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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

Colac was the centre of a spidery rail network over which were carted anything and everything by Victorian Railways, the common carrier throughout the area. The main line through the region was the 35 km rail route from Birregurra (and thence to Geelong) though Colac to Pirron Yallock (and thence to Warrnambool and Port Fairy) from March, 1877, to July, 1883. The first branch line ran from Irrewarra to Beeac in 1889, which then extended in stages to Cressy and on the Ballarat. The second branch line was the 31 km long Birregurra to Forrest in 1891. The cost of building railways into mountainous terrain meant the third branch line was a narrow-gauge 2 foot 6 inch line, first of all to Beech Forest in 1902, and then to Crowes in 1911, for a total of 71 km. The final rail connection was the 16 km branch from Colac to Alvie to facilitate the transport of onions, opening in 1923. Each line had its own character and peculiarities derived from its foundation, geography and economic base. As a general rule, the loadings on the branch lines had greater output tonnage than inwards, the reverse of the main line. The lines traversed agricultural and timber areas where inputs like seed, grass, fertiliser and labour were minor, compared with the output, timber, wool, cream, butter, cheese fruit, potatoes, onion, grain and livestock.Rail Centre Colac. Rail stations in the Colac Otway Shire, 1877 to 2014. Norman Houghton. 1st ed. Norman Houghton; Geelong (Vic); 2014. vi, 262 p.; illus., maps, index. Soft cover.colac; cressy; forrest; beech forest; crowes

From the 9th April until the 8th July 1896 the Victorian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, chaired by Mr. Cameron with members from both houses, took evidence on three narrow gauge extensions from broad gauge railway stations in the area, the Beech Forest Extension from Colac, the McDonald's Track Extension from Warragul, and the Drouin and Poowong East Extension from Drouin.Minutes of Evidence, Beech Forest Narrow-Gauge Extension. Minutes of Evidence, McDonald's Track Narrow-Gauge Extension. Minutes of Evidence, Drouin and Poowong East Narrow-Gauge Extension. Victorian Parliamentary Papers; Melbourne (Vic); April-July, 1896. 60 p. (VPARL1896-97 No 42)

Shows footage of G42 at work in the Otways.Brief history of Australian narrow gauge lines including G42. Film of G42 at work through the Otways.g41 narrow guage railway

Video covers excursions on the Beech Forest Line. It covers the period 1956 to 1962.Film showing the Beechy Line and activitiesVideo covers excursions on the Beech Forest Line. It covers the period 1956 to 1962.railway narrow gauge

Wal Jack had an extensive range of correspondents throughout Australia and the world. The letter from Brian Castle, a senior traffic officer with the South Australian Railways at the time describes the Official opening train to Marree that replaced the narrow gauge line and other local activities and that he is preparing an article for the ARHS Bulletin. The article appeared in the Jan. 1958 issue.Demonstrates some of the correspondence that Wal Jack received from around the world.Typed letter on two foolscap sheets dated 16 Aug 1957 by Brian Castle to Wal Jack letters, wal jack, railways, photography, sar, south australia, opening, marree

Wal Jack had an extensive range of correspondents throughout Australia and the world who often prepared extensive drawings for him. This detailed drawing is by Roy Field who swapped many photographs with Wal Jack. The drawing details the railway or narrow gauge (2') tramway that served Mossman and Port Douglas, Queensland. Most of this is now used for cane trains, though a small tourist operations runs out of Port Douglas. Details of Roy are included record 8561.Demonstrates some of the correspondence that Wal Jack received from around the world and that of Roy Field.Drawing - pen and ink red and black on foolscap sheet of the "Mossman Steam Tramway"letters, wal jack, tramways, drawings, roy field, railways, mossman, port douglas, narrow guage

The engine was being transported because it had broken a coupling in transit. Windsor Crescent is in the background. We have an original copy donated by Ian Barkla and a larger one copied by Ken Hall. The Barkla original has a sticker with his reference details on the back.A black and white photocopy of a steam engine. There are some local kinder children and an adult inspecting the train and climbing on the picket fence. The house in the background is in Windsor Crescent.surrey hills railway station, goods yard, steam train, transporter wagon, 1950, children, clothing and dress

ill, p.17non-fictionA history of the narrow gauge 3'6" steam locomotive T186 on the South Australian Government Railways and its preservation by the Pichi Richi Railway at Quorn. narrow gauge railroads - south australia - history, preserved locomotives - south australia - history

index, ill, p.135.non-fictionA collection of newspaper articles about the Puffing Billy railway from Belgrave to Lakeside between 1940 & 1988.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.130.non-fictionThe story of the narrow gauge 2'6" branch lines of the Victorian Railways up to 1963.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, p.32.non-fictionA pictorial tribute to the narrow gauge 2'6" branch lines of the Victorian Railways.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.163.non-fictionThe story of the narrow gauge 2'6" branch lines of the Victorian Railways up to 1963 with an extra chapter covering 1963 to 2017.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.51.non-fictionA history of the narrow gauge 2'6" branch line of the Victorian Railways from Colac to Beech Forest and Crowes and it s connecting tramways.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.35.non-fictionA history of the narrow gauge tramways serving the Hillgrove mining district near Armidale in New South Wales.tramways - new south wales, mining tramways - australia - history

ill, maps, p.39.non-fictionA history of the narrow gauge tramways serving the Simsville and Jarrah Mill timber mills near Newcastle in New South Wales.tramways - new south wales, timber tramways - australia - history

ill, maps, p.215.non-fictionA history of the 2'6" VR narrow gauge railways of Victoria.puffing billy - victoria - history, vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history

ill, p.46.non-fiction'Reminiscence of the 3'6" narrow gauge railways in South Australia.railroads -- australia -- south australia., narrow gauge railroads - south australia - history

index, ill, p.217.non-fictionA history of the restoration of the 2'6" narrow gauge railway from Belgrave to Emerald in Victoria between 1955 to 1965.vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history

index, ill, maps, p.170.non-fictionThe life and times of the Colac - Beech Forest - Crowes narrow gauge railway 1902-1962vr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, railroad operations - victoria - history

ill, maps, p.96.non-fictionThe story of the history and development of the Geraldton Shire Tramway and the Mourilyan tramway of North Queenslandlight railways - australia - history, narrow gauge railroads -- australia -- queensland -- history.

ill, maps, p.87.non-fictionAn illustrated list of preserved narrow gauge railways in Australia mostly 2'6'' and 3'6''.narrow gauge railroads - australia - history, railway and tramway preservation - australia

ill, maps, p.58.non-fictionAn illustrated history of some of the narrow gauge timber tramways in Victoria.timber tramways - australia - history, narrow gauge railroads - australia - history

ill, maps, p.32.non-fictionA brief illustrated history of the 2'6" Puffing Billy railway from Upper Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook in Victoriavr narrow gauge railways - victoria - history, puffing billy - victoria - history