The September 5, 1912 issue of Table Talk celebrated "Wattle Day" where new plantings are made of the national flower and featured images from both Melbourne as well as the first excursion to Hurstbridge. Those from Hurstbridge were photographed by notable WW1 photographer, J.E. Barnes. Also digitised and accessible via National Library of Australia Trove website - (1912, September 5). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 23. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page17413107 See an article on reflections about Wattle Day on page 29 - SOME REFLECTIONS UPON WATTLE DAY. (1912, September 5). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 29. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146180986 The inaugural Hurstbridge Wattle Day Festival was held Saturday, September 1, 1912 when a specially commissioned train brought 1,000 visitors to the district to enjoy the splendour of the wattle in bloom. “Melbourne’s first “Wattle Day” Campaign, the day when Australia’s national flower was to be all pervading in the streets of the metropolis, and sold in sprigs and bunches by hundred of lady volunteers, for purposes of charity, was not blessed with happy climatic conditions on Monday [2 Sep 1912]” - WATTLE DAY. (1912, September 7). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935), p. 39. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198116738 “In connection with Wattle Day celebrations a special train conveyed a thousand people to Hurst's-Bridge last Saturday afternoon [1 Sep 1912]. Lengthy reports of the excursion appeared in the daily papers last Monday. - WATTLE DAY. (1912, September 6). Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 - 1917), p. 2 (MORNING.). Retrieved July 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60656027 See a review of the excursion to Hurst’s-Bridge - HURST'S-BRIDGE EXCURSION. (1912, September 2). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196255907 The excursion to Hurst’s-Bridge was considered such a success that the Railway department arranged to run another special train to the station on Saturday, October 5, 1912 - HURST'S-BRIDGE EXCURSION. (1912, October 2). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved July 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203325447Inaugural Hurstbridge Wattle Day Festival held 1 September 1912d3-class steam locomotive, hurstbridge wattle festival, special train, tait train, tourism, wattle day campaign, wattle day festival, david smyth collection

Interior of Bendigo Locomotive Depot. This was one of a number of photographs taken during two visits by George Coop between October and November 1962, arranged with the assistance of VR staff.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, bendigo, bendigo railway station, d3-640, d3-class steam locomotive, k-168, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), r-704, railway turntable, railway workshop, r-class steam locomotive

VR Commissioner's Special train, steam locomotive D3-639 filling up with water at the coal hopper, Echuca Railway Station, 1962. The tender has been all polished up. THE ECHUCA COALING STAGE. Locomotives would stop alongside to receive coal dropped into their tenders from small overhead rail mounted tipping trays. Water could be obtained from either the elevated tank at one end or the connected standpipe at the opposite end. Locomotive firebox contents could be dumped into pits between the rails from locomotives once they were carefully positioned above them. Such locomotives then could move onto the Engine Shed area for overnight parking. Firebox fires would be re-lit when the locomotive was next needed in a day or so.Digital TIFF file Scan of black and white print enlargement on textured paper (14.5 x 21 cm)coal hopper, d3-639, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca railway station, george coop collection, vr commissioner's special train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, d3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, railway turntable

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-629, d3-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-629, d3-class steam locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencygeorge coop collection, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, railway turntable, d3-676, d3-class steam locomotive, k-186, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops)

The coal loader is visible in the distance. Image dated as October 1962 based on same image in Port of Echuca collection (print 17.5 x 24.5cm) On the reverse of photo:" Photo by: George L. Coop Oct 1962". Crossed out, in black pen: "565". In pencil:" D3... T Class diesel 1954 Intro" https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59e7e43321ea6a13c065088bDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-677, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca railway station, george coop collection, railway workshop, t-328, t-class diesel electric locomotive

VR Commissioner's Special train, steam locomotive D3-639 crossing the Echuca-Moama Road Rail Bridge over the Murray River from Moama, NSW to Echuca, Victoria. Commissioner Edgar Henry Brownbill on footplate, 1962. Commissioner Edgar Henry Brownbill was in office 1957 to 1967. George Coop advises - "The train on the Eltham/Moama bridge is actually the Commissioner’s Special on one of its inspection tours of the VR rail system. This was a very grand special train with accommodation for the Commissioner and staff in carriages also used once for the Royal Train and other State purposes. You can just see the Commissioner of the day, dressed in his suit and wearing engine drivers gloves, standing in the loco cab doorway. A good ‘hands on’ impression is created amongst local staff if can be seen that the boss is no ‘desk jockjey’. The observation car on the back was originally made for the ’Spirit of Progress’. I climbed up onto the bridge iron plate work to get this view. It was safe enough as the cantilevered pedestrian walkway was still on the east side at the time." "I was resident in Echuca from Jan. ’59 to approx. May ’64. At that time the single Echuca/Moama bridge was a combined road/rail bridge. The rail gauge was 5’3” and still is, I believe, on the new bridge that sits just upstream of the old one. This rail line into NSW has always been 5’3" gauge because it has no connection with any NSW tracks. The old Echuca/Moama bridge, locally called the ‘Iron Bridge’ has, over years, undergone some structural changes. The two lattice iron hoops arcing over the roadway have been raised and lowered and changed design. Presently a pedestrian walkway is cantilevered off the west (or downstream) side of the bridge. It used to be on the eastern side. Guess changes went in when new rail bridge only was built on the eastern side as well." Image dated as c.1963 based on same image in Port of Echuca collection (possibly frame 32 of film) (print 19.5 x 24.5cm) On reverse in pencil: "Brown card" in black pen: "Commissioners special. F. Brown on Footplate. George C.L. Coop c1963". https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59d575b921ea6e1278d78042 However based on frame no. 10, date set as 1962Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-639, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca-moama road rail bridge, edgar henry brownbill, george coop collection, murray river, vr commissioner's special train

Looking south into Echuca, VictoriaDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-639, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca-moama road rail bridge, george coop collection, murray river, vr commissioner's special train

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-639, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca railway station, george coop collection, vr commissioner's special train

"Bendigo pilot D 640 ambles beneath the signal gantry and past B Box at Bendigo Station. The two depot sheds can be seen in the background" - Newsrail October 2020.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencybendigo, bendigo railway station, d3-640, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection

Note: D3-677 has a large amount of calcification accumulated on its boilerDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-677, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca railway station, george coop collection, j-511, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-155, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway workshop

Note: D3-677 has a large amount of calcification accumulated on its boiler Image dated as November 1962 based on same image in Port of Echuca collection (print 19.5 x 24.5cm) On reverse in blue pen:" Photo by: George L. Coop Nov 1962" https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59dead0921ea6e12dc45fc25Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-677, d3-class steam locomotive, echuca railway station, george coop collection, j-511, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-155, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway workshop

A T-class diesel electric lomotive T-3?? just visible to right of photoDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station, t-class diesel electric locomotive

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), n-464, n-class steam locomotive, railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), n-464, n-class steam locomotive, railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencyd3-629, d3-class steam locomotive, george coop collection, j-516, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-162, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), n-464, n-class steam locomotive, railway turntable, railway workshop, seymour, seymour railway station

Note the blue stone edging surrounding the grassy island in the intersection. This stone was originally part of the blue stone lock-up situated behind the Police Station and residence at 728 Main Road (present day Local History Centre and home to Eltham District Historical Society). Following a redesign of the intersection the stone was again relocated back to 728-730 Main Road for use as garden edging. It is possible that the date is Sunday, April 18, 1971 and this was a Vintage Steam Train Excursion travelling Montmorency to Hurstbridge return as part of the Shire Of Eltham Centenary celebrationsDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford HP4 black and white transparency728 main road, 1970, coop_neg_bndr_p03, d3-639, d3-class steam locomotive, e077, eltham, george coop collection, level crossing, local history centre, lockup, main road, police station, railway parade, red rattler, steam engine, wattletree road, wattletree road bridge

The Victorian Railways J class was a branch line steam locomotive operated by the Victorian Railways (VR) between 1954 and 1972. A development of the successful Victorian Railways K class 2-8-0, it was the last new class of steam locomotive introduced on the VR. Introduced almost concurrently with the diesel-electric locomotives that ultimately superseded them, these locomotives were only in service for a relatively short time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Railways_J_class The K class was a branch line steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways in Australia from 1922 to 1979. Although its design was entirely conventional and its specifications unremarkable, the K class was in practice a remarkably versatile and dependable locomotive. It went on to outlast every other class of steam locomotive in regular service on the VR, and no fewer than 21 examples of the 53 originally built have survived into preservation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Railways_K_classDigital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencybendigo, d3-640, george coop collection, j-512, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-158, k-168, k-182, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway turntable, railway workshop, bendigo railway station

"A superbly detailed image of D 640, K158, J518 and K168 around the turntable inside the Bendigo Depot. The spark arrestor baffles and blastpipes petticoat of K158 have been removed" - Newsrail October 2020Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white negative transparencybendigo, bendigo railway station, d3-640, george coop collection, j-512, j-class steam locomotive (vulcan foundry), k-158, k-class steam locomotive (vr newport workshops), railway workshop

2 Coloured photos of D Class Steam Rail Locomotive and one Black & White of same engine at Cato Park. c 1974. The engine was subject to vandalism and removed in 1988. The black & white photo of D3 608 was copies from a railway magazine. Two coloured photos & one black & white photo of "D" class 608 Steam rail Locomotive taken at Cato Park. "D" 608. Inscription on the back of both colour photos, "Vec 74. D Class Loco at Cato Park". On the black & white photo " D3 608 one of the numerous and popular D3 class, preserved in a park in Stawell, 2nd April 1978".railways.

Railways Collection--Bulletin 727 article May 1998 - A Job For Life - by Graham Thomas. 13 x A4 loose pages photocopied from 'The Bulletin' - In this article Jack Thomas records his memories of Bendigo North Workshops during 31 years he was employed there as a boilermaker's assistant and the events that led him to seek permanent employment with the Victorian Railways in 1946. Black and white photos include The South Nell Gwynne mine, various photos of the workshops, the original D3 658, D3 619, K171, J Class and R727 steam locomotives, There is a photo of a Coffee Pot crane Locomotive.Graham Thomas.magazine, victorian railways