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Puffing Billy Railway
Equipment - Victorian Railways Carriage Foot Warmer
During prestige, long distance train journeys some carriages had air-conditioning, and the majority of passengers had to brave unheated carriages. To offer some comfort during the winter months, the non-air-conditioned carriages were provided with footwarmers. These were metal containers roughly 100 mm thick and 300 mm wide, and about 750 mm long, which were filled with salt crystals (concentrated crystalline hydrated sodium acetate). The footwarmers were covered by sleeves of thick canvas, and two footwarmers were usually placed in each compartment of non-air-conditioned carriages. To activate the chemicals, the footwarmers were heated almost to boiling point. This was done by removing the canvas sleeves and placing the footwarmers in a large bath of very hot water. After they had been heated, they were removed from the bath and the sleeves refitted. They were then ready to be placed in the carriages. The McLaren patent foot warmer was used on railways in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia as well as South Africa and New Zealand. It was during the 1901 royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall that these foot warmers were first used in New Zealand in the royal carriage. Before railway carriage heating was introduced, McLaren patent foot warmers were placed on the floor of New South Wales government railway carriages from 1891 to provide a little passenger comfort. The rectangular steel container worked a bit like a hot water bottle but instead of water contained six and a half kilograms of loosely-packed salt crystals, (concentrated crystalline hydrated sodium acetate). This was permanently sealed inside the container with a soldered cap. After the foot warmer was heated in vat of boiling water for about one and a quarter hours the crystals became a hot liquid. (The melting point for sodium acetate is 58 degrees). There was a whole infrastructure of special furnaces set up at stations for the daily heating of foot warmers. By 1914 the Victorian railways had 4,000 foot warmers in service and by 1935 there were 33 furnaces at principal stations to heat them. After about 10 hours the container was picked up by the handle and given a good vertical shake which helped the cooled liquid reform into a solid mass of hot crystals. Staff or sometimes passengers shook them en route when the foot warmers began to get cold. However, as they were heavy this was only possible by fit and agile passengers. At the end of the journey the containers were boiled again for reuse on the next trip. Sodium acetate railway foot warmers were introduced in Victoria in 1889, Adelaide to Melbourne express in 1899. "Shaking up" on this service took place at Murray Bridge and Stawell on the tip to Melbourne and at Ballarat and Serviceton on the trip to Adelaide. The use of foot warmers began to decline in New South Wales from the 1930s with the first trial of carriage air-conditioning in 1936, steam heating from 1948 ad LP gas heating from 1961. By the early 1960s the main services using foot warmers were the overnight mail trains. info from : http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=67564#ixzz4UBNzVf6t Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial There was a whole infrastructure set up at stations for the daily heating of foot warmers in special furnaces. In Victoria alone in 1935 there were 33 heating works.Historic - Victorian Railways - Carriage Heater - Foot warmerA rectangular-shaped stainless steel casing with a welded seam down the back and welded ends. There is a handle at one end for carrying and shaking. Inside the foot warmer are two baffle plates and three trays to contain the sodium acetate. There was a cast-iron ball in each internal compartment. puffing billy, victorian railways, carriage haeter, foot warmer, passenger comfort, station furnace, railway ephemera, early heating methods -
Puffing Billy Railway
NSWTD Railway Marker Oil lamp, No.1 RA
NSWTD Railway Marker OIl lamp, No.1 RA Oil burning lamps have always been an important part of Australian railway signalling systems and have been used for communication, safety and lighting. It is called a marker lamp and was hung on rolling stock (carriages and wagons) such as the guard’s van to indicate the rear of the train at night. They were also used to indicate the rear of steam locomotive tenders for identification and safety purposes. This type of lamp was introduced to the railways around 1860 and continued to be used for over one hundred years. Oil lamps were phased out on the railways during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when they were replaced by battery lamps. Railway lighting included not only stations but yards, engines, rolling stock, signals, signal-boxes and crossings. There were a number of different types of lamps used for a variety of railway purposes. Historic - New South Wales Transport Department.- Railway Marker Oil Lamp NSWTD Railway Marker lamp, No.1 RA made of metal and Glass Railway lamp, paraffin, metal/glass/fabric, used for attaching to railway rolling stock to mark the end of the train, made by the New South Wales Transport Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1870 - 1970 This lamp comprises a hollow cube of metal. One lens at the front transmits light from an interior light source. Fuel was either signal oil or kerosene. The burner inside the lamp used either cotton or felt wicks to create the light source. The lamp has a carry handle for carrying by hand and a bracket with a slot on the back for hanging onto the hook of a locomotive or item of rolling stock. It is marked "NSWTD" which stands for New South Wales Transport Department.NSWTD 1 RApuffing billy railway , pbr, nswtd railway marker oil lamp, no.1 ra -
Puffing Billy Railway
Four NSWTD Railway marker Oil lamps
Four NSWTD Railway marker Oil lamps at Nobelius Packing shed Item stamped numbers unknown Oil burning lamps have always been an important part of Australian railway signalling systems and have been used for communication, safety and lighting. It is called a marker lamp and was hung on rolling stock (carriages and wagons) such as the guard’s van to indicate the rear of the train at night. They were also used to indicate the rear of steam locomotive tenders for identification and safety purposes. This type of lamp was introduced to the railways around 1860 and continued to be used for over one hundred years. Oil lamps were phased out on the railways during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when they were replaced by battery lamps. Railway lighting included not only stations but yards, engines, rolling stock, signals, signal-boxes and crossings. There were a number of different types of lamps used for a variety of railway purposes. Historic - New South Wales Transport Department.- Railway Marker Oil LampFour NSWTD Railway marker Oil lamps made of metal and glass Railway lamp, paraffin, metal / glass / fabric, used for attaching to railway rolling stock to mark the end of the train, made by the New South Wales Transport Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1870-1970 This lamp comprises a hollow cube of metal. One lens at the front transmits light from an interior light source. Fuel was either signal oil or kerosene. The burner inside the lamp used either cotton or felt wicks to create the light source. The lamp has a carry handle for carrying by hand and a bracket with a slot on the back for hanging onto the hook of a locomotive or item of rolling stock. It is marked "NSWTD" which stands for New South Wales Transport Department.NSWTDpuffing billy railway , pbr, four nswtd railway marker oil lamps -
Puffing Billy Railway
Emerald Tourist Railway Board 1977 - 2017 40 Years - Locomotive Head Board, 2017
Locomotive Head Board - Emerald Tourist Railway Board 1977 - 2017 40 Years Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Locomotive Head Board used in the Celebration of Emerald Tourist Railway Board 1977 - 2017 40 Years EMERALD TOURIST RAILWAY BOARD 1st October 1977 - 1st October 2017 Today marks the 40th anniversary of when the Emerald Tourist Railway Board took over the ownership of Puffing Billy from the Victorian Railways. Since then Puffing Billy has gone from strength to strength with the last few years seeing a huge increase in passenger numbers. A major investment over the next ten years will see a number of infrastructure projects being completed. A new (restored) locomotive and extra carriages will come into play and hopefully soon, the reopening of Puffing Billy's museum at Menzies Creek. Puffing Billy has been around since 1900. With a minor hiccup in the 1950s and the rebuilding of the railway from Belgrave from the late 1950s to the early 1960s and onwards, the preserved heritage steam railway will hopefully continue to operate for many generations to come. This photo was taken early this morning. The required loco's for the day were still being prepared and all shunting movements had been completed. The first of many passengers were just starting to arrive. Photo & Info : Robert Smith : Past 2 Present A gleaming NA locomotive 14A had the honour of hauling the first E.T.R.B. train while 7A had the last train by the Victorian Railways, both on the 1st October 1977. 7A left Belgrave at 11.10am for Lakeside and 14A left Belgrave at 2.10pm.This train also to Lakeside included the ex Mt Lyell carriage NBL1 for the conveyance of the official party. Both loco's are still operating today. Photo: John E. Thompson (NG #67) Historic - Puffing Billy Railway Locomotive Head Board used in the Celebration of Emerald Tourist Railway Board 1977 - 2017 40 YearsLocomotive Head Board - Emerald Tourist Railway Board 1977 - 2017 40 Years Circular steel sheet with vinyl stickers.Emerald Tourist Railway Board 1977 - 2017 40 Yearspuffing billy, head board, emerald tourist railway board, emerald, 40 years -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph
Pt Fairy Wharf Fish Train 1942 .Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company office on the left of the photographblack and white photograph of train shunting a wagon to the wharftransport, rail, road, gipps street, wharf, train -
Vision Australia
Plaque - Object, A2 932 train number plate
Cast iron numberplate (white on black background) mounted on wood, with a braille and a written nameplate which reads: "Presented by the Victorian Railways Commission to the R.V.I.B. School for Blind Railway Club. This number plate came from steam locomotive class A2 number 932, which hauled the 'Sydney Limited', the 'Overland' and mainline passenger trains during its 48 years of service that ended in 1961." Cast iron numberplate on wood royal victorian institute for the blind, rvib school -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Steam Engine -- Stationary with men & boys standing beside engine
Steam Engine with 12 men and 3 young children standing along side the train engine. based on the surrounds, its presumed the photo was taken at Heatherlie Quarry. No names are known of people.Black & white copy of photo of Steam engine with 12 men and 3 young boys standing alongside the engine presumed the photo was taken at Heatherlie quarry. railways -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, "D" Class Steam Trains -- 2 Colour Photos and one black and white at Cato Park
... grampians Photograph "D" Class Steam Trains -- 2 Colour Photos ...2 Coloured photos of D Class Steam Rail Locomotive and one Black & White of same engine at Cato Park. c 1974. The engine was subject to vandalism and removed in 1988. The black & white photo of D3 608 was copies from a railway magazine. Two coloured photos & one black & white photo of "D" class 608 Steam rail Locomotive taken at Cato Park. "D" 608. Inscription on the back of both colour photos, "Vec 74. D Class Loco at Cato Park". On the black & white photo " D3 608 one of the numerous and popular D3 class, preserved in a park in Stawell, 2nd April 1978".railways. -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Heatherlie Quarry with Engine and carriages on the rail track
Heatherlie Quarry. Engine and carriages on rail trackTwo Black and White Photgraphs 213-4 One showing two people. One woman in the fore ground and one Male standing on the back of a Steam eanine behind carraiges. This photo is estimated to be taken between 1923- 1925.. 213-4a Black and White Photgraph showin train carriages in bushland with hills behind the carriages, and train tracks in foreground.stawell grampians industry -
Malmsbury Historical Society
Photograph (Item), "M.H.S. Exhibition At Town Hall, Steam Trains", Malmsbury c1991
... , Steam Trains", Malmsbury c1991 Associated with - M.H.S ...Associated with - M.H.S. Buildings - Town Hall People - "Keath, George" -
Malmsbury Historical Society
Photograph (Item), Steam Trains On Bendigo Line Approaching Malmsbury, Malmsbury c1991
... -ranges Photograph Photograph Steam Trains On Bendigo Line ...Associated with - M.H.S. -
Puffing Billy Railway
Number Plate - 6A, 2010
Replica of a Victorian Railways replacement number board that 6A carried in the later 40's and 50's. This plate was created for the preservation society's reenactment trains in 2012 for the 50 year celebration of reopening to Menzies Creek. Loco: 6A In service Thursday, 18th July 1901 Livery Green Owner Puffing Billy Gauge 762 Status Preserved - Operational 6A Built in 1901 and painted two-tone green, this locomotive was issued to the Colac to Beech Forest line and was used in that line’s construction. Over the years, it saw service on all four lines, but mostly on the Colac to Crowes and Upper Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook lines. It was temporarily withdrawn from service in 1958 and returned to service at Belgrave in 1962 for the reopening of this line where it saw almost continuous service until being withdrawn in 1983. It has been restored, as far as possible, to its original condition with original design side tanks, low bunker, original size windows, etc., but a steel cow-catcher in place of the original style wooden one. It also has its original colour scheme of two-tone green with white lining.Historic - Replica Victorian Railways Locomotive Number Plate of the type used on Steam Locomotive 6A in the later 40's and 50's created for the preservation society's reenactment trains in 2012 for the 50 year celebration of reopening to Menzies Creek. Number Plate 6A Cast aluminum replica number board.6Apuffing billy, menzies creek, 6a, number plate -
Puffing Billy Railway
7A Number Plate
Replica of a Victorian Railways replacement number board that 7A carried in the later 40's and 50's. This plate was created for the preservation society's reenactment trains in 2012 for the 50 year celebration of reopening to Menzies Creek. Loco: 7A In service Saturday, 6th May 1905 Livery Maroon Owner Puffing Billy Gauge 762 Status Preserved - Operational 7A Built in 1905 and painted Canadian red & dark brown, this locomotive was issued to the Wangaratta to Whitfield line and saw service on all four lines with most of its service on the Upper Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook line. It was temporarily withdrawn from service in 1958 and returned to service at Belgrave in 1962 for the reopening of this line where it has seen almost continuous service since. 1979 saw the early two-tone green colour scheme applied to this loco as a trial even though it never historically carried it, but its physical configuration was not altered accordingly. It is now painted its original livery of Canadian red & dark brown and will eventually be returned, as far a possible, to its original condition with a low bunker, narrow ash-chute, etc.Historic - Replica Victorian Railways Locomotive Number Plate of the type used on Steam Locomotive 7A in the later 40's and 50's created for the preservation society's reenactment trains in 2012 for the 50 year celebration of reopening to Menzies Creek Number Plate 7A Rectangular black and white number plate. Cast aluminum replica number board.7Apuffing billy, 7a, number plate -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, Rail accident, 1952
The train smash occurred in Sunbury between the Station Street level rail crossing and Sunbury Station on February 6th 1952 at around 10pm. The goods train was being pulled by the green locomotive, which was used to take the Jubilee train throughout Victoria in 1951, to acknowledge 125 of European settlement in Victoria, ran into the back of another stationary goods train on the rail line. The guard, A.C Read, in the stationary goods train was killed. P J Mcwhirter, the guard in the other train was injured. The tree lined street in the background is Horne Street.This smash was one of a number that have happened along the Sunbury rail line and in the vicinity of Sunbury Station over the years.A black and white photograph with a white border of a train smash which wrecked a steam engine and carriages. Workmen are on the tracks surveying the wreckage. A rail crossing is in the background.jubilee train, train crashes, station street, sunbury railway station, a c read, p j mcwhirter -
Numurkah & District Historical Society
Tin Steam Locomotive
Red and black coloured tin steam locomotive, with gold lining. Two small and three large tin wheels on either side. Wind-up key on one side. Wind-up mechanism doesn't workGold printed number: 659 on both sidestoys, children, presents, tin, locomotive, train -
Numurkah & District Historical Society
Tin Steam Locomotive
Blue-green coloured tin steam locomotive with red, gold & black trim and features painted on all sides. Funnel at the front of the locomotive. One small & two large wheels on each side connected by a piston, Driver painted in the cabin, both sides. Cabin contains space for 3 x Size D batteries - entry via back of cabin "door" Batteries run a small motor attached to the back wheels. Jockey wheels are underneath.Western painted on both sides of the cabintoys, children, tin, locomotive, train, presents -
Numurkah & District Historical Society
Tin Steam Locomotive
Red & black painted tin steam locomotive. Gold trim & details painted over the top. Funnel missing. 3D driver sitting in the cabin. Door at the back of the cabin for batteries. Batteries run a small motor driving the back wheels. Jockey wheel underneath. one small and one large wheel on each side. Piston on each side Western painted on each side of the cabin toys, children, tin, locomotive, train, presents -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Postcard, R McGeehan, The Effect of Storm. Train Passing Through Flood Waters, South Yarra, 25-1-07, 1907
SHARP DOWNPOUR. ONE INCH IN 45 MINUTES. SOUTHERN SUBURBS DELUGED. TRAIN STOPPED AT SOUTH YARRA. One of the sudden downpours of rain which occasionally fall in Melbourne occurred yesterday afternoon, when nearly an inch of rain fell in the course of three quarters of an hour, and caused a flood for an hour or two in certain localities. During the early part of the day, the sky had been clouded over, but there was nothing to indicate a storm of such intensity as that which followed. At about half-past 1 o'clock residents of South Yarra, South Melbourne, Prahran, and St. Kilda noticed a few drops of rain. Still, it appeared unlikely that there would be anything exceptional, until with startling suddenness at about 10 minutes to 1 o'clock, one of the heaviest downpours within the memory of residents burst upon those suburbs. A strange feature of the storm was that it was practically confined to an area of about three miles square. The city was but little affected, though at a spot as close as the Observatory 86 points of rain were recorded in three-quarters of an hour. Thunder and lightning accompanied the downpour, which was cyclonic in character, the rain driving heavily from all points of the compass as the cyclone passed. It was in South Yarra and Prahran that the rain fell heaviest. Within a few minutes after it commenced, the low-lying portions of Toorak-road and practically the whole length of Chapel-street were under water. The depression at the intersection of Toorak-road and Darling-street speedily filled to the dimensions of a small lake. Several shops were inundated, while the water from the higher levels rushed down like a mountain torrent, and in several in-stances swept through the rear of houses and shops, carrying furniture in a floating mass against the further walls. In one case a footbridge was carried bodily away and dashed to pieces. Darling-street itself Great Davis-street, and other low-lying and flat thoroughfares in the vicinity became flooded from kerb to kerb, while on the other side of the railway-bridge the valley between Kensington-road and River-street became filled for some minutes to a depth of several feet. Meanwhile the waters from South Yarra hill, seeking a lower level, found it in the railway cutting, and the excavations from South Yarra station to Prahran on the one line, and to the Chapel-street bridge on the other, were converted into a couple of canals. At the platforms at South Yarra the water was two feet deep on the permanent way, and towards Hawksburn, at the sudden depression under Chapel-street bridge, it was at one time deep enough to cover a tall man's head. Into this swirling mass of water the 1:50 p.m. train from Oakleigh plunged on its way to Melbourne. The impact caused a mighty fountain of water to rise to a height of about 20 feet above the level of Chapel-street and send clouds of spray in all directions. Under the belief that a terrible explosion had occurred residents braved the rain and rushed to the spot, only to find that the train had been brought to a stand-still in the middle of what seemed to be a river. The water was so high that it had entered the fire-box from below, extinguishing the fires and cutting off the steam supply. In the meantime the officials at the South Yarra station had been preparing for emergencies. Inspectors were on duty at intervals along the line, and the moment the alarm was given an extra engine was backed carefully down and continued on to connect with the stranded train without losing its own power. There was a delay of about ten minutes in the service for an hour or two, but by 5 o'clock all the trains were running on time again, and the water had run off all but the spot beneath the Chapel-street bridge. Here the water remained about four feet deep until nightfall, and throughout the afternoon several hundreds of people including biograph operators and photographers, were gathered around watching each train pass through. Even with the water two feet lower, this was a work attended with considerable difficulty. Each train had to absolutely force its way through the weight of water, almost enveloped by the spray thrown up, and it was only just able to negotiate the "ford" by using every ounce of steam. ... The Argus, 26 January 1907, p19.The item forms part of the Laurie Bennett collection of thirty-six postcards and photographs of Kew and early Melbourne, donated to the Kew Historical Society in 1980. The postcards in the Bennett collection, like other images in the Society's holdings date from the 1890s to the present and comprehensively indicate points-of-view or scenes considered historically, aesthetically or socially significant in the period in which they were produced.Postcard depicting a flood at South Yarra Station in 1907. The title and photographer's name are identified on the front of the postcard. Donated by L. Bennett, 1980flood - south yarra, trains - melbourne, postcards, r mcgeehan - prahran -
Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society Inc.
Photograph, c 1950
... steam engine on railway tracks. The 'N' Class steam locomotives ...The 'N' Class steam locomotives were built by Victorian Railways to be used on branch lines throughout the state's regional areas. A total of 73 of these locomotives were built between 1925 and 1951. The locomotive in the photograph was steaming into Sunbury. Sunbury Station was an important stop for steam locomotives travelling on the Bendigo line. Even after diesel engines were used to pull the trains in the 1950s, steam locomotives were also used until the early 1990s.A black and white photograph of a 'N'class steam engine on railway tracks.steam locomotives -
Bright & District Historical Society operating the Bright Museum
Photograph First Bright Station, Early Train at first Bright Station and T53 loco, 1894
The first bright Railway station was made of timber and was used from 1890 to 1900. This photograph shows the first station along with an early T class steam locomotive 0-6-0, number T53There are not many photographs showing the original timber station, The early T class loco is also interesting as there are only a few photographs of this type of loco on the Ovens Valley line.Black and White photograph showing the first bright Railway Station which lasted from 1890 to 1900. Also shows an early T class locomotive (0-6-0) no T53 at the stationOne of Bright's first trains at the first station, 1890 - 1900. On the back, it has the text, 'Bright Station 1894'photograph, bright, first, station, wooden station -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Platform Scales
Large platform scales such as these ones made by W. & T. Avery were used for weighing goods for trading and passengers' luggage. They would be used in places such as railway stations, shipping ports, customs offices and ticketing offices. Often fees would be charged to customers according to the weight of their goods and luggage. Items would be placed onto the large horizontal platform then weights would be added to the weighing bar until the bar leveled to being horizontal. The weights would be added together and the total of the weights would be used for the final figure. These scales were made in Birmingham, England, by the British company, W and T Avery. The company had its origins in the early 1700s but only became known as W and T Avery when the brothers William and Thomas Avery inherited the scale-making business from a relative, Joseph Balden, on his death in 1813. By 1885 they had three factories and In 1895, the company acquired James Watt & Co and two years later had moved to the 25-acre Soho Foundry site in Smethwick, Birmingham where James Watt had manufactured steam engines. When the last Avery family member died in 1918, the company employed over 3,000 people and had businesses all over the world. Following the highly successful introduction of the first digital retail scale in 1971, the company was taken over by the GEC Group in 1979. The business was subsequently acquired by the American company, Weigh-Tronix, in 2000 which had already acquired a competitor, Salter. The Avery name continues today in the company known as Avery Weigh-Tronix.An item that was used at the turn of the century as train platform scales or for weighing agricultural products. Made by a company that pioneered weighing equipment with offices all over the world. With many examples of this scale in museums throughout the world. Platform scales with wheels. Large cast iron, scales painted black, weight capacity to 7 CWT (hundred weight). Weight beam has markers "0. 5. 10. 15. 20. 25". Platform scale loose weight type with relieving handle; cast iron construction, fluted columns with integral weight stand, the two wheels are fitted to base at front of platform; there is a graduated steelyard 0-14bs with pear-shaped poise. Weight carrier is missing.Pressed into cast iron arm on scale, one side "W. & T. AVERY", opposite side "BIRMINGHAM", and into the platform "TO WEIGH 7 CWT, W. & T. AVERY, MAKERS, LONDON & BIRMINGHAM" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, measuring scales, weighing scales, weighing instrument, fees for goods, fees for luggage, ticket office -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - Post Card, 1928
One of a collection of 11 photographs/postcards donated by Meg Davis & Nancy McHaffie from the estate of Brenda Higgins, grand-daughter of J. D. & Georgianna McHaffie.Black & White Postcard of the Alvina ferry at the Cowes Pier. Crowds of people on the pier and ferry. The postcard was written by Oonah, Brenda's sister, describing her trip down to Phillip Island by train then on the SS Alvina. Oonah was staying at Bayview Guesthouse in Cowes.The Rose Series P 10473. The "Alvina" at the pier, Cowes, Vic.ss alvina, steam ships, ferries, cowes pier, cowes pier phillip island -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Photocopy, Diamond Valley News, Newspaper article: Fred looks back by Linley Hartley, Diamond Valley News, c.1985
Fred looks back; Report: Linley Hartley, Picture: Ron Grant Teaching himself German again after 70 years is just one of the many tasks Fred Golgerth, of Greensborough, has undertaken and succeeded in during his lifetime. As the two year old tenth child of a German descendent, Fred learnt to speak German from an Aunt. But World War 1 was raging. Fred’s older brother had gone to Europe with the Australian forces, changing his name … to ….. to sound less German. “I used to get my bottom slapped for speaking German at home,” Fred said. Even his name was changed from Otto to the more anglicised Frederick. Fred claims his involvement with Eltham started two years before he was born! His sister, two years older than him, was a babe in arms when his parents bought a piece of grazing property in Mount Pleasant Rd. “It was about 24 acres on a spur of Mt Pleasant,” Fred said. “My parents bought it from Mr and Mrs Hughes. There was a two-room mud hut in wattle and daub that we lived in from time to time. “My parents had a dairy farm and dairy in West Coburg, and they bought the Mt Pleasant land to put the dry stock on. “At one stage my mother got very ill and my older sister took my younger sister and myself to Eltham for four or five months. I went down to Eltham Primary School then.” That wasn’t the only time Fred stayed in Eltham. His sister, Wilhemina, known as Willa, married Jim Watson who had the Eltham hotel for some years from the end of World War 1. Pillar to post living was the way Fred described his youth, when he stayed with one married sister after another. “After a while Will and Jim lived in the big house at the top of Pitt St, next to the Council depot, and the hotel was managed by Fitzsimmons who had a big place near the river down there on Fitzsimons Lane. There was no bridge in Fitzsimons Lane but we used to cross the river at a ford, rolling up our trouser legs so they wouldn’t get wet, and carrying our shoes. I’d o down to visit some friends I had in Templestowe. And sometimes Jim Watson took his horse drawn lorry across the ford on his way to the brewery, instead of going don through Heidelberg.” “The bridge across the Yarra in Fitzsimons was not built until 1961.” Fred Golgerth, was only a teenager when he was rolled off his pushbike under a car on the bend between Mt Pleasant Rd and the Diamond Creek bridge. He was hospitalised in the little hospital on the east side of Eltham village that served the district in those days. He still carries the scars of the burns he received from the exhaust pipe and recent x-rays have revealed several broken vertebrae. At the time of the accident he was treated for a dislocated neck and was in plaster from his hip to the base of his head for about seven months. But nothing daunted Fred. Bouncing back he began work as an apprentice to a motor mechanic in Bell St, Preston, a man who is still living (at 90) in Queensland and who still communicates with Fred frequently. “He was like a father to me,” Fred declared. He was a marine engineer as well, so I …. that as well as blacksmithing. They taught us properly then.” After finishing his apprenticeship, Fred bought himself a 30 hundredweight Fargo truck and began his own contract carting business, doing most of the work for a firm called Carnegie’s and a subsidiary of that, Howard Radio. It was in the office Fred met his wife. “He taught me to drive the truck giving me lessons in my lunch hours up the Bourke St and Flinders St extension,” she said. “After work I’d have a driving lesson and all the girls from the Howard Radio would pile in the back to get a lift to Richmond Station.” In the 1939 bushfires, the Mt Pleasant Rd property was burnt out and the hut raised. Two years later, Fred and Dorothy were married. Fred paid £7.15.0 ($15.50) for the suit in which he was married. Dorothy had pulled out of the Women’s Air Training Corps to be married. Others with whom she trained went to Darwin and were in a convoy that was bombed. Fred went into the garage business in Brighton and continued his cartage business for a while. His company was employed to do all Brown Gouge’s motor repairs and factory maintenance. Because Fred had a certificate to do steam repair work he often got jobs maintaining industrial boilers. While he was in Brighton, Fred bought an eight-seater 1925 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce from Sir Keith Murdoch. When the couple moved to Rosanna in about 1943, it became a delivery van for the dairy they operated. “I thought I’d like to get back into a dairy business” Fred said. “We used to deliver the milk in the Rolls. “But it was hard work. We couldn’t get the labour and we’d drive to the farm and pick up the milk cans, take them back to the dairy, cool the milk, bottle it and deliver it. The inspectors would come regularly and the walls for bacteria.” Fred was exhausted. The couple gave up the dairy and moved to Eltham to live on the old property where a weatherboard house had now been built. It wasn’t a big house and the glassed in Rolls Royce limousine became the daytime nursery for the Golgerth’s second daughter. We’d put her in there to sleep during the day.” “Dorothy Golgerth was known to drive the Rolls at breakneck speed along Mt Pleasant Rd. Fred took some time off work then began driving a little local bus run by the Lyon Brothers before taking a maintenance job at the Athenaeum Club in the city. He’d ride an old Harley-Davidson to the station and travel into the city by train. Later, when the family moved to Pryor St. (their house stood where McEwans car park is now) Fred could walk to and from the station. “There was no resident doctor in the early days of Eltham,” Fred said. “Dr Cordner used to come from Greensborough to a room in the old house next to the old grocery shop on the corner of York St and Main Rd, Eltham (the grocery shop is now the Eltham Feed and Grain Store). The Golgerths lived in Eltham until “Dollar Day” – the day decimal currency became official. They eventually moved to Greensborough, when they have lived since. Fred has had his share of interesting jobs since then, retiring at 65 seven years ago when he was working in the engineering department at Larundel. Recently, two of his older sisters and a brother died, within a month. They were all in their 80s. They all had a profound influence on Fred, especially during his youth. His sharp wit and amusing anecdotes are the richer for his having been the youngest of a family that made the best of every circumstance. And now, as he enjoys his retirement, he is concentrating on relearning the language of his infancy; teaching himself German from tapes and a ‘teach yourself’ manual. He is fiercely proud of his German ancestry and treasures the diary, written in German in Gothic script, kept by his grandparents during their journey to Australia. On the inside in blue pen: "To Sadie, Wal Margaret & Elizabeth with lots & lots of love & best wishes from Mother"marg ball collection, eltham hotel, herbert james watson, otto (fred) golgerth, wilhemina watson (nee golgerth) -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Book, Steam in the Otways, November 2005
Engineman and historian Norman De Pomeroy took photographs in first half of 1962 of the Garratt engine and its rolling stock running on the narrow gauge line between Colac and Weeaproinah until its closure on 30 June 1962.Steam in the Otways from the collection of Norman W. De Pomeroy. A photographic profile. Neville Gee (ed.); John Sargent (ed.). 2005; Train Hobby Publications; Studfield (Vic). ii, 48 p.; illus. Soft cover. ISBN 1 921122 02 1colac; beech forest; weeaproinah; norman w. de pomeroy; narrow gauge; victorian railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Book, Puffing Billy Preservation Society, G42: Puffing Billy's Big Brother, 1981
Victoria's narrow gauge railways were from Wangaratta to Whitfield (covering 30.5 miles/49 km) opening in 1899, Colac to Beech Forest (29 miles/46.7 km) opening in 1902 with an addition to Crowes (14.1 miles/22.7 km) opening in 1910, Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook (18.2 miles/29.3 km) opening in 1900, and Moe to Walhalla (26 miles/41.3 km) opening in 1910. From the outset these narrow gauge lines proved very uneconomical in operation and were plagued with continuing financial losses. The lines most difficult to work were those carrying the most business, and in particular the trains from Colac and Moe with their 1 in 30 grades and countless curves precluded having engines with large coupled driving wheels operating. Having examined the possible use of articulated locomotives to reduce operating costs on the narrow gauge lines the Victorian Railways decided upon the Beyer-Garratt type of locomotive in 1925 and an order was placed in England for two engines of the 2-6-0 plus 0-6-2 wheel arrangements. These arrived in April 1926. Assembly of the new Garratts was duly completed and steaming trials carried out at Newport, Victoria, the engines being classed as "G" and given the running numbers "41" and "42". G41 was taken to Colac where, on 5 June 1926, it was put to work on the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line. G42 soon followed and duly began work on the equally steep and tortuous but shorter Moe-Walhalla line. Following the closure of the Moe line in 1955 G42 was refurbished and went to Colac. G41 was overhauled, but not as thoroughly as G42, at then returned to Colac where both Garratts shared regular work on the line until its closure in 1962. From 1978 G42 continues its operation on the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line as part of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society.G42: Puffing Billy's Big Brother. Pictorial history of a Beyer-Garratt in Victoria, Australia. Phil A'Vard, Larry James, Ron Peach (concept). Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); 1980. 64 p.; illus; map. Soft cover. ISBN 0 9598392 7 5victorian railways; narrow gauge; moe; walhalla; colac; beech forest; crowes; upper ferntree gully; gembrook; beyer-garratt; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Brucker, Beech Forest Station, c1902, c.1902
Gangers on an 5A-class 2-6-2T steam locomotive with goods wagons, and as well as men standing beside the train, at Beech Forest station during construction, c.1902.Beech Forest station during construction of the line, c.1902. gangers; na-class locomotive; beech forest; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Ray Jude, Last train to Beech Forest, 30 June 1962
The last train to Beech Forest ran on 30 June 1962, between Banool and Wimba. The train had a particularly motley look with 180 passengers loaded into NU goods vans and the old NQ wagons hastily fitted out with temporary seats and tarpaulin roofing. The train was hauled by the G42 locomotive kept alive through patch-up repairs and cannibalised G41 parts, steam escaping from every joint.Last train to Beech Forest, 30 June 1962.beech forest; trains; railways; -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, George Coop, Steam locomotive N-430 and the Victorian Centenary Jubilee train at Spencer Street Railway Station, Feb. 1951
The Centenary-Jubilee Train. The Centenary-Jubilee train was one of the outstanding successes of the Centenary and Jubilee celebrations in Victoria. The train, attractively painted green and gold, consisted of eleven cars, and toured Victoria to take to people in the country exhibits of interest associated with the celebrations. National Art Gallery paintings, rare manuscripts and pictures were displayed, as well as models showing the history of gold production, and models and illustrations of national projects controlled by the various departments of this State. The Commonwealth section included displays by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Post Office; a war materials exhibit from the Supply Department; and diagrams and maps of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. The Railways exhibit portrayed the century's growth and development of railways in Victoria and their influence on the prosperity of the State. During its 6,000 miles tour, from 1st February to 30th June, the train visited 168 stations and was inspected by 547,978 people. An entertainment unit accompanied the train and gave 100 performances which were attended by 96,400 people. Source: Report of The Victorian Railways Commissioners for the Year Ended 30th June 1951Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, n-430, n-class steam locomotive, victorian centenary jubilee 1951 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, George Coop, Steam locomotive N-430 and the Victorian Centenary Jubilee train at Spencer Street Railway Station, Feb. 1951
The Centenary-Jubilee Train. The Centenary-Jubilee train was one of the outstanding successes of the Centenary and Jubilee celebrations in Victoria. The train, attractively painted green and gold, consisted of eleven cars, and toured Victoria to take to people in the country exhibits of interest associated with the celebrations. National Art Gallery paintings, rare manuscripts and pictures were displayed, as well as models showing the history of gold production, and models and illustrations of national projects controlled by the various departments of this State. The Commonwealth section included displays by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Post Office; a war materials exhibit from the Supply Department; and diagrams and maps of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme. The Railways exhibit portrayed the century's growth and development of railways in Victoria and their influence on the prosperity of the State. During its 6,000 miles tour, from 1st February to 30th June, the train visited 168 stations and was inspected by 547,978 people. An entertainment unit accompanied the train and gave 100 performances which were attended by 96,400 people. Source: Report of The Victorian Railways Commissioners for the Year Ended 30th June 1951Digital TIFF file Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, n-430, n-class steam locomotive, victorian centenary jubilee 1951 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, George Coop, Diesel-electric rail cars in the Railmotor Yard at Spencer Street Station, c.1951
This photo was taken the same time as EDHS_04673-36 an A2-class Steam Locomotive 987 sitting on the other side of the platform at Spencer Street Railway Station. 280HP Walker Railmotor Walker Railmotors are diesel railcars, or train sets, that were designed to improve the passenger services on Victorian branchlines in Australia. They were practically a bus service on rails. These motors entered service in 1948 with the 102 hp and the 154 hp units. The 102 hp units were built until 1955 and the 153 hp units stopped being built one year before. The 280 hp units were built from 1950-1951. The engine and drive systems were built by the Walker Railcar Company in Wigan, England, and the bodies were built by Martin & King in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The railcars were put together by Victorian Railways. The railcars were, in the end, gradually replaced by a diesel electric railcar from 1978 on. Amazingly these railcars survived to this time, even though they were in direct competition with the bus service. By 1980 no Walker Railmotor cars or trainsets were in service. Very few are preserved. REF: Walker Railmotors, https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/Walker_RailmotorsDigital TIFF file Scan of black and white 620 format contact printgeorge coop collection, spencer street railway station, walker railmotor