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Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Report, Electric Supply Co. of Vic (ESCo), "Issue of Tokens", c1915
Yields information and demonstrates the use of fare tokens in Ballarat, their manufacture and accounting information.Report - typed foolscap sheet (2 copies) and handwritten sheet, for which most of the sheet has been reproduced in the typed report. The hand written sheet is ruled and has been glued together to form a long sheet. Looks at the purchase of tokens in 1914, the costs from the UK and Australia, how they were issued to crews, for both fare box drivers and conductors, accounting for them using tubes, time taken to account for by a clerk. trams, tramways, ballarat, bendigo, tokens, fare boxes, operations, esco -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Newspaper, Herald & Weekly Times Ltd, "Goodbye to the last tram", 21/09/1971 12:00:00 AM
Yields information about the last tram to leave the Borough of Sebastopol at the time of the closure of the SEC operated system and the people involved.Newspaper clipping from the Melbourne Sun of 21/9/1971 with photo of the Ballarat Mayor, Cr. J. A. Chisholm with his wife and a driver and conductor (of the last tram), reporting that the trams were given a rousing send off and have now been replaced by buses. Tram showing destination of "Depot". .1 - Print of original photograph print added 14-3-2016 from the donation to the Museum by Karelyn Satter Feb. 2016.In blue ink below the photograph "SUN 21/9/71", On the rear of the photograph has the stamp of "Harvey Studios Ballarat"trams, tramways, closure, cr. j. a. chisholm, last tram, bus replacement -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Newspaper Clipping and Black & White Photograph/s, 16/04/1972 12:00:00 AM
Newspaper clipping from The Melbourne Sun, dated Monday 17/4/1972, titled "End of the line in Bendigo" showing a photograph of Bendigo tram driver Bob Wirth standing by Bendigo No. 26 prior to its last trip to Eaglehawk and then the depot. One of a large group of newspaper cuttings from John Bainbridge, 7/4/02. .1 - black and white print of the photograph in fair order. Added 11-8-2016tramways, trams, bendigo, tramway closure, last tram -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, Ian Barkla, 12/02/1966 12:00:00 AM
Black and white photo of W2 516 at the Moonee Ponds terminus of route 82, Moonee Ponds to Footscray. Tram has destination "Footscray", all blinds drawn and a Ramset? ad on the drivers cab dash panel. In background are the buildings at the intersection of Puckle St and Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds. The hotel on the SE corner has a large ad for "SHELL" and a message underneath "Shop in Puckle St." and also in background a large ad for "Phillips".On rear in blue biro "W2 516 / 12/2/66 / Moonee Ponds Junc."trams, tramways, melbourne, moonee ponds , tram 516 -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, John Webster, 11/04/1953 12:00:00 AM
Yields information about the appearance of one of Ballarat No. 40, a couple of years after its arrival in Ballarat and the south side of Sturt St, near Lydiard St.Black and white photograph of Ballarat No. 40 in Sturt St, west bound to the Gardens via Drummond north. Shows how the trolley ropes were stored at the drivers end, the appearance of the car in 1953 and the buildings in the background. Includes the Commonwealth Bank, C. Marks & Co and the Mechanics Institute. Three different sized copies held. Photo used in Destination Eaglehawk. Image rescanned from copy neg and updated 31/5/2020.Copy 1 - in pencil "Reduce to 5", #6121" Copy 2 - "W John Webster photo" Copy 3 - in ink "CR14 11-4-53" On Negative in ink "CR14"tramways, trams, sturt st, lydiard st, tram 40 -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Harley Tarrant and his 1905 Tarrant car, 1905
Col. Harley Tarrant was an astute businessman and a part-time soldier. He was born at Clunes in 1860 and as a young man worked with an engineering firm in Sydney. He later joined the Board of Works in Melbourne. and later entered the early car manufacturing and retailing trade. In 1905 Harley Tarrant built the first car to be built and sold in Australia. For a time he was a surveyor and worked in Surrey Hills but motoring became his prime interest. In the early 1890s he set up a workshop in what was then Post Office Place, Melbourne. He built stationary engines which ran on kerosene and in the first years of the twentieth century, with partner W Howard Lewis, built the first petrol driven car in Australia. This photo is of his sixth car and was taken after the finish of the 1st Sydney to Melbourne Dunlop Reliability Trial, which Tarrant won. Harley Tarrant produced cars between 1901 and 1907 at the Tarrant Motor and Engineering Company in Queen's Bridge Street, South Melbourne. The first car had a rear-mounted two-horse power Benz engine. Two-cylinder models were later produced followed by 4-cylinder models. The only Tarrant car in existence in 1984 was owned by Harley Tarrant's grandsons, Kenneth and Peter Holmes of Melbourne. The 1906 Tarrant car featured on an Australia Post stamp in 1984. It was one of a series of 5 stamps featuring Australian veteran and vintage cars.Black and white photo of a car without a hood in the driver's seat of which is a man with cap, driving dust coat and goggles, identified as Harley Tarrant. Beside him is a young girl in a large frilly; she is identified as Doreen Tarrant, his daughter. Another man with cap and goggles is talking to him and a gentleman in a bowler hat looks on. There is a women and 2 children in the background in front of a large brick wall decorated in two coloured bricks. cars, inventions, dunlop reliability trial, tarrant motor and engineering company, mr harley tarrant, miss doreen tarrant, mrs doreen holmes, col harley tarrant -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Newspaper, The Sun, Accident - Gertrude St Fitzroy at the intersection of Napier S, 24/04/1969 12:00:00 AM
Newspaper Clipping - set of one clippings adhered to one side of a sheet of ruled quarto paper with punched holes on the left hand side - from The Sun Newspaper 24/4/1969 about an accident to a sliding door car in Gertrude St Fitzroy at the intersection of Napier St, the previous day. Gives details of injuries and the truck driver. Tram has the route number 89 and a Tuckfields Ty-Nee-Tip Teas advert on the side.trams, tramways, accidents, drivers, route 89, gertrude st -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Instruction, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Notice to Drivers and Conductors - Essendon Depot - Crossing Cable Tram Lines", c1995
Retyped Instruction - MMTB - C No. 388, signed by A. Simpson District Traffic Superintendent, NS&F, dated 8/7/1925, giving instructions for trams crossing William St lines and in particular Bourke and William St. Notes the duties of the Conductors, drivers, flagmen and policemen. Two copies held - one on a single sheet and one copy on two sheets of paper. Would appear to have been retyped from the original document.trams, tramways, cable trams, essendon depot, william st, instructions, flagmen, bourke st, conductors, signalmen -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Drawing, The Met, "Concept drawings re modifying W class circa Dec. 1983", "Modified 'W' class", c12/1988
Set of four drawings, photocopy reduced to A3 size of the "Concept drawings re modifying W class circa Dec. 1988". Shows the introduction of a front door step, relocation of controls, bulkheads, changes to windscreens, introduction of a formal seat for the driver. subtitle - "Modified 'W' class", was proposed to be the W8 class at the time. Date could be 1988, see Reg item 1970 for concept memorandum Second set added 8/3/17trams, tramways, w class, overhauls, preston workshops, drivers, w8 class -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Sign, "HAIL CARS HERE", 1960's
Sign - Piece of sheet steel folded to give an upstand or method of attachment to a pole, enamelled with red, white and black paint for use at tram stops. Small red band at top, white band with letters "HAIL CARS HERE" and small red band underneath, on both sides to indicate to drivers a non-compulsory stop. Same sign used for same purpose in Ballarat. Has three holes for screws on the upstand or fold section.trams, tramways, tram stops, signs -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Form/s, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "Change-over or call out report", mid 1970's
Forms - 100 carbon copies stapled within a book with brown paper front cover and heavy card rear cover titled "Change-over or call out report". MMTB Form 1/77, dated Oct. 1958 numbered 110301 to 110400, reporting the details of defective trams, change over tramcar, times, driver details and dates. Used at Essendon tram depot from 1/5/1976 to 1-7-1976.trams, tramways, tramcars, faults, essendon depot, forms, delays -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Digital Image, MMTB Chairman standing on the roof of a tram, 1963
Digital scans of photograph provided by Kevin Tierney of the MMTB Chairman standing on the roof of a tram to demonstrate retrieving a pole. This event occurred after a driver fell of the roof and was killed. See also Reg Item regarding a second rope Tram has destination of Kew Depot. From a The Age photograph during 1963. See Reg Items 4353 for a photograph of an actual event and 3973 for a newspaper cutting that is related to the provision of an emergency rope.trams, tramways, safety, trolley poles, emergency, accidents, drivers, chairman -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Digital Image, "Hail to the Swan St Tram", 1915
Digital image of the first tramcar body built for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust by Duncan and Fraser outside their Adelaide factory. See also Reg Item 5282. Taken from a publication titled "Hail to the Swan St Tram", and dated 12 June 1915. Has a large sign about the order and that it was built out of Australian timbers. Note the tram does not have driver cabin's metal canopy, hand rails and other fittings.trams, tramways, htt, duncan fraser, new trams, tram bodies, adelaide -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Digital Image, Cheryl Grant, MMTB No. 121, outward bound in Norwood Road, 2012
Digital image of MMTB No. 121, outward bound in Norwood Road (Now Toorak Road), passing under the Alamein line rail over bridge mid 1920's. Note the single track in the street, which was not duplicated until Oct. 1927 (See Timeline history of Melbourne's Tramways). Real photo series Postcard No. 2358 and titled "Norwood Road Burwood" Note the tram has "18" under the bottom of the driver's dash.trams, tramways, burwood, toorak rd, norwood rd, railway bridge, alamein railway, tram 121 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - NORTH DEBORAH GOLD MINING CO N. L. - MINERS' WAGES AT THE DEBORAH MINES, 1953
Carbon copy notes, which have been cut in half, listing Miners' Wages at the Deborah Mines, 1953. Wages are for a 5 day, 40 hour week and in present day currency. Miners received $27.20 or $35.25 if a Leader in a wet shaft. Braceman $25.80, Platman $25.80 or $27.05 if he worked in a wet shaft. A Mining Blacksmith $28.55, a Fireman, from $26.10 to $26.60, Winding Engine Driver $30.05 a week. Batteryman $25.10, battery Feeder $24.80. Engine Driver's wages varied from $27.10 to $28.90 if in charge of a dynamo and plant. The Basic Wage was then $23.20 a week. In 1895, employees worked a 6 day, 48 hour week and most men received less than $5 per week. The price of gold in 1949 was $30.98 compared with an average of $8.00 an ounce in 1895. When the Deborah group of mines closed in 1954 the price of gold was $31.25 an ounce. Signed by A Richardson 20/8/1971. Written in the margin: Copy, Compiled for Jim Sullivan 20/8/1971.document, gold, north deborah gold mining co n. l., north deborah gold mining co n. l., miners' wages at the deborah mines 1953, miners' wages, price of gold, jim sullivan -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Slide - 27 mm sq slide/s - set of 4 - crews, Lilian Butler, Tram crews, 1971
Set of four Kodachrome colour slides - what cardboard mounts of: .1 - I. Wallis? standing alongside the tram stop and end of section sign pole at the intersection of Sturt and Lydiard Streets. See also Reg Item 6462 for colour print. .2 - A. Turnball? mowing a lawn with a hand lawn mower. See also Reg Item 6465 for colour print. .3 - Colour print of Conductor D. Chambers (9) and Driver D. Domaschenz (24) standing in front of tram 14. See also Reg Item 6459 for a colour print. .4 - Conductors W. Davies?, S. Davies and driver A. Jeffreys at the Sturt St city stop, August or September 1971. See also Reg Item 6463 for a colour print. Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler. Names based on list given in Reg Item 3425. See also Reg Item 1861 for group photograph. Slides have a date of Sept. 1971. ballarat, tramways, trams, crews, motormen, conductors, city -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Negative - Set of 2, Travis Jeffrey, early 1960's
Negative Nos. N393 and N394 and black and white print made by a laser printer (stored in folder) of Bendigo tram No. 6 at Golden Square terminus. Tram has the destination of Golden Square. Has the Golden Square hotel in the background and an Age advertisement on the dash panel. Note the large overhead pan at the terminus. .1 - tram has arrived and the driver/conductor has place the pole on the overhead after turning the pole. .2 - Driver/conductor standing by front of tram. Date of photo on folder - 26/9/1962?? or 1 Jan 1963. A date on the front of the folder of 1/12/1959 is too early - tram has been painted with tiger stripes and fitted with dash canopy lighting. Same date on Ballarat folders as well - see negative number N392 etc. Crew member wearing a great coat - unusual for Bendigo on a new years day. Photo early 1960's. Original negative rescanned 24/5/2020 and image file updated.BE1 - Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR15A" in red ink, "BE1" in pencil, date stamp of "1 DEC 1959" on front and on inside date stamps "26 Sep 1962" and "26 Sep 1962". BE2 - Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR104A" in red ink, "BE2" in pencil, date stamp of "1 Jan 1963" on front and on inside date stamps "26 Sep 1962". trams, tramways, bendigo, golden square, crews, tram 6 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Administrative Record - Table Cards, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), blank unused form on preprinted cards, c1980 to c2000
Set of six different Table cards - blank unused form on preprinted card ruled to provide a timetable for crews - drivers and conductors, and hours worked. .1 - printed heavy paper for Northern and Southern trips from Terminus - Swanston trams? - 210H x 79W .2 - as above, but printed on heavy card, both sides .3 -printed on heavy paper, blank with sign on times, giving drivers and conductors, and hours worked - 165H x 80W - understood used with the plastic card holders. - form number 3/572 .4 - as for .2, light paper, double sided - 163H x 80W - form number 3/573 .5 - as for .2, heavy paper double sided - 165H x 80W - form number 3/573 .6 - as for .4 .7 - single sided sheet, printed on light page, 210H x 79W, no form number. See Reg Item 2601 for a sample used and backed onto a sheet of Masonite.trams, tramways, forms, drivers, table cards, conductors -
Federation University Historical Collection
Postcard, Eight Men Outside a Tent, c1917
HENRY SMERDON (Harry) HOLMES was born in 1897 at the family property, ’Sauchieburn’, 17 km north of Ballarat, in the Ascot district. He was the youngest of four children. After finishing his education at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, Henry joined the Holmes family farming interests. At the age of 18 he enlisted and served with AIF in Egypt, France and Belgium 1915-1918. Henry served at the famous battlegrounds of Ypes and Somme in the Australian Army 8th Battalion. He was a Driver with the 4th D.A.C. [Jane Dyer May 2024] Black and white photograph showing eight men outside a tent. They are most probably World War One soldiers in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). The postcard is of "The Ascot" boys. Includes [Samuel] Gordon Spittle, Henry [Harry] Holmes's first cousin, and other Ascot lads and district connections: neighbours including a Wrigley son, Ascot State School classmates and football mates from Clunes / Creswick districts. The man in the front row, second from the right is probably my great-grandfather Henry [Harry] Holmes. The man far left in the back row is probably his cousin, Samuel Gordon Spittle [Jane Dyer 2024]harry holmes, world war one, tent, aif, soldiers, uniform, henry smerdon holmes, sauchieburn, ascot, postcard -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Series of 6 black and white photographs of Ballarat Trams, Ellen Butland, 1970 and 1971
.1 - Close up photo of a single trucker and a bogie tram showing difference in bumper heights. .2 - Photo showing the front of a single trucker (No. 26?) with the motorman leaning out the small window with a cigarette in hand. Photo dated 1970. .3 - No. 34 parked on "0" road. Photo dated 1971. .4 - Similar to .2, driver looking at photographer. .5 - Bogie tram parked on "0" road, photo dated 1970. .6 - No. 27 at Lydiard St North terminus - photo dated 1970. Has a strong association with a Melbourne tram driver who assembled the scrap book and series of photos of Ballarat trams at the time of closure. Yields information about the tram operations.Set of six black and white photographs contained with Reg item 5988, a Stamford Kiwi School Scrap Book - card covers, 23 sheets, spiral bound, titled "Ballarat", prepared by Ellen Butland of Auckland following the closure of the SEC Ballarat Tramway system.closure, trams, tramways, ballarat, lydiard st nth, tram 34, tram 27, depot, crews, motormen -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Obituary, Mr Edward Rowney, 1929
Obituary from the Prahran Telegraph, 21-6-1929, headed "Death of an old Caulfield Identity" Edward Rowney. After coming from South Australia in 1887, worked in Ballarat as a horse tram driver and then moved to Caulfield in 1888 working for the Caulfield Horse Tramway that ran between Elsternwick and Glenhuntly. Provides details of his working life and that with the Caulfield Council. Provides details of his personal and family information along with sources. See reference for an article on the Caulfield Tramway Co. and a photo of Mr. Rowney driving a horse tram.Yields information about the life of Mr Edward RowneyA4 sheets - printed - providing an obituary and family history of Mr Edward Rowney.trams, tramways, ballarat, ballaarat tramway co, caulfield, caulfield tramway co, edward rowney -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Newspaper, The Sun, Closing of West Melbourne cable tram, 20/07/1935
Item about the closure of the West Melbourne cable line that evening. Date of closure 20/7/1935 - refer: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/567718 with a photograph - accessed 2/11/2016. Has photographs supplied by H. Home of the last horse-drawn bus on Clifton Hill to Collingwood service and a first cable tram on the Clifton Hill line. Mr. Home was the driver of the last bus and a shunter and timekeeper on the Clifton Hill line. See Reg Item 3706 for a large photo of the horse bus.Yields information about the closure of the West Melbourne cable tram line.Newspaper Clipping - from The Sun newspaper - 20/7/1935.trams, tramways, closure, west melbourne, clifton hill, horse buses, tram 352? -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Postcard, Rose Stereograph Co, "Flinders St, Station and St Kilda Road, Melbourne", 1941
Rose Series postcard No. P 200, "Flinders St, Station and St Kilda Road, Melbourne" looking south from the roof top of the Nicholas Building in Swanston Street. Has at least eight trams in the view. The trams have a white panel under the driver's windows indicating a war time black out precaution. Has adverts for buying bonds and savings certificates and The Herald learn to Swim advertisement on the end of the verandah for Friday next January 10th at Princes Bridge. This gives a year of 1941.Yields information about St Kilda Road 1941Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.tramways, flinders st station, st kilda road, railways, world war ii, trams, mmtb -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Postcard, Rose Stereograph Co, "Swanston Street Melbourne", early 1940s
Rose Series postcard No. P 3288 titled "Swanston Street Melbourne", looking north from just past (or south) of Batman Ave. There are five trams in the view and one private Reo bus. W2 class tram 452 (route 64 - City). The trams have a white strip under the driver's windows indicating the war time black out measure. The sign board advertising tram routes to Wattle Park, Burwood etc can be seen above the footpath leading to Batman Ave.Yields information about Swanston St. at the intersection with Batman Ave.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.Has "K J Magor" stamp on rear.trams, tramways, w2 class, swanston st, bus, batman ave, tram 452, route 64, world war ii -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Badge, ATEA (Tramways Union), c1920
The Union commenced as the Australian Tramway Employees Association in 1910. Changed its name in 1934 to the "Aust Tramway & Motor Omnibus Employees Association" so as to incorporate bus drivers of motor omnibuses. Union members were issued with badges to indicate their membership. They were permitted to be worn on their uniforms. See item 5943 for another example. Wearing of Union badges in Brisbane Tramways was a major source of industrial action in 2012 - see "One American too many" by David Burke, published 2012 by the Queensland Museum.Demonstrates a badge issued to members of the ATEABadge - Australian Tramway Employees Association (Tramways Union) badge. Badge made on a brass backing with words "Australian Tramway Employees Association" on outer edge of badge with a royal blue enamel background. In centre of badge has the Australian coat of arms with a railway type spoke wheel above the logo and underneath the coat of arms the words "Federated Australia" in a banner. tramways, trams, badges, personnel, unions, employees, atea -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Obituary, Mr Edward Rowney, 1929
Obituary from the Prahran Telegraph, 21-6-1929, headed "Death of an old Caulfield Identity" Edward Rowney. After coming from South Australia in 1887, worked in Ballarat as a horse tram driver and then moved to Caulfield in 1888 working for the Caulfield Horse Tramway that ran between Elsternwick and Glenhuntly. Provides details of his working life and that with the Caulfield Council. Provides details of his personal and family information along with sources. See reference for an article on the Caulfield Tramway Co. and a photo of Mr. Rowney driving a horse tram. Yields information about the life of Mr Edward Rowney A4 sheets - printed - providing an obituary and family history of Mr Edward Rowney. trams, tramways, caulfield, caulfield tramway co, edward rowney, ballarat, city of caulfield -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Queen Elizabeth Royal Tram Z3 158 - set of 8, David Frost, 26-10-2011
The photos show Z3 158 dressed for the Royal Visit of 26-10-2011, to transport Queen Elizabeth II from Federation Square to Government House Drive. The 3rd photo shows the Breakdown / recovery truck R10 alongside the tram at one point. Photos also show interior posters and of it running a route 55 Domain Interchange in William St after the event. Image 9 - The Age report about the tram and the nominated driver - 25-10-2011 - Z-class a tram fit for a Queen.Provides a series of photographs of the Queen's visit to Melbourne in 2011.Set of 8 colour prints of Z3 158 as the Royal tram, printed on Kodak Royal Papertrams, tramways, royal visit, royal tram, z3 class, tram 158, princes bridge, r10, domain interchange, route 55, the age -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Colin Friels as Malcolm on his home-made tram
This photograph shows actor Colin Friels dressed in a driver's uniform and cap sitting in a small open-air four-wheel 'tram' at the front of the Brunswick Depot car shed. The photo depicts a scene from the Australian made feature film 'Malcolm' with Colin Friels playing the lead character Malcolm. The destination blind shows 'Brunswick' and in the mid-ground at the entrance of the shed is W5 class tram 765 displaying 'East Coburg 1'. The four tram wheels used on the short tram were recycled from a cable tram. Yields information about well known Australian film MalcolmBlack and white photograph stuck on white cardboard, no notestram, brunswick depot, malcolm, movie, colin friels, tram 765 -
Victorian Harness Racing Heritage Collection at Lord's Raceway Bendigo
Clothing - Race Colours, Kevin Innes
KEVIN ‘BOOFA’ INNES By Lucy McCormick Kevin was a member of the celebrated Innes clan from Inglewood, in Central Victoria. “I think the first Innes’ came to Inglewood in 1851. My daughter used to say she can’t marry anyone from Inglewood, because she’s related to them all,” says Kevin. ‘Boofa’ is enjoying some well-earned relaxation on the couch after breaking a kneecap six or seven months ago in a track work incident. Not that it seems to be bothering him too much; he’s got plenty of time to keep up with the trots on television. “I do follow them,” Kevin says. “I don’t miss many, and I do have a bet. I like to sit in the chair and drive a race as much as anyone.” With an illustrious career both as a trainer and in the sulky, it’s a safe bet that Kevin Innes is a more than handy ‘grandstand driver’. His name is associated as a trainer/driver with many handy horses, including Lea Sands, Imatoff and Stormy Morn to name a few. Kevin is typically circumspect about his bigger triumphs, however that doesn’t seem to be what interests him the most. “I’ll tell you something,” he declares, doing just that, “I like winning with the horses that were no good. Some people never get a good horse. Imagine that. Luck is a very, very important thing. You have to have luck to buy a good horse at the sales, to get it going, keep it sound, find a race for it, find and owner and get a draw. And they still make a liar of you.” Funny, interesting or quirky stories seem to be of greater interest to Kevin, such as the time he had a strong chance in a standing start race – the favourite in the race being his only worry. “I told the owner it only had a 20-metre handicap – I couldn’t beat it off that,” he remembers. “So I was leading, waiting for the favourite to run past me. Toward the finish, I heard it coming, and it ran straight past all right – minus the driver. He’d fallen out of the cart and I won the race. Just lucky.” The Innes family have always been heavily involved in one sporting pursuit or another – Kevin himself being a champion bike rider of his time. “My Uncle Roy was a good bike rider, so he dared me to have a go. It turned out I was quite good at it as well.” So good, in fact that for many years Kevin was able to make a living from bike riding, riding the ‘board track’ for many years. “We trained hard. Bike riding was very big back then, we’d train and ride three or four times a week.” Kevin’s riding career spanned four Herald Sun Tours, a Warrnambool to Melbourne and a Sydney to Melbourne race, to name a few. “It definitely gets you in – it was long hours,” he muses. “But like anything, horse racing included, you only get back what you put in. We trained hard. I never drank, and I still don’t. I’ve seen that many athletes, great ones too, brought down by alcohol.” Lucky with injury too, Kevin can only remember a sore ankle – as well as the requisite scrapes and abrasions from tumbles on the wooden boards of the velodromes. He still enjoys watching all the big bike races when he can. “You can watch them race all over the world – France, Sweden, Germany. “To be honest I sit up and watch them with my son and we get just as much of a kick looking at the countryside than anything else. It’s so different to when I was racing.” Betting on the bike racing was big in Kevin’s day as well, and some of the bookies Kevin saw betting on the bike racing, he saw at the Showgrounds betting on the trots on a Friday or Saturday night. “Racing was different back then. There would be twelve thousand people at the showgrounds – they don’t have to come anymore, it’s just as easy to watch it on the TV.” Kevin remembers in those days that drivers had to ‘weigh in’ as well – everyone who drove needed to weigh ten stone (just under 65 kilograms). It’s something he remembers fondly. “I know not everyone will.” Kevin won’t be drawn on the subject of favourite drivers, either. “Look. Driving is different now. No disrespect to current drivers, but you had to think a lot more on a three furlong track than they do now on the bigger tracks. You had to drive with brains. And I really believe that good horses make good drivers. The horses are very good these days. Today’s drivers – your Gavin Langs, Chris Alfords – they’re thinkers, and brains will beat brawn every time. The girls are just as good now too. You only have to look at Kerryn Manning.” A garrulous and popular character, Kevin has trained horses for the likes of legendary Richmond player Jack Dyer, and also spent his fair share of time hosting sportsman’s nights, holding his own with the likes of Ron Barassi. On one such night, they had flown in a light aircraft to their destination. During their show, Kevin noticed their pilot, sitting in the front row, laughing appreciatively. There was one problem. He had a beer in his hand, and was consuming it with some enthusiasm. As the night wore on, the pilot became more and more inebriated, and Kevin became more and more disturbed, knowing that this was the same pilot who was to fly them home when they finished. Unbeknownst to Kevin, however, the flight had been cancelled and the pilot hadn’t told anyone, instead deciding to take full advantage of his client’s hospitality. For now, Kevin is happy living in Inglewood with partner Barbara. Son Grant and daughter Carla aren’t far away (both work at the Bendigo Harness track, and Carla has held both a trainer and driver’s licence). His granddaughter, Barclay Sands, was born on the same day of the demise of their star performer, Lea Sands, and may give the biggest hint yet just how important the world of harness racing is to Kevin ‘Boofa’ Innes. Blue with white yolkKevin Innes embroidered on left side chestkevin innes, k innes, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing -
Puffing Billy Railway
861 - John Rees - Decauville Steam Locomotive - formerly John Benn, 1886
861 John Benn Locomotive - in active service - Emerald Station Built in 1886 by Société Anonyme Usines Métallurgiques du Hainaut - Locomotives Couillet for the West Melbourne site of the Metropolitan Gas Company, as a four-wheel tank locomotive similar to 986 and named “John Benn”. The West Melbourne gas works sourced its coal from Maitland, New South Wales, and the coal was brought by ship to a wharf adjacent to the West Melbourne gas plant. John Benn and Carbon were used to haul the coal over a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge railway from the wharf to the gasworks, a distance of about 450 metres (500 yards). It was withdrawn from service in the 1930s and stored until sold privately in 1962. It was rebuilt by its new owners in the style of an American locomotive of the 1880s and was used for some years at Walhalla. It currently has the name “J.C. Rees” and is used in active service for the 861 Footplate Experience. Wheels: 2-4-2ST Builder: Couillet Build Date: 1886 Construction No.: 861 Empty Weight: Unknown Weight on Drivers: Unknown Driver Diameter: Unknown Tractive Effort: Unknown Boiler Pressure: Unknown Cylinders: Unknown Fuel: Coal Gauge: 30 inchesHistoric - Industrial railways - Metropolitan Gas Company Ltd, Melbourne Steam LocomotiveDecauville Steam Locomotive 861 John Reespuffing billy, narrow gauge, industrial narrow gauge railway, metropolitan gas company, decauville 43, steam locomotive, john rees, john benn, 861 locomotive, couillet, 861