Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line began in 1900 with about 100 men engaged in laying and ballasting the track, as well as others forming the earthworks and building culverts and bridges. The result of this labour saw the railway advance from Colac until it climbed a spur hugging the side of a forty degree slope emerging on top of the ridge at Beech Forest. This photograph was taken 28 miles (45 kilometres) from Colac between Devitt Bros. Siding and Ditchley, just out of Beech Forest. Two 2-6-2 Tank engines of the narrow-gauge A class built by Victorian Railway's Newport workshop, were commonly dubbed 'Coffee Pots'. As well as pulling a load of NQR wagons a NBB saloon car ended the train. The devastation to the standing timber was deliberate: the Engineer-in-Chief of VR ruled that all trees within a certain distance of the railway line were to be cut down. This certainly saved the line from destruction several times in the future.B/W. An NA class locomotive, NQR wagons and an NBB saloon car, all with workmen, going around a bend between Devitt Brother's Siding and Ditchley on the Beech Forest line in 1901.beech forest; ditchley; devitt bros siding, railways;

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community. Cudgewa Line -The Cudgewa railway line opened in stages between 1889 and 1921. The first section from Wodonga to Huon opened on 10 September 1889. It was extended to Bolga on 18 July 1890, Tallangatta on 24 July 1891, Shelley on 13 June 1916 (the highest station in Victoria), Beetomba on 10 April 1919 and Cudgewa on 5 May 1921. In 1919, the line was used to carry materials for the construction of Hume Weir, and three years later a spur line connecting Ebden to the weir was opened. In the 1960s, Cudgewa became the railhead of materials for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The last passenger service from Wodonga to Tallangatta ran on 30 September 1961 The turntable and passenger platform at Cudgewa were abolished in 1976.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Historical Steam locomotive on journey to Cudgewa. Locomotive K184 leading with Driver Noel Strauss and Fireman Barrows. Locomotive K186 is the Banker with Driver Doug West. A banker is railway locomotive that temporarily assists a train that requires additional power or traction to climb a gradient. K Class Locomotives - One of VR's most successful classes of loco they were built over a 24 year period. A general purpose, light lines loco the K class had a very long career in all sorts of service from branch line passenger and goods work to pilot and banker duties and roadside mainline service. The K class is credited with working virtually every line in the VR system and hauling almost every kind of train. The majority of the class lasted into the 60's. K 184 and K186 were built by the Victorian Railways' Newport Workshops in 1945 to the successful K-class 2-8-0 locomotive design for branch-line work. K184 entered service on 9 January 1946. K186 entered service on 19 March 1946. K184 was used on heritage services with Steamrail Victoria through the 1970s. It was withdrawn from service in 1980 and is stored at Newport Workshops. and is now used as a source of spare parts; other Steamrail K Class locomotives occasionally wear its number plates and headlight number boards. K186 was scrapped on 25 October 1967.railways wodonga, fred rochow, cudgewa station, high country railway line, k class locomotives

3A Built in 1900. This is the second locomotive to be built at the Victorian Railways Newport Workshops. Painted in the then standard Victorian Railways two-tone green, this locomotive was issued to the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook line and was used on the line’s construction. Over the years, it saw service on the Colac to Crowes and Moe to Walhalla lines, but it saw more service on the Gembrook line than any other. It was withdrawn from service in 1955 at Upper Fern Tree Gully and sold in 1960 to the Lord Mayor’s Camp at Portsea where it remained on static display until obtained by the Puffing Billy Presservation Society in 1977. Number 3A Entered service 6th april 1900 Livery two-tone green Gauge 762mm / 2' 6" Service History : Apr 1900 UFTG. - initial allocation Apr 1900 - Jul 1901 Upper ferntree gully Feb 1902 - Jan 1906 Colac Feb 1906 - Jul 1906 Upper ferntree gully Sep 1907 - Mar 1908 Colac Oct 1908 - Oct 1909 Upper ferntree gully Nov 1909 - Apr 1910 Other Oct 1910 - Nov 1911 Upper ferntree gully Feb 1912 - Oct 1914 Colac Dec 1914 - Oct 1917 Moe Dec 1917 - Jul 1920 Colac Sep 1920 - Jun 1922 Moe Jul 1922 - Jun 1925 Upper ferntree gully Aug 1925 - Mar 1928 Other May 1928 - Nov 1929 Moe Jan 1930 - Apr 1935 Wangaratta Jun 1935 - Sep 1936 Workshops Oct 1936 - May 1949 Upper ferntree gully Nov 1949 - Mar 1950 Workshops Apr 1950 - Jun 1955 Upper ferntree gully Nov 1955 - Mar 1959 Workshops Nov 1960 - Aug 1973 Lord Mayor’s Camp at Portsea Apr 1977 - salvaged from Lord Mayors camp and delivered to Menzies creek station.Victorian Railways - Narrow Gauge NA class steam locomotive number 3A Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H2187 Dates that 3A worked on the Upper ferntree gully to Gembrook Line. Apr 1900 - initial allocation of a new locomotive Apr 1900 to Jul 1901 Feb 1906 to Jul 1906 Oct 1908 to Oct 1909 Oct 1910 to Nov 1911 Oct 1936 to May 1949 Apr 1950 to Jun 1955 Apr 1977 to Belgrave Steam Locomotive3Apuffing billy, victorian railways, 3a, narrow gauge, steam locomotive

Possibly ex Victorian Railways Newport workshops Supplied by Bevan & Edwards Machinery Merchants, Melbourne Sebastian Lathes Described by its makers as the Utility School, Garage and Repair-shop Lathe, the machine immediately below, a Sebastian 15" (circa 1910 - 1926) was the Company's cheapest offering and, in its basic form, lacked a compound slide rest, the tailstock did not set over for taper turning and the bed lacked a gap. However, a friction-type countershaft unit was included in the price as well as a tool post, faceplate, drive plate, changewheels for screwcutting and a small tool kit. As with modern cars (especially BMW) everything worthwhile was on the options' list and by spending more it was possible to specify all those small but important extras. Although in its lowest-cost form this model was reduced to the fundamentals required for a useable, screwcutting centre (engine) lathe it was still reasonably specified and would certainly have fulfilled many requirements when installed in a school or training workshop. The true swing was 15.25", it was properly backgeared and screwcutting was through a conventional tumble-reverse mechanism that allowed both left and right-hand powered movement to the carriage by altering the position of just one lever. As standard it accepted 40" between centres, but any capacity could be ordered, in foot intervals, up to a maximum of 88" - when it is hoped that a central bed support might have been included …… The spindle, which ran in white-metal bearings, had a useful 15/8" hole and a No. 3 Morse taper centre. Some models appear to have had the leadscrew clasp-nut lever on the right-hand side of the apron, while on others it was positioned to the left.. Early Sebastian 13-inch lathe Typical of the Centre or "Engine" lathe made by many manufacturers from the late 1800s until the late 1930s, the basic flat-belt drive Sebastian, with separate countershaft, was eventually relegated to the economy end of the Company's range by the introduction of geared headstocks and self-contained motor-drive systems.Historic - Industrial Machinery - Gap Bed Lathe - Possibly ex Victorian Railways Newport workshops - Purchased and supplied from Bevan & Edwards Gap Bed Lathe - Grey with raw steel parts and a timber cupboard with gears and tools. Bevan & Edwards PTY,LTD Machinery Merchants Melbourne (possible government tag) 365bevan & edwards pty,ltd machinery merchants melbourne, puffing billy

Documents. Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop - Legal Papers. 1 - 1886 - Letter from Arnoldt D W, Wedderburn. 2 - 1886 - Letter from Cuthbert & Co, Law & General Stationers, Lithographers & Printers, 55 Chancery Lane. 3 - 1886 - Letter from Pickles Thos P, Railway Workshops, Newport. Letter has letterhead - G F Pickles & Sons, Carriage Manufacturing Company Limited. Manufacturers of Carriages, Buggies, Pleasure & Business Wagons. Importers of American and English Carriage Materials. Sandhurst. Repository & Show Rooms, Latrobe Street West, Melbourne. 4 - 1886 - Letter to Spence James, Gannawarra, Cohuna from Bennett, Attenborough, Wilks & Connelly, Solicitors, Albion Chambers, Sandhurst. Also contains returned reply from Spence James. Mentions Geugnagel Charles, Baker, Sandhurst. 5 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Kilbride Peter, Rochester to Wilkinson, Albion Chambers re Brown & Ellison case. 6 - 1886 - Post Office Telegraph from Bennett & Co, Market St re Sterry & Trestrail.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, arnoldt d w, cuthbert & co, pickles thos p, g f pickles & sons, spence james, bennett attenborough wilks & connelly, geugnagel charles, kilbride peter, wilkinson, brown, ellison, bennett & co, sterry, trestrail

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-676, d3-class steam locomotive, k-186, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, railway workshop, j-508, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), r-727, r-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, railway workshop, k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca railway station, railway workshop, j-508, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-185, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

This is a road and rail connection to Yea, Mansfield and Alexandra from Tallarook, Vic. The railway was converted many years ago into a long and spectacular rail trail. Photograph by George Burton Coop (George Coop's father).Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, k-157, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), trawool gap

This is a road and rail connection to Yea, Mansfield and Alexandra from Tallarook, Vic. The railway was converted many years ago into a long and spectacular rail trail. Photograph by George Burton Coop (George Coop's father).Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, k-157, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), trawool gap

The pair of lines running to trhe left head to Williamstown. the central pair of lines are heading into the Newport Workshops and various stored trains are visible in the background and the pair of lines diverging to the right are heading to Geelong. One of several photos at Newport taken the same day in the early 1950s when George Coop was a secondary school student.Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, newport railway station, newport signal box

Interior of Bendigo Locomotive Depot. This was one of a number of photographs taken during two visits by George Coop between October and November 1962, arranged with the assistance of VR staff.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, bendigo, bendigo railway station, d3-640, d3-class steam locomotive, k-168, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), r-704, railway turntable, railway workshop, r-class steam locomotive

Leaving the Echuca yards and charging up the hill approaching the Iron Bridge. Standing to the left is the Fruit Fly Inspector who was once a common sight at the NSW/Victorian border crossings.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, echuca railway station, fruit fly inspection, k-173, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Steam locomotives J-549 and K-163 in distance.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, ararat locomotive shed, j-549, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-163, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Murray Esplanade running parallel. The white building at the far left is the Echuca Club and the brick two-storey building, the Steam Packet Inn. Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodachrome positive transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, echuca club, echuca wharf railway station, k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), murray esplanade, steam packet inn

George Coop's Holden Station Sedan can be seen parked in Leslie Street on the right of image. Murray Esplanade running parallel to the train. The two-storey brick building is the Steam Packet Inn. Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Kodachrome positive transparencygeorge coop collection, echuca, echuca wharf railway station, murray esplanade, steam packet inn, k-172, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), leslie street

Special excursion vintage train. Same engine (K-184) that hauled the vintage train for the Shire of Eltham Centenary celebrations in 1971. K 184 was used on railtour duty by Steamrail Victoria until 1980. It has since been stored at Newport Workshops.35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Grey and White (Fuji)eltham trestle bridge, k-184, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), red rattler, steam engine, steam train, trestle bridge

Special excursion vintage train. Same engine (K-184) that hauled the vintage train for the Shire of Eltham Centenary celebrations in 1971. K 184 was used on railtour duty by Steamrail Victoria until 1980. It has since been stored at Newport Workshops.35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Grey and White (Fuji)eltham trestle bridge, k-184, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), red rattler, steam engine, steam train, trestle bridge

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca railway station, george coop collection, k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

THE ECHUCA COALING STAGE. Locomotives would stop alongside to receive coal dropped into their tenders from small overhead rail mounted tipping trays. Water could be obtained from either the elevated tank at one end or the connected standpipe at the opposite end. Locomotive firebox contents could be dumped into pits between the rails from locomotives once they were carefully positioned above them. Such locomotives then could move onto the Engine Shed area for overnight parking. Firebox fires would be re-lit when the locomotive was next needed in a day or so. Image dated as November 1963 based on same image in Port of Echuca collection (possibly frame 32 of film) (print 19.5 x 24.5cm) On reverse in pencil: " K Class at Echuca" Echuca K Class. 1940-1968". In blue pen:" Photo by: George L. Coop Nov 1963" https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59de9cc421ea6b12dc3f7597Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencycoal hopper, echuca railway station, george coop collection, k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

THE ECHUCA COALING STAGE. Locomotives would stop alongside to receive coal dropped into their tenders from small overhead rail mounted tipping trays. Water could be obtained from either the elevated tank at one end or the connected standpipe at the opposite end. Locomotive firebox contents could be dumped into pits between the rails from locomotives once they were carefully positioned above them. Such locomotives then could move onto the Engine Shed area for overnight parking. Firebox fires would be re-lit when the locomotive was next needed in a day or so.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencycoal hopper, echuca railway station, george coop collection, k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencycoal hopper, echuca railway station, george coop collection, k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencycoal hopper, echuca railway station, george coop collection, k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca railway station, george coop collection, j-513, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-155, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), locomotive depot workshop, r-727, railway workshop, r-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyechuca railway station, george coop collection, j-513, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-155, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), locomotive depot workshop, r-727, railway workshop, r-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), n-464, n-class steam locomotive, railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), n-464, n-class steam locomotive, railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), n-464, n-class steam locomotive, railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

The V.R.I. review November 5, 1922 - vol.12 no. 11. Editor J.D. Michie, official organ of the Victorian Railways Institute. Printed on orange stained paper and stapled. The contents include the institute, photos of Newport Workshops Band.cottage, miners