twin Garretts coming up the Fassifern Bank, through Teralba and under the bridge at Cockle Creek.:) No other steamtrain has the majesty of a Garrett!!

[zedcars]

Fosters made by the Oil Can Brewery in Georgia. Probably an even worse brew than the rubbish made in Australia by Foster's Brewing. Australian equivalent of Bud, brewed without taste for customers without taste.


Hey you blokes
Yes Fosters--The reason what it was so plentiful in Iraq at the time was that the Australian Embassy had amassed a huge amount of booze, not just beer, but wines and spirits in containers all locked up in Iraqi Customs. It contravened some diplomatic clause due to the amount apparently ,
Its discovery of excess by the Iraqi authorities prompted a sell off at fire sale prices.
In my cases of booze (excuse cases pun) the sale was funneled through the Brit Embassy.
I am not a Fosters fan but I remember buying about 50 cases of Guinness, Harp lager , some Castlemain, and some choice Oz wines and of course some Scotch.
This all coincided with Ramadan and the religious fasting period.
The local beer brewer who made Scheherazade had shut down the plant so local beer was in short supply.

I remember a mate who came by my house one afternoon happened to see the cashe of cases sat on the stairs but dismissed them as just being used for storage purposes.

Asking if I might have a beer in the house, I said "Yeh you will find ONE in the fridge"
Opening the door he found it stuffed full of beer!
Then the penny dropped---Are those real? pointing at the cases on the stairs???

I remember saying look keep your trap shut when you go back to the Brit Club, but naturally it was not long before there was a bunch of blokes and some Irish nurses beating on the steel yard gate. Social visit?

So yes I know that Fosters is pee water, but when there's no beer--it will do? Even in a pub with no beer--or a particular club in Baghdad!:D
There's as song about that isn't there??:D
Dennis
zedcars

[zedcars]

Ah, yes, brings a tear to my eye, I remember watching the twin Garretts coming up the Fassifern Bank, through Teralba and under the bridge at Cockle Creek.:) No other steamtrain has the majesty of a Garrett!!

Impressive

Yes those Garretts were used by the Rhoadies.
Oops would say something like Zimbabweans these days!
NRZ 20 Class Garratts Bulawayo to Plumtree - YouTube
Dennis
zedcars

[Pedro_The_Swift]

whatever happened to the "Mallard"?
MALLARD at 126mph the worlds fastest steam locomotive - YouTube

[robbotd5]

whatever happened to the "Mallard"?
MALLARD at 126mph the worlds fastest steam locomotive - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sjXC65e-xQ)

It is part of the York railway museum collection I think.
Regards
Robbo

[Ausfree]

It is part of the York railway museum collection I think.
Regards
Robbo

It appears so!!:D:D
LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Disco44]

I Have attached two photos of Garrets.One used in Queensland ( 1009) on the 3ft6in gauge.
The other NSW (6042) used on it's 4ft81/2in gauge. The differences in the size of the 2 locos which are both big steamers is a lot because of the gauge variation.To me the NSW Garret was a monster when I first saw one at Hornsby in the early sixties.
According to my brother-in-law who fired one,QR ones had a bad habit of de-railing if the loads wern't large enough.Can anyone elaborate on that?

[Bigbjorn]

I Have attached two photos of Garrets.One used in Queensland ( 1009) on the 3ft6in gauge.
The other NSW (6042) used on it's 4ft81/2in gauge. The differences in the size of the 2 locos which are both big steamers is a lot because of the gauge variation.To me the NSW Garret was a monster when I first saw one at Hornsby in the early sixties.
According to my brother-in-law who fired one,QR ones had a bad habit of de-railing if the loads wern't large enough.Can anyone elaborate on that?

The derailment I do know about happened on the range near Bungeworgorai. The first Garret drawn train over the section pushed the light line out of shape on a corner. QGR had a lot more miles of track in a big decentralised state than other networks and built light narrow gauge lines to achieve the distances required to service far flung outback towns. In the great era of rail expansion, it was an article of political faith by both sides of the house that no farmer would be more than a morning from a railhead from where he could send his goods to market hence the flurry of line building up until the great depression called a halt to state expenditure.

[Ausfree]

Any Newcastle/Lake Macquarie people here remember the Newcastle to Belmont passenger service which ceased operating in 1971??:D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Fernleigh_052863.JPG

This photo was taken at the Fernleigh Loop which is just on the Kahibah side of the Fernleigh tunnel. The old railway line to Belmont is now a walking path and cycleway.:D

[Disco44]

[FONT="Arial"]Floyd Cramer at the piano. Just wait for the pictures to come on and have
your volume on. This is really beautiful.
http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/Train%20Ride.swf

And A Merry Christmas to YE All.

[Ausfree]

Thought I would resurrect this Thread, with another old UTube clip of twin Garretts coming up the Fassifern Bank in 1968.:D

60 class Garratts double-head up Fassifern Bank - Winter, 1968 - YouTube

[RichardK]

I don't know if anyone has seen this but this is workmanship without the machinery of today

3685 horsepower steam locomotive - YouTube

[tony66_au]

All this talk of Steam and Garratt's and not one mention of Puffing Billy Narrow gauge railway in Belgrave Victoria.

As a kid I volunteered as part of the "School Section" with Puffing billy, my mob did mainly trackworks replacing the bits and pieces tracks with new 80 foot sections (From memory) as well as sleeper replacement and packing and tamping of new ballast.

The SS doesnt exist anymore sadly but the one weekend a month we spent doing trackwork still sticks in my mind.

Puffing billy has a Garratt G42 which was awaiting resto when i was a kid but pulls trains regularly now and compliments the NA Tank engines they usually run with the huge Garret hauling specials and extra long trains during peak periods.

PBR also has Climax and another geared loco with a huge cab that they use for learn to drive steam packages.

Although im no Gunzel the sound, smell and raw power of these engines brings me back to a happy place in my teen years.

puffing billy | Australia's favourite steam train (http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/)

[Ausfree]

I went for a ride on the Puffing Billy many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, It is a real credit to the people who keep it going!!:D:D

[Ausfree]

All this talk of Steam and Garratt's and not one mention of Puffing Billy Narrow gauge railway in Belgrave Victoria.

As a kid I volunteered as part of the "School Section" with Puffing billy, my mob did mainly trackworks replacing the bits and pieces tracks with new 80 foot sections (From memory) as well as sleeper replacement and packing and tamping of new ballast.

The SS doesnt exist anymore sadly but the one weekend a month we spent doing trackwork still sticks in my mind.

Puffing billy has a Garratt G42 which was awaiting resto when i was a kid but pulls trains regularly now and compliments the NA Tank engines they usually run with the huge Garret hauling specials and extra long trains during peak periods.

PBR also has Climax and another geared loco with a huge cab that they use for learn to drive steam packages.

Although im no Gunzel the sound, smell and raw power of these engines brings me back to a happy place in my teen years.

puffing billy | Australia's favourite steam train (http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/)
You might be interested in the Timbertown Heritage Steam Locomotive at "Timbertown" near Wauchope on the mid north coast of NSW.:D Similiar theme to the Puffing Billy and I also have had a ride on this.:D:D

Timbertown Heritage Steam Railway Hudswell Clarke 1862 of 1952 - YouTube

[robbotd5]

Ahh Puffing Billy!
LOVE IT!!
We went to Belgrave when we were on our Vic caravan trip last year. Always on my hitlist and I had a great day. If I was a local I'd be a volunteer for sure. Beautiful area too. Interesting collection of locomotives too. Geez, I flattened the batteries in both the video camera and my iPhone!! Plus I love narrow gauge. Ps: some good clips on YouTube.
Regards
Robbo.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Heads up, the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tassie is set to cease oprations at the end of April. If you want to ride this iconic train, you better start planning!

[robbotd5]

Heads up, the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tassie is set to cease oprations at the end of April. If you want to ride this iconic train, you better start planning!

I'd love to but it's too expensive. Maybe Puffing Billy could take on the loco's and rolling stock. Isn't it the same gauge? I know PB has some rolling stock from this line in Tassie.
Regards
Robbo

[robbotd5]

You might be interested in the Timbertown Heritage Steam Locomotive at "Timbertown" near Wauchope on the mid north coast of NSW.:D Similiar theme to the Puffing Billy and I also have had a ride on this.:D:D

Timbertown Heritage Steam Railway Hudswell Clarke 1862 of 1952 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB3t3xgaAHg)

Yeah Aus, I have been to timber town to see this loco as well. I can remember as a young child being taken there by my grandparents and riding behind the "Green Hornet". Which is still there although not in steam. That class of Hudswell Clarke loco holds the record for the most cane hauled by a steam locomotive. "Cairns" had just short of a thousand tons on it's drawbar. Preaty impressive!!!
Regards
Robbo

[isuzutoo-eh]

I'd love to but it's too expensive. Maybe Puffing Billy could take on the loco's and rolling stock. Isn't it the same gauge? I know PB has some rolling stock from this line in Tassie.
Regards
Robbo

Different gauge, PB is 30" whilst Mt Lyell/WCWR is 3'6", and the locos are pretty specialised being Abt rack locos. The only other railway that could justify them is a long closed line in QLD that used the same rack system, but that'll never be reopened as a tourist railway.
Also, the Tas government owns the railway, rollingstock and infrastructure, and said gov will likely try to renegotiate the 20 year contract that Federal Hotels had, so the end isn't a certainty.
The ex Mt Lyell carriages that PB uses have different bogies under them.
As long as it all doesn't end up overseas same as the North East Dundas Garratt that now runs on the Welsh Highland Railway...

[Disco44]

Different gauge, PB is 30" whilst Mt Lyell/WCWR is 3'6", and the locos are pretty specialised being Abt rack locos. The only other railway that could justify them is a long closed line in QLD that used the same rack system, but that'll never be reopened as a tourist railway.
Also, the Tas government owns the railway, rollingstock and infrastructure, and said gov will likely try to renegotiate the 20 year contract that Federal Hotels had, so the end isn't a certainty.
The ex Mt Lyell carriages that PB uses have different bogies under them.
As long as it all doesn't end up overseas same as the North East Dundas Garratt that now runs on the Welsh Highland Railway...

Does anyone know where "The Long Closed Line in Qld Was" as mentioned in here?
Thanks,
John.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Moonmera to Moongan, near Mt Morgan

[Bigbjorn]

I don't know if anyone has seen this but this is workmanship without the machinery of today

3685 horsepower steam locomotive - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcbTXlMSCwk)

Great clip. Does me good to see something from the glory days of heavy engineering. I think the main problems that would be encountered building one today would not be the lack of skilled tradesmen but the time taken to get the necessary experience into the current generation and that those huge machine tools have almost completely disappeared. Not long ago a British firm was to make an enormous press or moulding die. Only one steelworks in Europe, in Sheffield, was capable of making the blanks, and only one firm in the world, in Germany, still had a large enough milling machine to handle the job and its owners had to have some custom big bits made to do so. I saw some old black and white film of the gun shop at John Brown Clydebank pre WW1 making battleship gun barrels. 105' lathes and several of them.

Edit- I liked the bit of the clip showing the four main engine castings being machined in parallel on the big planer.

[Disco44]

Great clip. Does me good to see something from the glory days of heavy engineering. I think the main problems that would be encountered building one today would not be the lack of skilled tradesmen but the time taken to get the necessary experience into the current generation and that those huge machine tools have almost completely disappeared. Not long ago a British firm was to make an enormous press or moulding die. Only one steelworks in Europe, in Sheffield, was capable of making the blanks, and only one firm in the world, in Germany, still had a large enough milling machine to handle the job and its owners had to have some custom big bits made to do so. I saw some old black and white film of the gun shop at John Brown Clydebank pre WW1 making battleship gun barrels. 105' lathes and several of them.

All the patterns for QR which were at Ipswich Workshops are at the Redbank Workshops.As a firefighter I went there many times to alarms.You are right Brian there are very few tradesmen left but there are a few and they are at the Workshop Museum in Ipswich keeping the Old locos running for tourist purposes.
John.

[Ausfree]

Yeah Aus, I have been to timber town to see this loco as well. I can remember as a young child being taken there by my grandparents and riding behind the "Green Hornet". Which is still there although not in steam. That class of Hudswell Clarke loco holds the record for the most cane hauled by a steam locomotive. "Cairns" had just short of a thousand tons on it's drawbar. Preaty impressive!!!
Regards
Robbo
I visited one of my daughters, who happens to live in Bundaberg, the week before the recent floods and took these piccies of the narrow guage cane lines.:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1095.jpg


This one was near the town of Childers, just behind the icecream place.:D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1104.jpg

[tony66_au]

I went for a ride on the Puffing Billy many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, It is a real credit to the people who keep it going!!:D:D

Cheers Ausfree, I have ridden a few steam lines and the thing that makes Puffing billy so outstanding is the line gradients which means the Loco's work VERY hard on busy days and the loco combinations when they run 2 NA's (The Lil ones) or when they run a long carriage set and use G42.

The sheer power and majesty of these trains becomes very very tangible and you can feel, taste and sense the strength in steam which is something that more than anything reminds me of some great times I had as a kid standing with my back to the sides of a cutting as a Double header NA set choofed past chockers with tourists dangling their legs out of the carriages and spending time picking bits of soot from my hair.

When I lived in Cockatoo not far from the line I took my kids to stand and watch not far from the platform and they all stood in awe and huge smiles as the train came and went even though they had zero experience with this apart from Thomas the tank engine.

And that's what its all about, the wonderment and awe, the laughter and excitement of such a visceral experience in an age of quiet and sanitised machinery.

[drivesafe]

[quote=Ausfree;1853468]https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1095.jpg

Hi Ausfree, when I first moved to Queensland I was going through the road rules booklet I got when I changed my driver’s license over.

As I read through the booklet I came to Roundabout rules and it stated that you had to give way to vehicles in the roundabout and to TRAMS in or approaching the roundabout.

As Brisbane had not had trams for 40 odd years, I thought well good old Queensland is up with the time, NOT.

Some time later I realised they meant trains on the Cane TRAMWAYS

[zulu Delta 534]

Whilst a kid I lived fairly close to the main Sydney Melbourne line, not too far out of Demondrille (Harden Murrumburrah) and would sit riveted watching the "Big Pigs" haul their load up and down the line, but without a doubt, the most fascinating steam engines I have come across were the myriad of little locos working throughout the coastal areas of Qld hauling sugar cane from farms to mills back in the old days. These great little machines have since been retired, , replaced with Diesel powered locos, sold off and now some reside in many a tourist area around the world hauling tourists around circular tracks for a living.
This following film was done by Channel 7 round about the bi-centenary and gives an idea of the range of the narrow gauge system in the state, and also a rather interesting insight into the sugar industry itself.
Steam Sugar Cane Railway Queensland - YouTube
Bundy's Last Great Adventure part 2 of 4 sugarcane train qld Australia - YouTube
Regards
Glen

[zulu Delta 534]

Next two instalments
Bundy's Last Great Adventure part 3 of 4 sugarcane train qld Australia - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TQo5KCDdU6c)
Bundy's Last Great Adventure part 4 of 4 sugarcane train qld Australia - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=DuHIIZIr-O8)
Regards
Glen

[robbotd5]

Yep I have watched Bundys last adventure twice now!!! It is great and well worth a look. The site of a little Bundy fowler charging through central Nambour with a fully loaded cane train is a treat!!!. I've been looking into getting a DVD copy it's that good. What about the mud crab!!!
Regards
Robbo

[drivesafe]

With all the interest shown in this thread, as someone else posted up, maybe we need a rail section, not just on steam but rail in general.

The best rail forum use to be Railpage but it’s a waste of time now and the only reason I go there these days is to find out about NZ rail events.

As has been posted a number of times on AULRO, there are quite a few rail videographers on here so why not have these videos posted up for all to enjoy.

[V8Ian]

That was amazing, I didn't realize the narrow gauge was so big, I thought there were a number of micro networks.

[Disco44]

With all the interest shown in this thread, as someone else posted up, maybe we need a rail section, not just on steam but rail in general.

The best rail forum use to be Railpage but it’s a waste of time now and the only reason I go there these days is to find out about NZ rail events.

As has been posted a number of times on AULRO, there are quite a few rail videographers on here so why not have these videos posted up for all to enjoy.

X2....is anybody out there?

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The question has been asked!!;):cool:

[JDNSW]

That was amazing, I didn't realize the narrow gauge was so big, I thought there were a number of micro networks.

And technically speaking, all of Queensland's state rail network is narrow gauge. The term includes all gauges narrower than standard gauge. Of course, Victorians and perhaps South Australians probably think of standard gauge as narrow.

John

[drivesafe]

Now here is a suggestion.

As there is obviously so many AULRO members who also appreciate rail activities, why do we try to organise some day trips for our Landies and see if we can’t include some rail events at the same time.

Victorians have the puffing billy, maybe there are other rail related places of interest.

I managed to get quite a few hours of video of the Frankston to Sandy Point line before they retired the A ( B ) class hauled passenger cars and replaced it with the DMUs

NSW has the Zig Zag and I know quite a few of you make day trips up to this area. Perhaps there are other locations along this type of rail interest.

QLD use to have quite a few steam events although since the shortage of drivers ( because of the extra demands of the coal industry ) much of the steam operations have stopped, but I think Steam Sunday is either back or coming soon?

So are the similar possibilities in Tas, SA and WA?

[olbod]

Some of you folk living around fairfield and Smithfield near Sydney wont remember or even know that a goods train ran alongside the road and went out to Prospect. Wasn't fenced off or anything. There used to be a blue metal quarry at Prospect hill near the dam and the train would travel backwards and forwards carting the metal away. I used to sometimes see it when I went to Fairfield shopping with my Nan, this would have been in the forties.
We could often hear them blasting at the quarry from our farm at Horsley Park.

Cheers.

PS: One of my most vivid memories of steam train travel was when I was about ten. Mum and I were on our way to Cowra for a bit of a holiday and the bush fires were on in the Blue Mountains.
It was exciting, I remember standing on the platform at the front of the carriage. There was thick smoke and cinders and blokes were hanging out everywhere checking to see if the train was catching fire. Top stuff.

[Disco44]

Some of you folk living around fairfield and Smithfield near Sydney wont remember or even know that a goods train ran alongside the road and went out to Prospect. Wasn't fenced off or anything. There used to be a blue metal quarry at Prospect hill near the dam and the train would travel backwards and forwards carting the metal away. I used to sometimes see it when I went to Fairfield shopping with my Nan, this would have been in the forties.
We could often hear them blasting at the quarry from our farm at Horsley Park.

Cheers.

PS: One of my most vivid memories of steam train travel was when I was about ten. Mum and I were on our way to Cowra for a bit of a holiday and the bush fires were on in the Blue Mountains.
It was exciting, I remember standing on the platform at the front of the carriage. There was thick smoke and cinders and blokes were hanging out everywhere checking to see if the train was catching fire. Top stuff.

You couldn,t ride like that these days Ol bod.Riding those platforms fore and aft was always a thrill but the nanny staters have deemed that present day passengers have to sit in fully sealed carriages.God we have become a nation of sooks.

[turkeybrain]

[snip]

So are the similar possibilities in Tas, SA and WA?

There's one obvious one in Tassie, right up until the end of April I hear... The Tasmanian Transport Museum runs steamers every second weekend if I recall correctly, and there's always the Don River Railway.

Personally, I'm a bit annoyed about the WCWR closing down. I'd managed to line up a project where I was going to be performance testing their newly modified steam locos as part of my final year project for my engineering degree. At least I got the opportunity to play fireman on Abt 1 before the railway closes permanently.

-Martin

[Bigbjorn]

And technically speaking, all of Queensland's state rail network is narrow gauge. The term includes all gauges narrower than standard gauge. Of course, Victorians and perhaps South Australians probably think of standard gauge as narrow.

John

I once worked in the sugar industry in the heyday of the cane trams. The lines and rolling stock were all owned and operated by the individual mills. I had no idea that they were interconnected to the point of ability of being able to steam from Nambour to Bundaberg. There were considerable gaps of cane growing between the mill towns, Nambour, Maryborough, and Bundaberg-Childers.

Interestingly, with deregulation of the industry and growers becoming able to choose which mill to sell their cane to, numbers of growers in outer Bundaberg areas decided to go with Isis Mill at Childers. Bundaberg Sugar didn't hesitate. They ripped up their tramlines servicing these areas more or less telling the growers that they had made the bed and now must lay in it. No coming back.

[Bigbjorn]

Now here is a suggestion.

As there is obviously so many AULRO members who also appreciate rail activities, why do we try to organise some day trips for our Landies and see if we can’t include some rail events at the same time.

Victorians have the puffing billy, maybe there are other rail related places of interest.

I managed to get quite a few hours of video of the Frankston to Sandy Point line before they retired the A ( B ) class hauled passenger cars and replaced it with the DMUs

NSW has the Zig Zag and I know quite a few of you make day trips up to this area. Perhaps there are other locations along this type of rail interest.

QLD use to have quite a few steam events although since the shortage of drivers ( because of the extra demands of the coal industry ) much of the steam operations have stopped, but I think Steam Sunday is either back or coming soon?

So are the similar possibilities in Tas, SA and WA?

Both the Mary Valley and Rosewood steam lines look like closing down due to lack of money to maintain the assets.

[olbod]

Found some stuff about the prospect mine and the train line.

[olbod]

Sorry, the attachments in the above post didn't work to well, so I rewrote them and will have another go.

[olbod]

Last one !!!

[Ausfree]

The question has been asked!!;):cool:Thanks for that, I think a lot of people will be very happy with this new part of the Forum for us railway fans!!:D:D

[drivesafe]

Too right:twobeers:

[Tote]

Woo Hoo all my fetishes on one place :D:D
I'm not only a refugee from Railpage, I also used to post on usenet in aus.rail............

Regards,
Tote

[robbotd5]

Yep, great stuff!!!! I'll look forward to more great posts.
Regards
Robbo

[Pedro_The_Swift]

With all the interest shown in this thread, as someone else posted up, maybe we need a rail section, not just on steam but rail in general.

The best rail forum use to be Railpage but it’s a waste of time now and the only reason I go there these days is to find out about NZ rail events.

As has been posted a number of times on AULRO, there are quite a few rail videographers on here so why not have these videos posted up for all to enjoy.




X2....is anybody out there?


The question has been asked!!;):cool:

Dont look now boys and girls but we've MOVED!!:banana::banana::clap2:
Thanks Inc;)

[drivesafe]

Thanks big heaps Pedro

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Sometimes it pays to know
Number 1
;)

[isuzutoo-eh]

I'm liking this place already :)

Here's a preserved former cane train engine, now a long way from home at Albion Park, NSW.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/734.jpg

This one operated at Tully sugar mill, the same museum also has an ex-Tully steam loco restored and regularly operated.

[Disco44]

I'm liking this place already :)

Here's a preserved former cane train engine, now a long way from home at Albion Park, NSW.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/734.jpg

This one operated at Tully sugar mill, the same museum also has an ex-Tully steam loco restored and regularly operated.

When does that place open? Every time I have been down there it's shut.
John.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Hi John,
Second Sunday of the month, but there was a period when it was closed due to track upgrading...just like the government railways :p

Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society (http://www.ilrms.com.au/) also often has details of special events, such as the running day in conjunction with Wings over the Illawarra by HAAS.

[Redback]

Any of you Newcastle residents remember the Belmont to Newcastle line, I used to use it to get into Newcastle from Belmont when I was a teenager, sometimes they would use steam locos when the diesel locos where off doing other things, made the Redhead tunnel interesting:D white clothing was never a good idea back then, sadly it's a bike path now, but the remains of the old tunnel are still there and still used to apparently.

A great trip into town:D

Baz.

[Bigbjorn]

:D white clothing was never a good idea back then,A
Baz.

I remember RAN sailors ashore when the dress of the day was No.6's, all white, carefully taking out a handkerchief and wiping the seats on public transport.

[Ausfree]

Any of you Newcastle residents remember the Belmont to Newcastle line, I used to use it to get into Newcastle from Belmont when I was a teenager, sometimes they would use steam locos when the diesel locos where off doing other things, made the Redhead tunnel interesting:D white clothing was never a good idea back then, sadly it's a bike path now, but the remains of the old tunnel are still there and still used to apparently.

A great trip into town:D

Baz.
Boy do I ever, I grew up at Whitebridge and when I was an ankle biter in the 1950's Mum used to take me for joyrides on the steam train both to Newcastle and Belmont. When I started working in 1960 I used to catch the train from Whitebridge to Wickham when I worked as a junior at the Co-operative Store.
I have very fond memories of the old Belmont line.:D:D