Group of men, a railway construction gang, some with shovels, pose beside an old R-Class 0-6-0 steam locomotive (built by Phoenix Foundry) during construction of the Heidelberg to Eltham line circa 1899-1901. The first wagon contains track ballast and the sides have been lowered for the men to shovel it out for distribution on the track. The tall man without hat beside the tender is "Mrs Batherway's Grandfather". Mr Harry Batherway lived in Bridge St, Eltham, between Tillings Timber and Joslyn's and is the original source of this photo about 1970 when photos were collected from the community for the Eltham "Pioneers & Painters" history publication.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection'. It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg B&W Print 18 x 25 cm B&W Print 16 x 21.5 cmsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, railway construction, railway gangers, railways, steam locomotive, workers, old r-class 0-6-0 steam locomotive

The 11 workmen are standing at the Sunbury railway crossing facing towards the south. It was in Station Street. In the distance the Sunbury Asylum hill is on the LHS. The men are from the Diggers Rest railway gang. Standing in the immediate front is Jim Brain and front left is Malic Cahill, seated is the ganger, Clary Grimmet, 3rd from right is Phil O'Conner, son of Frank and 5th from left is Mick Frouly. It wasn't until 2023 that the level rail crossing at Sunbury was removed by redirecting Station Street under it as part of the Victorian Government's program to remove level rail crossings in built-up areas.A black and white non-digital photograph with a cream border of 11 men standing at a closed country rail crossing. The photograph has been pasted onto a piece of brown light cardboard. In formation about the people in the photograph is on a separate sheet of paper.sunbury rail crossing, station street, railway gangers, railways, jim brain, malic cahill, clary grimmet, frank o'connor, mick frouly

A ganger, Frank Woosman, is digging ballast near a railway gangers' trolley.Out on the track. Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes Railway. c.1940colac; beech forest; crowes; frank woosman; gangers' trolley; railway;

Ganger's Trolly Turntable When a railway gangers trolly was working between railway stations, occasionally it was required for the line to be clear for trains to operate. Many trollys were too heavy to physically lift off the track, so a turntable was needed. These were provided at designated locations, and in some cases the trolly had a turntable on board. The turntable would be placed on the rails and the trolley driven onto it. The turntable would then be rotated 90 degrees by human power and the trolley pushed off on to a prepared set of rails on the side of the line. The turntable would then be removed from the track allowing trains to run through that section. The gang could then get on with the work required near that location. Historic - Railway Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Ganger's Trolly TurntableGanger's Trolly Turntable made of wood with wrought iron fittings puffing billy, ganger's trolley turntable, trolley, trolly

Large Gangers Trolly Turntable Many trollys were too heavy to physically lift off the track, so a turntable was needed. A railway gangers trolly was required to be "off tracked" at its working location, so that it would be clear for trains to operate. A special track at right angles to the running line was usually provided. When all the work was completed and after all the trains had cleared, the trolly was then "on tracked" so that it could proceed to its next location. These turntables were also in use at the Works Depot location. They were provided at designated locations, and in some cases the trolly carried a turntable on board. To allow for more than one trolly to be taken off the line, a longer version was available for use. The turntable would be placed on the rails and the trolly driven onto it. The turntable would then be rotated 90 degrees by human power and the trolly pushed off on to a prepared set of rails on the side of the line. The turntable would then be removed from the track allowing trains to run through that section. The gang could then get on with the work required near that location.Historic - Railway Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Ganger's Trolley TurntableLarge Gangers Trolly Turntable made of wood with wrought iron fittingspuffing billy, gangers trolley turntable, trolly, trolley

NKS 5 - NKS Type Gangers Trolly - Victorian Railways 2'6" gauge trolly - a KS series Section Car often called the Kasey Jones The narrow gauge version of the broad gauge KS series cars. They were classed NKS with two stroke motors. These cars were built by the Spotswood Workshops, with castings coming from the Newport Workshops. KS is lighter car capable of carrying 4 men or sevenhundredweight Historic - Victorian Railways Narrow Gauge - Track Patrol Vehicle used by Puffing Billy Preservation SocietyMotorised small rectangular trolly made of wood and wrought iron Engine Type: 1 Cyl. reversible Fuel: 2 stroke Transmission: Belt driveNKS 5trolley, nks5, puffing billy, victorian railways, narrow gauge, 2'6" gauge, trolly

NKS Type Gangers Trolly - Victorian Railways 2'6" gauge trolly - a KS series Section Car oftern called the Kasey Jones The narrow gauge version of the broad gauge KS series cars. They were classed NKS with two stroke motors. These cars were built by the Spotswood Workshops, with castings coming from the Newport Workshops. KS is lighter car capable of carrying 4 men or sevenhundredweight Historic - Victorian Railways Narrow Gauge - Track Patrol Vehicle used by Puffing Billy Preservation SocietyMotorised small rectangular trolly made of wood and wrought iron Engine Type: 1 Cyl. reversible Fuel: 2 stroke Transmission: Belt driveNKS 8puffing billy, victorian railways, trolley, narrow gauge, 2'6" gauge, kasey, trolly

NKS Type Gangers Trolly - Victorian Railways 2'6" gauge trolley - a KS series Section Car oftern called the Kasey Jones The narrow gauge version of the broad gauge KS series cars. They were classed NKS with two stroke motors. These cars were built by the Spotswood Workshops, with castings coming from the Newport Workshops. KS is lighter car capable of carrying 4 men or sevenhundredweight Trolly 9 was built for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria for use on their metre gauge railway of Yallourn. It was sold to a preservation group at Walhalla and regauged to 2 foot 6 inch. It came to the Puffing Billy Railway in the early 1980s.Historic - Victorian Railways Narrow Gauge - Track Patrol Vehicle used by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria for use on their 900mm gauge railway of Yallourn. And then at Walhalla Railway where it was regauged to 2 foot 6 inchMotorised small rectangular trolly made of wood and wrought iron - currently stored dismantled Engine Type: 1 Cyl. reversible Fuel: 2 stroke Transmission: Belt driveNKS 9puffing billy, puffing billy museum, trolley, narrow gauge, 2'6" gauge, victorian railways, state electricity commission of victoria - yallourn., trolly

vaporizing kerosene gas lamps of this type were used by track gangers to facilitate night works. Historic - Victorian Railways - Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Ganger's Lamp made of metal, brass and glass V.R ( and Arrow symbol ) AL 14puffing billy, victorian railways, ganger's lamp

NKS Trolley Motor Transporting Box A wooden box used for transporting the engines of the Gangers trolleys between the line in use and the Workshops at Spotswood. Engines were often changed over due to mechanical failure or being required for a service. Rather than send the complete trolley in for work, the engine was removed and transported. These boxes may have arrived at a location with an engine in it, to replace the one returning to the Workshops, cutting down the time that the trolley may have been out of use. Historic - Victorian Railways - Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - NKS Trolly Motor Transporting BoxNKS Trolly Motor Transporting Box - two boxes made of timber with wrought iron fittings puffing billy, nks trolley motor transporting box, trolly, trolley

Appletons Patent Railway Warning Lamp with Sherwood Style burner Used by Gangers during track work at night Appletons was an early pioneer of railway lamp signal lamp Alfred Edward Appleton invented and patented the Spinner Railway signal lamp in England in 1897. Appleton lamps were patented and manufactured by Alfred Edward Appleton at a factory in Sherwood during the early 1920's to late 50's and widely used throughout Queensland Railways. Alfred Edward Appleton's father was a railway pointsman and porter on the Great Western Railway in Tewkesbury England Historic - Early Hand signalling Lantern Appletons Patent Railway Warning Lamp made of tin & metal and glassAppletons Patentpuffing billy, appleton warning lamp, lamp

Gangers Shed Desk A desk used in the Gang Shed for office work and other associated functions. Historic - Victorian Railways Permanent Way and Works - Gangers Shed Desk Gangers Shed Desk made of wood with wrought iron fittingspuffing billy, gangers shed desk, victorian railways

Ganger's Fire Beater This was used to beat the flames of a fire. They were used by track Gangers when burning off the trackside vegetation, to ensure the fires were kept under control. the canvis was dampened with water before useHistoric - Railways Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Ganger's Fire Fighting Mop Ganger's Fire Beater made of timber handle with canvas strips attached puffing billy, fire beater

Gang Shed Ganger may refer to: The head of a gang of labourers, especially on canals or railways. They were Men who had the job of track maintenance repair and upkeep or construction for sections of the lines. Gang Sheds were used to keep their tools and equipment and Trollys in. The shed houses and protects the historic trolley and tool collection within. loose based replica Victorian Railways gang shed, permanent way building. Gang Shed constructed of timber and corrugated ironpuffing billy, gang shed, kilmore gang shed, victorian railways, ganger, railway track

Locomotive 8A, rolling stock, gangers and passengers, somewhere between Gellibrand and Beech Forest.beech forest; gellibrand; railway; loco 8a;

At its peak the Beech Forest railway employed more than 21 staff between Colac and Crowes. Gangers (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 in the original construction gangs of 1900-1902 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (2), and Lavers Hill. However, track gangs lessened as the line shortened. After 1954, the sole surviving track gang, in charge of Paddy Balcombe, stayed until the line closed.A railway track gang, with helper, trolleying to a work site, on 14 December, 1955.beech forest; railways; track gang;

At its peak the Beech Forest railway employed more than 21 people between Colac and Crowes tending the line the trains ran over. The 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 1900-1902 remained and obtained positions in the track gangs along the line. The track was maintained by seven three-man gangs based at Colac, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Banool, Beech Forest (2), and Lavers Hill. The ganger for Beech Forest 2 gang resided at Wyelangta. However, the track gangs lessened as the line shortened. Three men with spades on the line, thought to be at Barongarook, c.1925. B/W.barongarook; railways; track gangs;

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;

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;

On 8 March 1962, after the line from Crowes to Weeaproinah was shut down. Beginning at Crowes, groups of gangers started removing the tracks, loading them into NQR open wagons pushed by locomotive G42.B/W. Four empty NQR open wagons with a group of gangers tearing up the lines.crowes; beech forest; weeaproinah; railways;

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;

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;

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.

non-fictionThe spectacular mountain railway from Wodonga to Cudgewa in north eastern Victoria was one of Australia's truly fascinating branch lines, and the most challenging to operate on the Victorian Railways. It was a railway of scenic splendour, famous for its towering wooden bridges, notoriously steep grades, Hereford cattle and K class steam locomotives. This lavishly illustrated publication includes over 100 colour and B&W photographs, and tells the story of the railway through the memories of Cudgewa railway enginemen, station masters, bridge gangers,railroads victoria, railways cudgewa, railways wodonga, railways high country

p.308.non-fictionFrom the back cover: "Patsy Adam-Smith has collected a rich host of humorous, historic, and tragic anecdotes from the navvies, guards, fettlers, gangers, station-masters, drivers, and other men and women of the Australian railways - men and women who, bringing character and life to the loneliness of the remote parts of Australia they opened up, were a vital part of our history."australian folklore. special subjects: railway services. personal observations. collections., railroads -- australia -- history.