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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, Narrow gauge Locomotive No.5A, 1902
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; -
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, Victorian Railways, Derailment at Beech Forest, 1904, 4 October 1904
On Tuesday, 4 October 1904, the first serious railway accident occurred on the Colac-Beech Forest line near Beech Forest. As no train was scheduled that day in the afternoon the crew decided to fetch some wood from down the line. They fired the boiler on locomotive 3A, attached two trucks to the locomotive and moved out of the station. When they arrived opposite the Ditchley Park Hotel they stopped the engine and adjourned to the bar for some refreshments before beginning work. While they were engaged some local children boarded the unattended engine, started it, panicked when it began moving and jumped out leaving in to speed away and tip on a curve in a cutting at Ditchley. The engine was severely damaged. However, its cause remained an Otways secret. The official reason given for the accident is that the driver had fallen out of the engine while engaged in shunting allowing it to run away out of control.Locomotive No. 3A and goods wagons following their derailment at Beech Forest, 4 October 1904.beech forest; railways; narrow gauge; derailment; -
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; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Doug McLean, Gellibrand: "Kanyana Special" train, 1 March 1959
... " train, 1 March 1959 Locomotive G42, labelled "A.R.H.S., Special ...With the approval of the railways, in February1959 a special tourist train was organized by the Australian Railways Historical Society in conjunction with the "Kanyana: Festival Committee of Colac, Victoria, to run from Colac to Beech Forest. Eight NBH carriages, in store at Newport, were transferred to Colac. The train proved to be so popular that additional trains were later run over the next two years until the temporarily disused Puffing Billy needed the NBH carriages returned.Locomotive G42, labelled "A.R.H.S., Special Excursion, Kanyana", with a guard's van, eight NBH excursion carriages and an additonal guard's van attached, stands at Gellibrand Station with a large group of passengers milling outside the train. Note on the left a group of domestic railway dwellings, and, on the right side, two empty wagons. B/W.beech forest; colac; railways; a.r.h.s.; kanyana festival committee; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Les Ogden, Locomotive 14A taking water at 10 mile tank, 1960-61
By 1960/61 all the factors operating against a narrow gauge railway were in place for the Colac-Beech Forest line. As well as using a 2-6-2 Tank engine over 60 years old, 14A, the train by this stage only had a louvre van, two NQ trucks and a guard's van to bring to Colac. It was very near the end.Locomotive 14A and a mixed goods trucks taking water at 10 mile tank in c.1960=61. The driver controlling the water is W. Brady while the fireman, Les Ogden, peers into the smoke box. B/W.colac; beech forest; ten mile creek; locomotive 14a; w. brady; l. ogden; railway; -
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
... with the last train. B/W. Locomotive G42 with the sign " Australian ...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, Ray Jude, Tulloh: last passenger train to Beech Forest, 30 June 1962
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; -
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
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, Ray Jude, Beech Forest showing the delta crossover, 1959, 21 November 1959
On 21 November 1959 yet another special train was run, this time on a G41 engine showing the sign "Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Beech Forest, 25-11-59", with eight NBH excursion carriages and a guard's van. The train stopped at Beech Forest where people removed themselves and wandered around the station. Mixed goods wagons loaded with wood and louvred van rest in the background. Note the delta or 'scissors' crossover between lines in the centre of the picture.B/W. Beech Forest Railway Station with a G41 locomotive, showing the sign "Puffing Billy Preservation Society, Beech Forest, 25-11-59" on track number one, mixed goods trucks on track number three, passengers throughout, and the delta or scissors crossover line, at 21 November 1959.beech forest; railways; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Les Ogden, Gellibrand: Excursion train to Beech Forest, 1960
Another excursion train travels to Beech Forest in 1960. At Gellibrand railway yards engine G42 leads the train with driver L. Moore and fireman, Les Ogden.B/W. Locomotive G42 and an excursion train to Beech Forest, on track number one, in 1960. The fireman, Les Ogden, hangs from the engine. The other tracks are empty.gellibrand; railway; loco g42; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Knox Collection, Beech Forest: train hauling timber, 1912
B/W/ "NA" class locomotive, NQR wagons and NC guard's van hauling timber near Gardner's property in Beech Forest in 1912. Note the workmen clustered on the engine and wagons.beech forest; railway; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, R.L. Forster, Train leaving the balloon reversing loop at Beech Forest, 1950
B/W. "G" class locomotive and goods carriages crossing from No.1 road to No.2 road after leaving the balloon reversing loop at Beech Forest station. In the background are stacks of timber awaiting collection, and further in the background, the edges of the tennis courts.beech forest; railways; reversing loop; -
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, Crowes: Locomotive G41 derailed, 1941
A massive tree stump at the end of the Crowes yard served as a buffer stop for trains. In 1941 it was put to use when locomotive G41 spectacularly collided with it. On a particularly foggy night the driver became disoriented, passing unawares through Crowes station and smashing into the stump. The Garrett came to an ungainly halt, and it was three days before the work gang had the stranded locomotive re-railed. It became known locally as 'Over the Black Stump'.B/W. Locomotive G41 derailed at Crowes in 1941. A man stands where the engine is articulated.crowes; railways; locomotive g41; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Brucker, Crowes after the 1919 fires, 1919
The 1919 bushfire was the worst the area suffered. The fire struck on Saturday afternoon on the 15th February. It destroyed the station at Lavers Hill and Crowes, departmental residences at Lavers Hill and Weeaproinah, the overhead bridges at Beech Forest and Wimba, and damaged the track at various points along the line so that two locomotives became temporarily marooned at Beech Forest.. By the following Tuesday a daily fire relief train had begun operation. By the following Sunday a special train loaded with army tents travelled through to Lavers Hill and deposited most of its consignment there because little remained of this sizeable settlement. An outsider would have had difficulty in picking the place. The letters of the Lavers Hill station nameboard had been burnt although the metal letters survived, and one of the local wags had rearranged them to read "LIARS HELL". By the 1920s water trains were being used to help fight fires, a simple NQR open wagon loaded with the standard 1500 litre square iron water tank.B/W. Crowes station sign, the remains of a chimney, galvanised iron sheet and a water tank, and two men gazing at the camera. Note in the background the clear felling of the timber.crowes; lavers hill; beech forest; weeaproinah; wimba; railways; bushfire; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Victorian Railways, Beech Forest Railway Station, 1926
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; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Peter Ralph, G42 with "Bye Bye Beechie" special train, 24 March 1962
... " special train. Colour. G42 locomotive inscribed "Australian ...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"; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Langford, Weston, Beech Forest: Goods trail departing for Colac, 1961, 9 August 1961
... Colour. On 9 August 1961 a G42 locomotive and goods train... departing for Colac, 1961. Colour. On 9 August 1961 a G42 locomotive ...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, 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, Brucker, Beech Forest: Locomotive 5A during construction, c.1902
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; -
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; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, R. Preston, Tulloh: Last NBH excursion carriage train on the line from Beech Forest, 1962, 31 March 1962
B/W. Led by locomotive G42, the last NBH excursion carriage passenger train near Friend's Road, Tulloh, on 31 March 1962.tulloh; railways; loco g42; -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Kevin L Holmes, Driver Bill Brady with Train Staff, 1961
Railway systems have methods by which trains can proceed in safety from station to station, free from the risk of collision with other trains. These methods are generally known as "Safeworking" and they particularly apply to trains on single lines where trains run in opposite directions. The stations between these two sections are called crossing stations. A "Train Staff", a thick, round metal rod, bearing the name of the two stations is issued and these places are designated as Train Staff stations. No train is permitted to proceed through the section unless the train driver either takes the staff for the section into his possession or personally sights the staff. (Note that every station on the line is not a crossing station. These roles were performed at Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest, Wyelangta, Weeaproinah and Crowes.) Except for the period 1927-1939 when Train Section Orders were applied instead, due to declining business Train Staff and Ticket working was used throughout on the line.B/W. Driver Bill Brady holding the Train Staff in the cabin of Garratt locomotive G42, at Weeaproinah 1961 railways, bill brady, train driver, weeaproinah, train staff -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph - Black and white photograph, Irene Zappelli Collection, empty, c. 1900
B/W. Tracks 1 to 4 at Beech Forest, an NA-class locomotive and goods on No.1, an NQR wagon on No.4, and a station building in the right, in the early 1900s. 167mm x 280mm print.beech forest, train, wagon, railway, tracks, train station -
Otway Districts Historical Society
Photograph, Lavers Hill: Train and repair gang, 1913
For two years after the opening of the Colac-Beech Forest railway line trains were preceded by a ganger on a trolley to ensure no landslips or wash-a-ways created a danger to the trains. Afterwards the trains continued on their own. The line was built as cheaply as possible, "a mere skeleton of a railway" as one Victorian Railways spokesperson commented. With earthworks specified to the bare minimum landslips in the cuttings and wash-a-ways in sloping areas were always a problem, particularly in the early years before the works had time to settle. The line to Crowes was built to open in 1911 and a wash-a-way between Lavers Hill and Crowes was only to be expected. B/W. 8A locomotive, with driver and fireman, and a mounted repair gang attending a wash-a-way just past Lavers Hill in 1913.183mm x 260mm print.