ill, maps, p.16.non-fictionA brief history of the Otway Ridge in Victoria including its railways.railroad construction - victoria - history, logging railroads - victoria - otway range - history

In 1903, before the extension to Crowes, Beech Forest Railway Station was the terminus, already 3 roads wide with Station building, outshed, Goods Shed, and three small departmental residences. An NQR wagon near the Goods Shed is loading timber while a further NQR wagon sits outside the station building.Photograph, B/W, 174mm x 267mm. Beech Forest Railway Station, 1903.beech forest; railways; station;

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;

In early 1959 N.B.H. excursion cars were mounted on trains running from Colac to Beech Forest and Weeaproinah. Over the next three years much use was made of them bringing tourists up the line.Beech Forest Station, 21 November 1959. Passengers at the side of N.B.H. excursion cars on the right. B/W.beech forest; railway;

The official opening of the Colac-Beech Forest railway took place on Wednesday, 26th February, 1902. On a typical Beech Forest wet day the train halted at the bottom of Gardner Hill for the opening party led by the State Governor, Sir George Sydenham Clarke, to walk up to the Ditchley Park Hotel for the official banquet in the adjoining hall. The menu of four courses plus coffee was assembed by the caterer, Chas. D. Straker. The toast list was led as usual by a toast to the King, followed by 18 toasts concluded by the Acting Commissioner of Railways.B/W. The menu and toast list at the opening of the Colac-Beech Forest Railway on Wednesday, 26th February, 1902, at Beech Forest. 128mm x 264mm actual

With the fireman coaling up at Beech Forest "The Otway Ranger", arranged by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society, on 31 March 1962, gets ready to continue its trek pulling eight NBH excursion carriages and an NC guard's van. The buffer beams on the G42 engine have been recently painted red. B/W. G42 locomotive being coaled up and watered at Beech Forest coal stage by the fireman.beech forest: railways; otway ranger;

Beech Forest was the principal despatch centre for split timber and mining laths in 1906, most of which was carried to the railway yards by bullock wagons, or a horse-hauled wooden tramline along the Olangolah Road to the east of the town. At the yards it awaited trans-shipment by rail.B/w. 190mm x 265mm. Timber stacked in the Beech Forest railway yard. Four roads passing. A goods shed in the background. beech forest; railways;

The railway track was maintained initially by seven three-man gangs headed by a ganger. The gangers tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate staff of repairers were local recruits. There were two track gangs at Beech Forest until 1954, so a large number of gangers and repairers was present over the years. World War 2 with petrol and rubber rationing provided a boost to the line. The 1939 bushfire killed a great deal of timber which had to transported out of the Otways, and the commencement of a vigorous wartime pulp wood traffic from Beech Forest meant that only the railway could efficiently handle the volume of traffic. By early 1940 not only the Garratt was running a daily train to Beech Forest but an NA goods train was scheduled to run at night. As a result the track gangs were also particularly busy at the same time.B/W. In snow at Beech Forest, a track gang on a trolley at the entrance to the Way and Works shed, comprising G. Newland, Ned Hewing, Bill Taylor, Jim Gowty, and Buck.beech forest; railways; g. newland; ned hewing; bill taylor; jim gowty; snow; track gang;

From late in 1960 VR took what were the first definite steps to close the Colac-Beech Forest line. 1,101 tonnes of freight per year flowed from Colac to Beech Forest because of increasing competition from the roads. From 1 July 1960 onwards, when pulpwood (hardwood) stopped being shipped from Beech Forest, a maximum of only 7,000 tonnes/year would be shipped to Colac. Including special trips passenger revenue earned a little more than $200 per annum. The issue of second-hand sleepers stopped entirely and the two track gangs only patrolled the track and tightened loose bolts. The line did not earn its way and on 4 November 1960 it was recommended that services over the narrow gauge line be discontinued.The rear of a goods train from Colac arrives at Beech Forest on 9 August 1961. The other line is the former Crowes line truncated at Weeaproinah in January 1955. In the background is the Beech Forest Hall and Shire of Otway offices. Colour.colac; beech forest; railway;

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;

At its peak the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes railway employed more than 21 staff tending the lines that the trains ran over. Gangers (the men in charge of the track gangs) tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate repairers were local recruits. A few of the men who worked on the original construction gangs of 1900-02 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line, but these eased out over time. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (where the second Beech Forest crew was based at Wyelangta), and Lavers Hill.Track gang on an NK wagon at Beech Forest, c.1940. Snow covers the ground. B/W.colac; beech forest; crowes; railway; track gangs;

Laurie McCabe was in charge of Beech Forest Station until October 1929. When the timber industry went into decline because of poor markets and the crippling effects of the 1929 strike, and when road haulage signalled the beginning of a new transport era it was the beginning of the end. As a result staffing levels were severely cut over the period 1927/29 with the two station masters at Beech Forest and Gellibrand replaced by caretakers in October 1929. The line was then supervised by travelling station masters of whom Laurie McCabe was one of two.B/W. Laurie McCabe in charge of Beech Forest Railway Station in the 1920s, pictured on track one just down from the station buildings. Note the slight snow covering on the tracks.beech forest; railways; laurie mccabe;

B/W. A train for Beech Forest between Dinmont and Beech Forest in c.1915.beech forest; dinmont; railways;

Photograph (mounted) of nine men outside the Beech Forest Butter Factory, with crates of butter.Beech Forest Butter Factory Company, Limited, Standing, from left: W Peddle (Assistant), H Black (Assistant), J H Condon (Director), F L Lancashire (Director), W Harrison (Director), Seated, from left: A J Athorn (Manager), S G Clapham (Secretary), H M Hall (Managing Director), C Farrell (Director).agriculture, dairy, directors, management, beech-forest-butter-factory, w-peddle, a-j-athorn, h-black, s-g-clapham, j-h-condon, f-l lancashire, h-m-hall, c-farrell, w-harrison

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;

By 1910 revenue from the Beech Forest railway was $15,500, working expenditure $12,000, with a net loss (including interest charges) of about $4,000. This and the following year were the lowest net losses ever experienced. Passenger journeys rose steadily, outwards goods traffic rose to a record 12,959 tons (in 1911), and inwards goods traffic was a record 3,359 tons.. The railway station possessed a goods shed, stock race and yards, engine shed, coal stage, crew cabins, a refreshment room, and a four-roomed station building, with the station staff to match. Beech Forest was the principal despatch centre at this stage for split timber. Bill Devitt laid a timber tramway to the Beech Forest railway station to cart the palings for on-shipment..B/W. 177mm x 271mm. A general view from the eastern end of Beech Forest station in 1910. Note the Goods Shed, three tracks with No.3 Road having a NU louvre van and loaded NQR wagons, timber stacks to the left, and Devitt's Tramway with unloaded trolleys at the lower left. To the right, crew cabins with shops and houses in the background.beech forest; railways; timber; tramway;

Beech Forest railway station is shown in 1908, with staff and local inhabitants fooling around between snow falls. The collection of sheds and huts was added to and grouped under a common verandah in 1914, after this photo..B/W. Beech Forest Railway Station buildings in the snow. Between the buildings and No.1 Road six people with snow balls, two without.beech forest; railway; snow;

By July 1960 for the Beech Forest railway outwards traffic was down to 12,730 tonnes per year, and from Ferguson under 1,000 tonnes per year. One wagon was all that was needed in July to reach Beech Forest The line kilometre proportion of $26,320 was sufficient in itself to justify the withdrawal of the rail service, without the fact that reconditioning the two Garratt locomotives and rendering serviceable the ancient wagons would make the costs prohibitive. As a result the whole line closed in June 1962.Colour. 144mm x 279mm. G42 locomotive with Weeaproinah goods in a loaded NQR wagon and NC guard's van, between Beech Forest and Ferguson in July 1960.ferguson: beech forest; railways;

Beech Forest Railway Station was constructed in 1902 and had a number off additions to it over the years. At the far end of the station in 1902/3 was constructed a 'balloon' reversing loop, rather than a turntable or a triangle, which rolling stock used in order to even the wear on the wheels. However, the trains also used it. The Garrett in particular was supposed to be turned every second trip to even out its wheel wear, although this was usually ignored for other reasons. The loop was used throughout the life of the station.Colour. Beech Forest Railway Station showing the 'balloon' reversing loop at the far end. The tennis courts and shelter are in the background.beech forest; railway; balloon loop;

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;

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;

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;

In order to accommodate its key Otways staff of train crews, station masters and gangers the VR provided departmental housing. Laurie McCabe, a former porter at Wyelangta, a player in the local football team, and married to one of the potato-growing families, was the Station Master becoming the travelling station master and guard in 1930. He was based in Beech Forest and housed departmentally with his wife, Victoria Elizabeth (nee Tann) and their two children.Laurie McCabe, Travelling Station Master and goods Guard, his wife, Victoria, and their two children outside their railway house at Beech Forest. B/W.beech forest; railway; departmental housing;

Beech Forest first entered the association prior to World War 1, playing in maroon and gold on a ground situated 200 metres north of the final ground. Little is known of the competition in those days. The Club reformed in 1921. Beech Forest changed its colours to Richmond colours and used a ground south of the township, now known as the Football Break Road in the Forest Commission pine plantation. In 1922 the site of the present ground had been purchased but it was 1929 before it was first used, and it was used every year, except 1953 when G. Bellchamber's paddock was used while major renovations were carried out on their home ground. It was in the same year, 1929, that they changed their colours yet again to the blue with white V colours, which they retained until the Club disbanded. Beech Forest won premierships in 1924 and 1940. In 1945 the Club reformed yet again to enter the Otway Association. They were successful in winning premierships in 1946, 1947, 1952 and 1953. Finally, in 1957, the Club disbanded to become part of the Otway Rovers Football Club.Beech Forest Football Club, (1) Annual Meeting and Ordinary Meeting Minutes, November 1948 - September 1952; (2) Annual Meeting and Ordinary Meeting Minutes March 1953 - April 1954, Statements of Receipts and Expenditure 1950 - 1952. 2x Exercise Book.Insert: Grounds used; Best and Fairest Players.beech forest; football; minutes;

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;

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;

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

artist, architectural drawings, margaret picken, camberwell, housesartist, architectural drawings, margaret picken, camberwell, houses

B/W. Poison trolley NG No.1 on the Gang Shed siding at Beech Forest on 8 January 1958. The Gang Shed is shown. In the right background the Otway Shire Secretary's house.beech forest; railways;