Gradient diagram. Colac to Beech Forest to Crowes. 2'6" gauge.colac; tulloh; coram; barongarook; water tanks; birnam; karwarren; hitt's siding; lovat; gellibrand; banool; wimba; mcdevitt; dinmont; devitt bros' siding; ditchley; beech forest; buchanan; ferguson; weeaproinah; pettitt bros' siding; j & m knott siding; kincaid siding; wyelangta; pettitt's siding; stalker; macknott; laver's hill; crowes; gradient;

Until 1925 Beech Forest saw three trains or six train movements each day, from 6.50,am until 3.05 pm, and the railway personnel reflected this movement. A Station Master, porter, goods clerk, train crew, engine cleaner and track gang were employed. While economic activity slowed a little bit after this it still remained vigorous for another three years. However, the frequency of goods trains started to decrease from 1926 when the small NA class locomotives were partly replaced by a Garratt engine that had greater hauling power. Three regular train services continued to run each day, two of these being NA drawn and the other a Garratt train.B/W. Beech Forest Railway Station, a group of two men and a single man standing outside. On No.2 Road an NA locomotive, the single man watching. On No.3 Road a line of NQR open wagons.beech forest; railways; loco na;

Reminiscences and anecdotal recollections from the Otways and other places. R.W. Hill. 1st Ed. No imprint. iii, 49 p. Soft cover.Letter from R.W. Hill to Anthony Zappelli of Beech Forest.reminiscences; anecdotes; recollections; otways; beech forest; the ridge;

A ganger, Frank Woosman, is digging ballast near a railway gangers' trolley.Out on the track. Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes Railway. c.1940colac; beech forest; crowes; frank woosman; gangers' trolley; railway;

While one of the lesser prime loading points sawn and split timber were loaded at Beech Forest, and a large share of this was brought to the station over two timber tramways that operated between 1904 and 1933. At the eastern end of the railway yard, near the six-ton derrick crane, a wooden tramline curved out the gate and along the road for about 8 km (5 miles) to the co-operative Box Company, known locally as the Box mill, owned by the Victorian Diary Farmers' Co-operative whose purpose was the milling of butter boxes. Other millers also provided timber. Logs were hauled to the mill by horses, and the sawn timber despatched over a tramline that joined the Box mill line about 1.2 km (0.75 miles) along. B/W. Two men loading puncheons (a short post approximately 4 feet [1.2 metres] especially used for supporting a roof in a coal mine) on a NQR wagon at Beech Forest. Note the lack of trees in the background.beech forest; railways; puncheons;

Beech Forest: a century on The Ridge. Norman Houghton. ISBN 0 959013 1 3. Soft cover. 56p.; illus, map, graph, sketch. March 1984. Publisher: Beech Forest Centenary Committee

David Lanyon undertook many aspects of mining progressing to become the underground boss of the New Chum United Mine. In 1894 he became a member of the Bendigo Stock exchange and a successful speculator. He then moved into a new home, "Raelwa" in Beech St., GoldenSquare. This substantial home was designed by architect, Mr William Beebe10563.3a David & Augusta Lanyon outside their (Miner's Cottage) home in Ophir Street, Bendigo. Later after his success with investments he built a home in Beech Street which he named "Reawla" after his village in Cornwall. 10563.3b photocopy of Mr. David Lanyon, who made a fortune speculating ion the Bendigo Mines From undated photographsdavid lanyon, reawla, miner's cottage

The last train ran to Beech Forest on 30 June 1962. It had a particularly motley look: 180 passengers were loaded into a series of NU goods wagons hastily fitted with temporary seats and, given the time of year, tarpaulin covers. The G42 locomotive had patched-up repairs and cannibalised G41 parts. Intending travellers faced up to the trip with some trepidation but the train made it with no problems. On this cold, gloomy day when it got back to Colac it signalled the end of narrow gauge operations in the Otway Ranges.B/W. Locomotive G42 with the sign "Australian Railway Historical Society, Last Train to Beech Forest, 30-6-62", an NC guard's van, a NU louvred van and many NQR open wagons, at a photostop near Tulloh. Several passengers taking photos while the driver is waiting to proceed.colac; beech forest; railway; tulloh;

Locomotive 8A, rolling stock, gangers and passengers, somewhere between Gellibrand and Beech Forest.beech forest; gellibrand; railway; loco 8a;

A four-wheeled, two-horse buggy and, further along, two men standing on a railway embankment before laying the track, near McDevitt in 1901A horseshoe curve near McDevitt during the course of construction of the Beech Forest railway, 1901.beech forest; mcdevitt; embankment; railway;

Otway Tennis Assn, B Section, tennis trophy. Cup-shaped EPNS with handles, bakelite base, with one rectangular plate and three shield plates with the names of winning teams from 1963 until 1991/92.;1963 Beech Forest 1964 Ferguson 1975 Beech Forest 1976 Beech Forest 1977 Beech Forest 1980 Carlisle River 1981 Carlisle River 1982 Lavers Hill 1982/83 Carlisle River 1983/84 Ferguson 1984/85 Lavers Hill 1985/86 Carlisle River 1986/87 Wyelangta 1987/88 Carlisle River 1990/91 Lavers Hill Green 1991/92 Weeaproinahtennis; trophy; otway tennis association;

At 10 mile creek (Water Tanks) during the building of the Colac-Beech Forest railway in 1900.colac; beech forest; railway; 10 mile creek; water tanks;

B/W. A reverse or S curve on the Colac-Beech Forest railway line, taken in 1901.colac; beech forest; railways;

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;

On 24 March 1962 the special train marking the closure of the Colac-Beech forest railway line was again put on by the Australian Railway Historical Society, this time called the "Bye-Bye Beechie". It had G42 as the locomotive, eight NBH excursion carriages with NC guard's vans at either end, pulling a crowd of keen passengers. Special excursion trains until mid-1962.Colour. G42 locomotive inscribed "Australian Railway Historical Society, Bye-Bye Beechie, 24-3-62", an NC guard's van, eight NBH excursion carriages and another NC guard's van on No.2 Road at Beech Forest Railway Station, with dismounted passengers all around. On No.4 Road a number of loaded or semi-loaded NQR wagons and an NUU louvre van, with a truck, a car, and a van at the end of the row. A parked red truck in the foreground is next to a timber stack.beech forest: railways; "bye bye beechie";, beech forest: railways; "bye bye beechie";

Colour. Locomotive G42 traversing the scissors or delta crossover during shunting operations at Beech Forest on 9 August 1961. A man operates the points. To the right the Beech Forest Hall and Otway Shire offices, and the Water Tank for the use of locomotives. On the left, the remains of a timber extraction system.beech forest; railways; delta crossing; scissors crossing;

Beech Forest. Narrow gauge locomotive No.5A, 1902. Seven men (unknown), five on train, two on ground.beech forest; locomotive no.5a; railway; narrow gauge;

B/W. Engine G41, showing the sign "Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Beech Forest, 21-11-59", leaves the balloon loop at Beech Forest Railway Station, with guard and child hanging from the engine. A number of people are in the area, particularly two on top of a stack of timber. beech forest; railways;

Victorian Railways repairers with their NKS motor trolley outside the gang sheds at Beech Forest, Wednesday, 24 March 1954. beech forest; victorian railways; repairers; motor trolley; gang shed;

Old film of Beechy Line shot from Train and from near the line.History of Narrow Gauge Lines in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s. They include the Colac and Beech Forest lines. Shot in the 1960s.beechy line

Carriage and half-loaded goods wagon behind a flat railway wagon, all in front of the station building, Beech Forest, 1908.beech forest; passenger car; goods wagon;

Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paperObverse: Party of Officers & Men of Victorian / Naval Brigade taking part in Beech -(cutoff) / Reverse: BMM8744/military album, burke museum, beechworth, beechworth museum, military, naval brigade, victorian naval brigade, brigade, naval, navy

Early pioneers arrived long before the railways, their battles with the environment, and getting supplies in and out of the Otways.Over the Otways. G.A. Facey. 1st ed. Anglesea (Vic); G.A. Facey; nd. ii, 26 p.; illus. Soft cover.(1) Signed by author. (2) "To Dad From allie" (3) "Belongs G. Bellchambers Beech Forest"otway ranges; g.a. facey; reminiscences;, otway ranges; g.a. facey; reminiscences;

B/W. Beech Forest railway terminus showing two inspecting officers upon a railway trolley on No.2 track near a shed..beech forest; railways;

The collars can be dated to the 1920s, evidenced by a photograph of Gwen Steele (nee Kelly) wearing them on a trip in New Zealand in 1930. Items of fur clothing with provenance allowing a creation date of the 1920sTwo fur collars made of European marten fur. One collar is of Stone (Beech) Marten fur; the other of Baum (Pine) Marten.Handwritten Note on reverse of photo Photo taken in 1930 in NZ. Mrs Gwen Kelly, now Gwen Steele, wearing Stone Marten fur. Also Baum Marten fur about same date. (Weasel type animal with valuable fur - Oxford Dic.)fur collars, full body furs, stone marten fur collar, baum marten fur collar, furs - 1920s

English Red Beech Jack Plane, with a 'Ward' handmade iron blade which may not be original, and a 'Hildick; back iron. (Blades are replacements).planes, jack planes

B/W. Aerial view of Beech Forest showing the complete station yard including the balloon loop (incorporating the two tennis courts), two ex-departmental residences, the station building and where the Colac and Crowes lines diverged. As well Beech Forest Hall, council offices and Shire Secretary's house, Denherts Track, and Main Road are shown.beech forest; railways; township; aerial;

The State Savings Bank of Victoria passbook number 67563 running from October 1959 until mid 1982 has several features. (1) The cover is held in place by string. (2) The cover has the name of Colac printed on it. (3) Inside the front cover the SSB conditions relating to Depositors, and the Rules and Regulations of the SSB. (4) Inside the back cover the SSB branches and agencies are printed.. (5) On the inside back cover the withdrawl by depositors from branches other than their own. (6) Inside, the February 14 1966 decimal currency conversion.Beech Forest Progress Association passbook 67563, 29 October 1959 to 1 June 1981. The State Savings Bank of Victoria, Colac Branch. (1) Original passbook number crossed out and the number 67563 inserted. (2) re Estate of S.R. Cameron dec'd, from Clarke & Barwood. Memorandum included.beech forest progress association; passbook; state savings bank; dc conversion; state bank of victoria;

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 began in 1900. About 100 men were engaged in laying and ballasting the track while others, not included in the 100, formed the earthworks, culverts and bridges. Locomotive operations initially were two 2-6-2 Tank engines of the narrow gauge A class, dubbed "Coffee Pots", and these were used on the work trains between 1900 and 1902. Because of the lengthy periods of waiting time required to unload sleepers and rails or to load ballast meant that a handy replenishment of coal and water supply was necessary. With earthworks specified to the bare minimum landslips in the narrow cuttings were frequent so a repairer was stationed in each length to deal quickly with minor slips until 1904 when the cuttings were widened.B/W. The driver and seven other men on locomotive 5A and its flat cars at Beech Forest during construction of the line in c.1902. beech forest; railways; loco 5a;