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Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Doug McLean, Gellibrand: Kanyana Special to Beech Forest, 1 March 1959
On the 1st March, 1959, the first special train was organized by the Australian Railways Historical Society in conjunction with the Kanyana Festival Committee of Colac, Victoria. It proved so popular that additional trains were later organized. Temporarily in storage at Newport railway yards eight NBH excursion carriages were transferred to Colac which ran on the special trains until early-1962. A A.R.H.S. "Kanyana" special excursion locomotive G41, an NC guard's van and NBH excursion carriages at halts at Gellibrand while the fireman attends to the engine requirements (or 'ER' in railways' parlance). The passengers are milling outside the excursion carriages while two are talking to the driver. Houses are in the background. B/W.gellibrand; railways; kanyana special; colac; beech forest; loco g41; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Ray Jude, Colac: G42 about to depart with the last train, 30 June 1962
The last train to Beech Forest ran on 30 June, 1962. The train had a particularly motley look to it; 180 passengers were loaded into NU goods vans which had been hastily fitted out with temporary seats and tarpaulin roofing. The train was hauled by the dilapidated G42 locomotive, kept alive through patch-up repairs and cannibalised G41 parts, which intending travellers looked at with some trepidation. The train made it without mishap. When it returned to Colac on that cold, gloomy June day it signalled the end of narrow gauge operations in the Otway Ranges.B/W. Locomotive G42 with the sign " Australian Railway, Last Train to Beech Forest, 30-6-62, Historical Society" is departing Colac. NC guard's van and NU louvred van are attached. A woman and man watching. .colac; beech forest; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Tulloh: last train from Weeaproinah, June 2011
The 1963 Victoria Railways Annual Report stated: "Owing to the paucity of traffic the provision of a regular goods train service on the Colac-Weeaproinah narrow gauge line has involved substantial operating losses in recent years . . . As it was evident that the cost of retaining the service was quite disproportionate to the small amount of traffic offering, the line was closed."B/W. On the 27 June 1962 locomotive G42, 13 NQR wagons, several loaded with wood, and an NC guard's van negotiate Scanlon's curve near Tulloh. Three staff occupy the wagon next to the engine. On the horizon a house amidst a tree.weeaproinah; tulloh; scanlon's curve; railway; colac; beech forest; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Timetable, Victorian Railways, Crowes-Beech Forest line: December 1911, December 1911
B/W. Photocopy. Crowes-Beech Forest-Colac narrow gauge line, December 1911, showing for each station the height above sea level in feet, the miles from Crowes to Colac (and Melbourne), the Station, a mixed train on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a mixed train on other days, and loading factors.. colac; beech forest; crowes; melbourne; railway; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Timetable, Victorian Railways, Amendment to Opening of Extension, Beech Forest to Crowes, 16 June 1911
The circular, S.2628/11, opening the extension of the railway line from Beech Forest to Crowes in June, 1911, is amended by S.2779/11 of 1911. The DOWN train runs from Colac to Beech Forest on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 3.00pm and arriving at 6.45pm. The UP train departs Crowes daily at 12.45pm arriving at Beech Forest at 2.15pm, and Colac at 6.26pm, stopping where necessary at Tulloh and Ditchley to pick up or set down passengers.B/W, photograph. Originally dated 16 June 1911, S. 2628/11, Opening of Extension, Beech Forest to Crowes, is amended by a further circular, S.2779/11. The DOWN train leaves Colac on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; the UP train leaves Crowes daily.colac; beech forest; crowes; timetable; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Taking water at Kincaid, c.1950s
B/W. A mixed goods train headed by an NA class locomotive taking water at Kincaid, the fireman looking at the camera, the driver hanging from the entrance to the enging, and a boy standing in front of the engine. kincaid; colac; beech forest; crowes; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Phil A'Vard, Tulloh: Beech Forest: Scout Special, March 1961
Colour. Locomotive G42, an NC guard's van and eight NBH excursion carriages packed with children round a bend near Tulloh at March, 1961. Two people stand watching.tulloh; railway; colac; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Norman Houghton, Colac: Transfer Shed, 1974
B/W, 122mm x 226mm. Transfer Shed and livestock wagon.colac; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Last train from Weeaproinah, 1962, 27 June 1962
The last goods train ran from Beech Forest and Weeaproinah on Wednesday, 27th June 1962, laden with NQR wagons full of timber and a guard's van. The crew was driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence.B/W. 195mm x 267mm. Locomotive G42 bearing the inscription " 27th June 1962, Last train from Weeaproinah" traverses the point, the crew, driver Clarrie Kenyan and fireman John Spence looking at the camera.colac; beech forest; weeaproinah; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Albert Denning, Colac track gang near Kawarren, c.1950
In 1955 staff numbers were reduced to an absolute minimum with one track gang at Beech Forest and one at Colac, one of whose members resided at Gellibrand. No new sleepers were issued to the track gangs after 1955/56, cut down ones being used instead. Albert Denning, the son of a Gellibrand selector, worked at Driver's planing mill and Hitt's Lardner mill before joining Victorian Railways in 1928 as an engine cleaner at Beech Forest and Crowes, the last one in both places. He later became a track repairer at Gellibrand and worked with this and the Colac track gang until 1962. Bill Jamieson was a track repairer on the Colac-Gellibrand gang from the 1950s until 1962, and witnessed the official policy of minimum maintenance in the last years of the line.B/W. 201mm x 254mm. In c.1950, the Colac track gang near Kawarren, featuring, from left to right, Bill Jamieson, Albert Denning, and Don Loury on an NKS motor trolley..colac; kawarren; railways; track gangs; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Beech Forest: NA locomotive taking coal, c.1955
To a dead end spur at Beech Forest station a locomotive depot was provided with a coal stage, ash pit and water tank as part of the original facilities of the station. Coal was transported from Colac by rail and hand-shovelled up onto the stage from an NQ truck positioned alongside. Twin water columns on the stage ends enabled two NA class or both ends of a Garratt locomotive to take water simultaneously. Beneath the trestle was the ash pit.B/W. 200mm x 271mm. An NA locomotive on trestles taking coal at Beech Forest. A child watches.beech forest; railways; coal stage; na locomotive; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Beech Forest: line to Crowes, 1912
B/W. Lead-in to Beech Forest Railway Station in 1912, with line to Crowes on the left and the line from Colac on the right. Note Gardner Street crossing the Crowes line, the Beech Forest Public Hall to its left, a house further down, and the Catholic Church to the right.beech forest; railways;, beech forest; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Gwen Armistead, Gellibrand: War Service Homes Commission Saw Mill, 1920
Four examples of saw mills placed in station yards were seen on the Beech Forest line of which one was the War Service Homes Commission weatherboard planning mill at Gellibrand. It operated between 1920 until 1923 for both inwards and outwards cartage of timber. As an alternative to Colac Reginald Driver, the WSHC operator, chose Gellibrand in September, 1920 as the site for a mill fitted with the latest double-bladed planning machine. The rough cut boards were sent by train from Driver's mills at Ferguson, Wyelangta and Macknott, off loaded at Gellibrand, and later reloaded for the trip to Colac.B/W. War Service Homes Commission Saw Mill at Gellibrand station in 1920. Six men loading palings onto a NQR wagon.gellibrand; war service homes commission; planing mill; railways;, gellibrand; war service homes commission; planing mill; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Victorian Railways, Between Devitt Bros. Siding & Ditchley, 1901
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; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Langford, Weston, Beech Forest: Goods trail departing for Colac, 1961, 9 August 1961
The Garratts were approaching 35 years of age and needed constant repairs to keep them in service, the other rolling stock was between 45 and 60 years old, the track was generally in poor condition, and the amount of traffic offering was only a faction of that carried previously and came from one station, Beech Forest. A further sign of decay was in the transfer of goods between the gauges. Where eight or nine men had worked full-time transferring between gauges only one man was seen by 1960, with several other men hired on the basis of '$2 a truck', assuming they could be found. In 1961 VR announced its intention to close the line which it did on 30 June 1962. Colour. On 9 August 1961 a G42 locomotive and goods train departing for Colac with the coal stage on the left, the saw mill and Gangers Shed on the right, and houses in the right background.. beech forest; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Beech Forest township, c.1903
J.W. Gardner erected premises in Beech Forest which formed the core of a village. No further progress was made until access was facilitated though the development of a narrow gauge railway approved by the Victorian Parliament in 1898. Construction commenced in 1900. From this time Colac and Geelong business interests began investment in Beech Forest and established various retail and service establishments over the next few years. In 1902 three early settlers, Gardner, Charles Buchanan and John Cockerill, divided part of their land or bought land which was sold to businesses. On these subdivisions were created saleyards, general stores, a post office, bakery, blacksmithing, banks, a police station and lock-up, a public hall, churches, a state school, bootmaker, butcher, solicitor's office, hairdresser, billiard's saloon and newsagency.B/W. 188mm x 266mm. A general view of Beech Forest township in c.1903.beech forest; township; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, R. Preston, Taking water at Wimba tank, 8 January 1958
Wimba station is 37.3 km south of Colac. This station, originally called "Bunding", opened with the line in in March, 1902, as an unnamed stopping place. It was renamed "Wimba" on 17 November, 1902. A water tank for locomotive requirements was placed on the side of a hill about 100 metres south of the station. Wimba was not provided with a loop siding but had a passenger shelter until 1936 when the roads took over. A sheep race was provided near the passenger shelter. The station closed with the line.B/W. An UP goods train loaded with pulp wood on NQR wagons and two NC guard's vans taking water at Wimba tank on 8 January 1958. wimba; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Narrow gauge construction camp near Colac, c.1900
Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line commenced in 1900 and the first activities were the work gangs and their camps. About 100 men were engaged in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The first camp was established eight kilometres from Colac, the second 12 km south, and the remainder spaced at similar distances as the work progressed. The camps were served by butchers and bakers from Colac that visited them as many times each week to satisfy the mens' requirements. Many of the men had their families with them. They all lived in tents that consisted of a wooden floor around which the canvas cover was built. A calico partition divided the eating and sleeping quarters, and all cooking was done in camp ovens or at open fires.B/W. 158mm x 203mm. Near Colac, a narrow gauge construction camp comprising 21 workmen, a horse, and two tipping trays.construction camp; railways; colac; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Surveying construction near Barongarook, 1900
In 1898 a recommendation for a railway of 2 ft 6 in gauge was handed down by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, to cost $138,000. Construction of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line began in 1900. About 100 men were employed in laying and ballasting the track while others formed the earthworks and the building of culverts and bridges. The earthworks of gravel ballast 150 mm deep were formed by horse and scoop or by shovel. Once the bed had been laid surveyors went along to check the layout, particularly all check rail curves and all 100 metre curves which the surveyors in the picture are doing.B/W. Three men surveying the construction of a curved bed on which track will be laid, near Barongarook, Victoria.colac; beech forest; barongarook; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Survey camp for Colac-Beech Forest railway, 1901
Plans for a rail connection between Colac and Beech Forest had been drawn up in 1884 and 1889 but proofed inconclusive because of the enormous cost involved in building a railway in such difficult terrain. Because of the financial depression in the early 1890s such expenditure went of hold. Towards the end of the decade planners recognised that a narrow gauge could be a viable alternative and it was taken up by the community, Parliamentary representatives and the government, although Victorian Railways administration was against the idea. This was overridden. The 1898 Parliament approved a 2 foot 6 inch gauge from Colac to Beech Forest although strict financial limits were set. The route was to be the most direct and the infrastructure the most basic. Construction began in 1900 entailing very steep grades and myriad curves until it finished in 1902. Surveyors and their assistants came before and during the track laying for the whole distance.B/W. Survey camp for the Colac-Beech Forest railway in 1901, showing nine tents, ten men including a cook, survey instruments, and three bicycles. Note the cooking fire on the right.colac: beech forest; railways; survey; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Opening banquet, Colac-Beech Forest railway line, 1902, 27 February 1902
While the first train arrived at Beech Forest on 17 February, 1902, as a special train for a race meeting at Beech Forest Turf Club, two special trains ran for the official opening of the railway by the State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, KCMG, R.E., F.R.S., that took place on 27 February, 1902. After seeing round the area the guests attended a celebration of the opening at a banquet at Beech Forest. The menu included four impressive courses, coffee and cognac, and included a number of toasts - The King, the Governor, the Minister and the Parliament of the State, Success to the Beech Forest Railway, the Colac Shire Council and the Railway Trust, and the Railway Department, a total of 19 people speaking. The official guests then returned to Colac.B/W. Opening banquet for the Colac-Beech Forest railway line in 1902. The State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, KCMG, the Premier of Victoria, Hon. A.J. Peacock, MLA, and a number of other important people seated at the top table, with other guests seated to the left and right.beech forest; railways; banquet; colac; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, A reverse or S curve, Colac-Beech Forest railway, 1901
B/W. A reverse or S curve on the Colac-Beech Forest railway line, taken in 1901.colac; beech forest; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Victorian Railways, Bend 21.5 miles looking south, 1901
Banool station is 34.1 km down the railway line from Colac: this photograph was taken 34.6 km down the line, half a kilometre onwards.B/W. A bend in the line 21.5 miles (34.6 km) looking south.banool; beech forest; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Victorian Railways, Gellibrand ballast pit siding, c.1902
In 1902 a ballast siding was opened 4 km south of Gellibrand to provide materials for track construction. A spur siding with a capacity for six trucks was cut into the side of a slope. Above this was erected a loading bin and chute. The stone proved to be of durable quality so the siding continued after 1902 for periodic track re-ballasting works. The points were set for the main line and spiked shut when the siding was not in use. By the mid-1920s the Victorian Railways found it more economic to use ballast from Penshurst, so the siding was closed by 1925 and the rails lifted.B/W. Gellibrand ballast pit siding at 19 miles (30.6 km) south of Colac. gellibrand; gellibrand siding; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Book, Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Here comes Puffing Billy!
The Puffing Billy Preservation Society came into existence by a popular desire to retain something of our narrow gauge railway past, leisurely in this age but a boon to the sparsely settled areas it served in the past. It served the Wangaratta-Whitefield line, the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line, the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes line, and the Moe-Walhalla line, the last railway line served being the Colac-Beech Forest line. None of these railways were a paying proposition but they played an important part in the areas they served. Nowadays, the last bit of line is a portion of the Upper Ferntree Gully-Gembrook line, from Belgrave to Lakeside, run by the Society. The Engine Shed has several small NA-class locomotives with NBH excursion carriages, and at the moment the Garratt G class in pieces. Here comes Puffing Billy! Puffing Billy Preservation Society; Belgrave (Vic); nd (after Aug. 1962). 18 p.; illus., maps. Soft cover.puffing billy preservation society; railways; wangaratta; whitefield; upper frentree gully; gembrook; colac; beech forest; crowes; moe; walhalla; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Wimba: Inspecting officers, 1902
B/W. Two inspecting officers examining newly built lines near Wimba in 1902.wimba; railways; beech forest; colac; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Document, Derryl Towers (deceased), Derryl Towers: Letter to the Editor (Draft), 1964, 12 January 1964
Derryl Towers wrote to the editor of the Colac Herald about his concerns about the proposal for a loan to create a new municipal workshop and Shire Engineer's office in the Apollo Bay riding. He made several points: a lack of attendance at the poll could bring the matter back to the Council table again; the representative of the Regional Committee is exploring some downward adjustment in Shire contributions; 2/3 of the Shire is reserved for water catchment or timber purposes, in effect a national asset; that the Council Sub-committee's report was sound; all Councillor's agree that new buildings are a necessity; and if we spend money on the loan to renovate old buildings what happens to the proposal for new buildings? Derryl Towers, Letter to the editor. Handwritten, 4 pages, draft, quarto. shire of otway; ratepayers; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Document, Norman Houghton, A bite on the Beechy. Norman Houghton, c.2011
A bite on the Beechy. Norman Houghton. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); c.2011. 7 p.; refs. Paper.beech forest; colac; railways; gellibrand; wyelangta; lavers hill; crowes; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Locomotive 8A and its mixed train at Colac Railway Station, c.1920
Station facilities for the travelling public on the narrow gauge line at Colac Railway Station were non-existent for many years. Tickets were purchased from the broad gauge booking office and the travellers then had to walk with their luggage over the rough, potentially ankle-twisting, stone approaches, through the goods yard and wait in the open amongst the mud holes alongside the narrow gauge departure track. In 1922 a footbridge was erected over the broad gauge lines, and a passenger shelter and small goods shed were built on the departure track.B/W. At Colac Railway Station, an locomotive 8A with five NQR wagons, an NM livestock wagon and a NBDBD combined passenger and brake van destined for Beech Forest, with either the driver or the fireman peering out of the engine, three youths standing at the front of the engine, and a group of people, including a woman, standing near the livestock wagon. A multi-storied shed and two houses are in the background. 179mm x 280mm picture.colac; railway; narrow gauge; na locomotive; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, R. Preston, Banool: Locomotive G42 and goods, c.1960
This original station on the Colac-Beech Forest line was first known as "Moorbanool" after the local parish, and then shortened to "Banool" on 1 November 1904. At first facilities consisted of a passenger shelter, a loop siding for 11 trucks, plus a residence for the ganger of the track gang based there. By 1912 with the extension of the line to Crowes increased train services on the line required a crossing station in this section of the track, and therefore Banool became a staff and ticket station with a crossing loop and home signals. However, this only lasted for two years and was abolished as an economy measure in 1916. Loading figures show that in most years the outwards tonnage at Banool was less than 150 tonnes. The station was reduced to a passenger shelter and goods loop only by 1929, and by the time of closure in 1962 most trains were steaming through.Colour. Locomotive G42 and its NQR goods wagons, loaded and unloaded, steaming past Banool station passenger shelter. 143mm x 274mm print.banool; moorbanool; railways; locomotive g42;