March 2012 Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Society Members Newsletter Derailment Disrupts Services The railway suffered a significant incident on Sunday 4th March when the normal 11:45am service from Castlemaine to Maldon derailed in a cutting, known to many as the S curves between Muckleford and Maldon. The train was comprised of diesel locomotive Y133 and three carriages, Tambo, Lowanna and 29BCPL. The train was travelling at approximately 20 kilometres per hour. The locomotive remained on the rails while all three carriages derailed. Fortunately there were no injuries to either passengers or crew. The railway’s Emergency Plan swung into action and we were able to convey the 50 passengers from the train to our mini-bus and then Bendigo- Maldon Road where a Castlemaine Bus Lines coach transferred them to Maldon and onwards to Castlemaine. The derailment was reported to Transport Safety Victoria and three investigations were immediately started - one by Transport Safety Victoria, one by the Office of the Chief Investigator and our own internal investigation. The cause of the derailment is not yet known. All three carriages have been towed back to Maldon and will be lifted by crane during the coming week so that the Chief Investigator can examine the carriages and try to determine the cause of the derailment. Re-railing the three carriages has been undertaken using jacks under the direction of our Civil Manager John Shaw and our Mechanical Manager, Stephen Lumsden. This re-railing has been difficult as the number of volunteers who can work safely in the cutting is limited. Maintaining a safe work-site has been our top priority and we are fortunate to have had such expertise within our group of volunteers. Approximately 50 metres of track has been damaged and this is being repaired under the direction of our Civil Manager, John Shaw. At the time of going to press, ballasting, and tamping of the repaired section is underway. This derailment has had a significant impact on our operations with three running days disrupted so far, however it is important to note that the repairs and recovery must be completed safely before can operate any train on our line. Further details and progress reports will be posted on our website at www.vgr.com.au Our Civil Branch volunteers enjoy a cuppa while working at the derailment site. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team of skilled volunteers.
8
Embed
Members Newsletter · the Puffing Billy Railway, Yarra Valley Railway and Daylesford Spa Country Railway. ... spectacular 18 day Steam tour of New Zealand. Further details of Grand
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
March 2012
Castlemaine and Maldon
Railway Preservation
Society Members
Newsletter
Derailment Disrupts Services
The railway suffered a significant incident on Sunday 4th March when the normal 11:45am service from Castlemaine to Maldon derailed in a
cutting, known to many as the S curves between Muckleford and Maldon. The train was comprised of diesel locomotive Y133 and three carriages,
Tambo, Lowanna and 29BCPL. The train was travelling at approximately 20 kilometres per hour. The locomotive remained on the rails while all
three carriages derailed. Fortunately there were no injuries to either passengers or crew.
The railway’s Emergency Plan swung into action and we were able to convey the 50 passengers from the train to our mini-bus and then Bendigo-
Maldon Road where a Castlemaine Bus Lines coach transferred them to Maldon and onwards to Castlemaine. The derailment was reported to
Transport Safety Victoria and three investigations were immediately started - one by Transport Safety Victoria, one by the Office of the Chief
Investigator and our own internal investigation. The cause of the derailment is not yet known. All three carriages have been towed back to
Maldon and will be lifted by crane during the coming week so that the Chief Investigator can examine the carriages and try to determine the cause
of the derailment.
Re-railing the three carriages has been undertaken using jacks under
the direction of our Civil Manager John Shaw and our Mechanical
Manager, Stephen Lumsden. This re-railing has been difficult as the
number of volunteers who can work safely in the cutting is limited.
Maintaining a safe work-site has been our top priority and we are
fortunate to have had such expertise within our group of volunteers.
Approximately 50 metres of track has been damaged and this is being
repaired under the direction of our Civil Manager, John Shaw. At the
time of going to press, ballasting, and tamping of the repaired section is
underway.
This derailment has had a significant impact on our operations with
three running days disrupted so far, however it is important to note
that the repairs and recovery must be completed safely before can
operate any train on our line. Further details and progress reports will
be posted on our website at www.vgr.com.au
Our Civil Branch volunteers enjoy a cuppa while working at the derailment
site. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team of skilled volunteers.
Page 2 March 2012
President’s Column
In this issue, Members will read of the
incident which occurred on Sunday last at 86
¾ miles from Melbourne where the 11.45 am
train from Castlemaine to Maldon was de-
railed. There is sufficient information
elsewhere without me going into detail to
repeat however, at the time this issue was
printed, investigations were continuing by the
Office of the Chief Investigator, Transport
Safety, and the Railway will commence its
own enquiry as soon as the situation is
resolved and we are in a position to breathe a
little easier.
I was thrilled with the efforts of both the
Station and on train staff on the day in
question. They have acted entirely with the
focus upon our passengers, considering their
welfare and needs and arranging evacuation
and alternative transport. This is exactly and
precisely what they should have done and
cements the view that we must – all the time
and in everything we do – focus on the
customer. The customer comes first. Many
years ago when working in a service industry
(not the Tourist & Heritage Railway sector!) I
had drummed into me during training courses
that not only is the customer always to come
first and foremost, but that the customer is
always right. I believe we would do well to
keep these in mind.
Also, I have been pleased with the offers of
assistance the Railway has received from both
other Railways as well as Government
agencies. Offers have been forthcoming from
the Puffing Billy Railway, Yarra Valley Railway
and Daylesford Spa Country Railway. We are
also grateful to have had an offer of assistance
from Victrack and I cannot over emphasise
the help we have had from Officers of
Transport Safety Victoria and the Office of
the Chief Investigator. Needless to say, it is
our own people and the team is
acknowledged in this issue who have been
as the assistance with the re-railing of the
carriages, most of those involved are over 60
years of age, and there are some over 70! If
the Railway is to have a future, we need to
find younger volunteers who are interested in
maintaining a valuable part of the State’s, and
indeed, the Country’s history in the
preservation and operation of a Branch line
railway. This is where you can help by
encouraging anyone you know that has
interest in becoming involved – we need
them if we are to grow and progress in years
to come.
Most of our members will be aware that K
190 has been returned to Steamrail following
a highly successful period of hire to the
V.G.R. The return to Castlemaine and
subsequently Melbourne proceeded without a
hitch and, despite heavy rain, the task was
greeted enthusiastically by both the VGR
crew, V Line loco crew and signaling staff.
That the V.G.R. was able to have people on
hand to man the coffee machine and assist
those involved with refreshments before T
364 departed 45 minutes early, was well
received and thanks to Philip Ryan and
Rachael Musgrave-Evans for assisting with
this. K 190 has performed very well in the
time it has been on our Railway and has
certainly enabled us to get through a difficult
time while we deal with issues relating to K
160 and J 515. Work is continuing on J 515
and we are now hopeful of having it returned
to traffic later in March. K 160 has had
repairs to its ashpan as well as having a
replacement set of grates fitted in the firebox.
One problem encountered while K 190 was
with us related to an algal growth in the
water tank located behind the workshop at
Maldon. The algae was finding its way into the
locomotive tender and blocking injector
strainers, rendering them impossible to
(Continued on page 3)
able, with able leadership and guidance, to
have the carriages re-railed within a short
time and available for inspection by the O.C.I.
as well as our own Inspector before return to
service. It has been both a pleasure and
privilege for me to have been involved with
some parts of the re-railing and to witness
first hand the ability and enthusiasm with
which this difficult task was performed. In
some ways, it couldn’t have been worse – on
a 1 in 40 gradient, on a curve, in a cutting
which tended to raise some issues with
access but this was also overcome.
As I have said in previous issues, the people
we are fortunate to have as part of our
volunteer teams are possibly the greatest
asset the Railway has. One important fact to
bear in mind, though, is that through the
project to recover rail from Bandiana as well
by Paul McDonald
President - Castlemaine and Maldon Rail-
way Preservation Society
Page 3 March 2012
operate.
Having traced the source of the problem,
steps have been taken to stop any more
getting into locomotive tender tanks and
investigations are continuing into the most
appropriate method of controlling the growth
of algae in the tank itself. There are a huge
array of different things for people to become
involved with in operating a Tourist Railway,
hence my comment above: lets encourage as
many as we can to become involved and
spread the load with the work.
(Continued from page 2)
Off the Rails
The V.G.R. welcomes the new volunteers who are currently experiencing the wonder of
working on our train
WELCOME;
Coral Cooper, Pauline Wilkinson, Peter Harding and last but not least Colin Mickleburgh.
We look forward to working alongside these new volunteers as well as many happy,
memorable train hours together. Please stop and make them feel welcome when rostered on
with them, and share your trips and experiences also.
Just a friendly reminder about donations for the PINK RIBBONS OF STEAM event to be held on
Sunday October 21, 2012. (Please note date has changed to a week earlier). Raffle prize
donations would be gratefully received, along with any PINK tablecloths, vases, aprons or
serviettes. Also any information on any groups or people willing to donate their time for
entertainment either at Castlemaine or Maldon Stations.
We are calling for any Volunteers interested in helping out with Catering for groups travelling
on our train on a Wednesday. This would involve working from Maldon kitchen on said day,
making sandwiches etc and packing them to be served on the train. We have currently 6 ladies
to call upon but would love to have a roster going as to not rely on the same people all the
time. If you would be interested and can spare 2 hours on a Wednesday morning, please
contact Christine Gibb 0428 810 633.
Preparations for the Trivia night-19th May- is under full steam! You can make a table up of your
own of family and friends or just come on the night and be placed with other intelligent people
and win!! Cost for the evening will be $5 per head and please bring a supper plate to share. Tea
and coffee will be supplied, but soft drinks and cappuccinos will be able to be purchased. This
fun occasion will be held at Castlemaine Station with “heads down” at 7pm. If you would like to
book a table or be placed on a table, please contact Christine Gibb on 0428 810633 or via