The Sunshine Railway Disaster was a catastrophic rear‑end collision at Sunshine Station on 20 April 1908, killing 44 people and injuring more than 400, the worst rail accident in Victoria’s history. The official inquiry found the Bendigo train passed a signal at danger, likely due to brake failure, and could not stop in time. This accident led to major reforms in Victorian railway safety, including: - Stronger steel‑framed carriages. - Improved braking systems. - Better signalling and traffic control. - The disaster remains a defining moment in Sunshine’s early 20th‑century history. April 1998 Sunshine Rail Disaster Tom Riggsunshine rail disaster, sunshine railway disaster, sunshine station, tom rigg

The Sunshine rail disaster occurred on 20 April 1908 at the junction at Sunshine railway station (in Sunshine, Victoria, Australia) when a Melbourne-bound train from Bendigo collided with the rear of a train from Ballarat. 44 people were killed and over 400 injured, almost all of them from the Ballarat train, as the Bendigo train was cushioned by its two locomotives.Sunshine Railway Disaster Tom Rigg MS Word Files TR 28/2/08sunshine railway disaster, tom rigg

In April 1908 at the Sunshine Railway Station, a train travelling to Melbourne from Ballarat was struck by a train from Bendigo, resulting in 44 deaths and over 400 injured passengers. Tom Rigg was a former station master at St Albans station and author of a book on the Sunshine Train disaster.Launch of T. Rigg Sunshine Railway Disaster 1908 1/5/2008tom rigg, sunshine train disaster

The Sunshine and District Historical Society Pioneers’ Lunch / Dinner is an annual event. It’s a commemorative gathering that honours the early settlers, people, community leaders of Sunshine and the surrounding district, events, achievements, etc. At the Pioneers’ Lunch / Dinner, a toast is a ritual and a dedicated moment to honour the original settlers and their contributions, and a guest speaker talks about an interesting subject. Tom Rigg has written a book "Sunshine Railway Disaster 1908" detailing all the events before, during and after the accident. Dr Janet McCalman, an Australian social historian, population researcher and author was the guest speaker at the dinner. Audio Tape This audio tape has been digitised. This audio tape has been transcribed. No editing of the recording has taken place, except where the speaker(s) can be identified.tom rigg, wally o'brien, dr janet mccalman, pioneers dinner

Timeline of Sunshine Compiled by Tom Rigg Research Officer For Sunshine Historical Society October 2008sunshine, history, timeline

Timeline and pictorial history of the Sunshine Signal Box.Sunshine Signal Box. A book about railway and social history in Melbourne's western suburbs 1853 to 1997. Tom Riggsunshine signal box, railway, sunshine, tom rigg

A historical account, including photocopies of documents and photographs, and use of time lines.A collection of documents relating to the railways of the Sunshine area.railway station, railways, tom rigg

Researched and written by Tom Rigg in 2009, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Footscray to Sunbury line, 13th January 1859. This is a revised edition of the Fifteen Railway Stations of the West Footscray to Sunbury which includes the second Albion Railway Station. Also see Cat No 956 Fifteen Railway Stations of the West Footscray to SunburySixteen Railway Stations of the West Footscray to Sunburyrailways, tom rigg

Green cover black wrtining with picture of station master in Black Plastic Spine.Researched and wriiten by Tom Rigg

Sunshine Railway Disaster 20 April 1908 Some Highlights prepared by Tom Riggsunshine railway disaster, sunshine station, railway

Collected by Tom RiggUntil about 1884 the general area now occupied by Sunshine / Braybrook was known as CUT PAW PAW. The Melbourne to Bendigo railway was built in 1859 and the railway to Ballarat began first to Melton in 1884 to Parwan in 1886 and to Bacchus Marsh in 1887. The junction of the two lines was known as Bacchus Marsh Junction during construction and after completion the area became Braybrook Junction no doubt influenced by the nearby settlement of Braybrook. In 1907 the Braybrook Junction Progress Association petitioned the Victorian Railways Commissioners requesting that the station name be changed to Sunshine Junction possibly recognising the dominating presence of the Sunshine Harvester Works. Approval was very promptly granted by the Commissioners and in the Victoria Gazette of July 17 1907 page 3419 the Victorian Railways gazetted that on and after Monday 15th July the name of Braybrook Junction station will be changed to Sunshine.sunshine railway station, railway

Soft cover A4 bookletA collection of historical documents relating to greyhound racing and railways.tottenham, greyhound, white city, railway, tom rigg

Prepared for 100th Anniversary Plaque Unveiling on 20 December, 2010 Proof document of the pubication The Errington Reserve by Tom Rigg 20111460.01 - The Errington Reserve 1460.02 - Errington Reserve - Alice Errington 100th Anniversary Plaque Unveiling 20th December 2010 Flyer 1460.03 - Errington Reserve - The Errington Reserve Proof Copy By Tom Rigg 2011 1460.04 - Errington Reserve - Timelineerrington reserve, reserve, main road east, st. albans

Bendigo Line Tom Rigg's Research Notesrailways, bendigo

Errington Reserve Tom Rigg's Research Noteserrington reserve, main road east, st. albans

Tom Rigg's railway research notes on various topicsrailways

A soft covered book of 74 pages describing the Sunshine Railway Disaster of 1908 and the subsequent inquiry. It includes illustrations.non-fictionThe book is written by railway historian, Tom Rigg, and outlines the railway disaster of 20 April 1908 when two trains collided at Sunshine, and 44 people lost their lives. The book covers actions prior to the crash, a description of the collision, the working conditions of the railway staff and the subsequent inquest and investigation into the collision.sunshine railway disaster, disaster, railways, sunshine railway station, tom rigg

Sunshine Railway Disaster Tom Rigg's Research Notes|Text & photos|Plaque Dedication 15/11/1990sunshine rail disaster, sunshine station, sunshine

Going To The Dogs - Tom Rigg's Research Notes 2 x Aerial photographs of the White City Dog Trackwhite city dog track, sunshine road, tottenham

railway station, railways

This list may have been prepared by Tom Rigg or it was used by Tom for his timeline history of Sunshine1803 To 1977sunshine, timeline, history, tom rigg

John Joseph Brown The Life of a Trade Union Leader State Secretary Victoria Branch Australia Railways Unionbrown, railway

Typed Notes Henry Bournes Higgins 1951 to 1929higgins, harvester judgement

1/ Sunshine Diaster Easter Monday 20th April 1908 Newspaper cuttings|2/ Compensation Personal Injuries Sunshine Accident 20th April 1908 Part 1 & Part 2|3/ List of relatives of people that were involved and others|4/ Notes on some staff|5/ Legislative Assembly Wednesday 25th November 1908 Sunshine Railway Disaster Non. Samuel Mauger|6/ The Australian Locomotive Drivers' Guide|7/ Report of Evidence and Addresses of Counsel given at Coroner's Inquest|8/ Minutes of the Victorian Railways Commissioners Meetings 20/9/1909 & 16/4/1909|9/ Double Line Block Train Register|10/ Sunshine Railway Disaster 1909 Project Design Anne Best November 2005|11/ Sunshine Railway Disaster 20/4/1908 Notes taken for Mr William Shannon District Rolling Stock Inspector at the Enquiry|12/ Various notes on railways stations and other miscelleous articles|13/ Sunshine Rail Disaster Commemorative Service Monday 10:30pm 20/4/1998 90th Anniversary|14/ The Sunshine Railway Disaster by John Buckland|15/ Sunshine Railway Disaster verious newspaper cuttings|16/ Correspondence|17/ Poems & Sings|18/ Sunshine Disaster 20/4/1908 various|19/ The Sunshine Railway Disaster Who Was To Blame? Conroner's Searching Enquiry W.O. Bagley|20/ Victorian Railways Rules and Regulation for the Guidance of Employe's 1907|21/ Timetables & Fares around 1908|22/ Power to Stop Tlk to Vicrail Senior Management 7th December 1977 by A. G. Gibbs|23/ Tom Rigg's Photo Album 100th Anniversity 2008 and Book Launch|24/ Peter Alexander Assistant to Chief Mechanical Engineer Report on Train Brakessunshine railway disaster, sunshine railway station, railway, sunshine

St. Albans Railway Station|Tottenham Gravition Yard|Sunshine Railway Station|Braybrook Junction Railway Station|Sunbury Railway Station|Albion Railway Station|Sydenham Railway Station|Holden Railway Station|Diggers' Rest Railway Stationrailways

These scrap books were put together by Tom Riggs, a past St. Albans Train Station Master, St. Albans Centenary Committee & Sunshine & District Historical Society member and they record a history of a wide range of subjects referring to the Sunshine & District. The following list is only a brief description of each scrapbook. 663.01 - People in official postions 1908|H.V. McKay Factory Gates|Part layout in vicinity of Sunshine Railway Station map 1910|Sunshine Station Signal Box|Harvester Museum|H.V. McKay|H.V. McKay Bulk Store|Sunshine's colorful history|Family of Nathaniel & Mary McKay family tree|Sunshine Smithy|Braybrook residents 1903 & 1906 Sands & McDougal listing|Nat & Joyce Wright|Sunshine Market Palce|Sunshine new police station|Sunshine new post office|S&DHS newspaper articles|Black Powder Mill|Deer Park St. John's Anglican Church|Robert Eric Parsons|Rubblish dumping issue|Bob & Cyril Parsons|Deer Park Bypass|Sunshine Leisure Centre|Sunshine Station Interchange|Dorothy Price|Sunshine Hospital expansion|Albert & Amy Russell|Wally O'Brien|Hospital pedestrain crossing|Our Lady's Primary School reunion|Mytle Baylis|Darling Albion Flour Mill|Pokie machines|Harricks Cottage|Jack Tighe|Cr Brooke Gujinovic New Brimank Mayor|Jack Collins|Isabella Williams Reserve|Cairnlea developement|Albert Holden|Old Sunsine Police Station Sun Crescent|Big bins|Phyllis Vance|Sunshine Pipe Band|Dick & Elsie Whiting|Historic house denmiolition|Boom gate deley|Brian & Doreen Duffy|Beth Argyle|Sunshine Railway Disaster|Les Hunter|Sunshine Pool closure protest|Clare Brennan|Mickey Vautier|Jack Sheridan|Balam Balam Reserve|Gwen Goedecke|Derrimut Hotel & licensee Wal Elms|Jimmy Gaylor|John & Leone Hawking|Centrelink move|Joan Carstairs|Hampshire Road roadworks|Lloyd McCallum postman retires|Mavis Kittelty & Sunshine Croquet Club closes|Frank O'Connor|Beth Argyle, Don Deeble, Shirley Wallace & Jack Sheridan|Sunshine Anglican Church & Father Stuart Soley|Ian Baker|Morris Street proposed flat development protest|Brimbank's rich cultural history|Church of Christ|Doreen Foster & Albion Tennis Club|Francis & Lillian Allen|Sunshine Wesleyan Methodist Churst|3LO-3AR radio transmitter|George & Gloria Hales|H.V. McKay Medal Trade Wing|Lorna Cameron|Noala Flynn|St. Ablans Baptist Church & Ralph Phillips|Apostolic Christian Church|Keilor Christian City Church|Sunshine City Band|Maidstone Our Ladys of Perpetual Church|Waterways|Ron & Margaret Craker 663.02 - Black Powder Mill|St. Albans Greek Orthodox Church of St. Paraskeve|Western Ring Road traffic|Joseph & Frances Testa|Sydneham Kimgdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses|Sydenham The Assemblies of God|Michael & Rosalia Skok|Werribee's State Rose Gardens|Tom & Maria Diele|Tom Rigg and the origin of the district's street names|Sunshine & St. Albans Baptist Church|ICI Estate protest|Sunshine Salvation Army Church|Macedonian Orthodox Church|Anita-Marie Neumann|Albanvale path of recongnition|Sunshine Pool action group|Minnie Gorsuch|State Election 2000|Jean Folry & Ilma Weir|Brimbank Uniting Church|Harvester Town book launch - Olwen Ford|Brooke Jujinovic|Keilor Cemetery grave stones|John Howard ignores Braybrook|Norman & Joan Wales|Clare Brennan Drive named after Clare Brennan|Fosseys Sunshine closure|Commonwealth Bank (CBA) Glengala Road closuer|James Frederick McKay|A history of Sunshine|H.V. McKay's Russell Street gates|Barry McMahon|Sunshine Swimming Pool Aquatic centre sale|Keith Buckley|Migrants' move to brave new world|Vasilos & Eugenia Karaoglandis|William Hyett|Darryl Myers|Kathleen Inkster|Sunshine RSL Kevin Keegan, Kevin Bryar & Fred Russell|Barney & Renee Cater|Mona Malouf|George Carter|Sunshine Pottery memorabilia & reunion|Des Johnson Duke Street Aborigine artifacts|Albert Drayton|Two pools planned|Sunshine Pool repairs approved|Olympic Tooch journey through Brimbank|Maurice & Kathleen Sanders|Paul & Suzanna Vicek|Deer Park By Pass Road|Bert & Noreen Craddock|St. Albans Legless Lizards under fire|Sunshine rare orchid scare|St. Albans Road black spot|Viet name for Burke street|Russell Street gates unveiling ceremony|Don & Val Byrnes|Emily Hall|Sunshine Swim centre|Water action plans|Melton Highway sugar gum tree removal by Vicroads|Sunshine Police Station Olympic Rings Brick|Emmaus Catholic School Sydenham opening|Black Powder Mill|Stevens Farm House fire|Yvonne Flack|Frank Gathercole|Commonwealth Bank closurer|Marion Martin|Deer Park State School|Tom & Flo Beagley|Call for railway land buffer|Clarrie Salvador|Braybrook Hotel|Sunshine Harvester Smithy|2000, A year to remember|Bus Re-route hits traders|Sunshine Swimming Pool end of life|Pam Chapman|Prune Goldrick - When the Whistle Blew|Wally O'Brien recalls Deer Park during his childhood|Western Highway / Ballarat Road traffic|Tom Rigg confusing St. Albans bus signs|Rubbish in Deer Park|Phyllis Frost|Basil Morcos|Allan "Titch" Williams|George Thoms|Clarrie Salvator|Tom Dile|Igor Balabin|John McArdie|Sam & Rita Attard|Jack & Dorothy Roberts|Joe De Gabriele|Beth Argyle|John Refshauge surgeon|Bill Fogarity|Brimbank Heritage Listing in peril|Museum of Victoria virtually tour of H.V. McHarvester Factory|Jock McLeod|John & lorna Stainer|Rita Shimmin|Smithy|Nettlefolds - Len Duxon, Betty Scott, Frank Richards, Thelma Burnett, Reg Ratcliffe & Frank Farrugia|Emma Broadhead|Bill Bunting|Gwen Goedecke|Ron Dorre|Sunshine Hospital Redevelopment|Braybrook Squash Centre|Megan Blair|Harvester Town book launch|Tom Rigg rail safty activist|Lloyd & Gislaine Simpson|Sunshine's past revealed|Legless Lizards site Jones Creek|Wetlands|St. Albans time capsule|Cainlea suburb name causing a stir|Agnes Clark|Norman de Pomeroy|Ern & Dot Nicholls|Anton & Maria Gerber|Peter & Margaret McManus|H.V. McKay Offices heritage listing|Cr. Chris Evans out|Two historial walks in Sunshine|Brink Back the H.V. McKay Smithy opening invite|Counicl destroys old files|Harricks Cottage|Special Exhibution Models of Sunshine made farn implements exhibition invite 663.03 - Wally O'Brien|Cr. Chris Evans|Sunshine pool debate|Black Powder Mill|Sydnenham / Hillside Primary School name changes|Say goodbye to Sydnenham, Watergardens|Spalding Reunion|Harry Unger|Gwen Goedecke|Frances Fitzgerald|Preerving Brimbank's significant landmarks|Bernard Reilly kindergarten train|Albert Holden|St. Peters Channel Catholic Church|Terry Muscat|Smithy|Norman & Geoff Pomeroy|Sunshine disaster recalled|Sydneham Railway Station|Sunshine Baseball Club|Albert Evans|Sunshine Pool anger|Albion car crash|Jackson School to loose portables|Black Powder Mill|John Kontek|Harvester basic wage case|Sushine Harvester & Offices complex|Deer Park Primary School|Sunshine underpass / subway shame|Albion Railway Station Rolando & Lilia Antonio|Furlong Road tragery|Anita Ciancio & baby Montana kidnapping|Harricks Cottage|Fence to keep out snakes|Shire of Braybrook Financial & Rate records donated to S&DHS|Bikini protest in Council Chambers|Talintyre Reserve name change from Tallintyre Reserve|Peter Somerville and the Blackbird|Keith Miller|Gerald Griggs|St. Albans Hume & Hovell cairn in the move|Iramoo Committee|Shopping bags ban|Harvester City, the making of Multicultural Sunshine book grant|Susan Jennison|Melchior Bajada|Ray Carlton book donation to Sunshine Library|Hampshire Road connection the Market Place with the Plaza|Girls should be girlsSunshine & Districtsunshine advocate, brimbank messenger, newspaper

Book 1 - Stations of the West Footscray to Sunbury|Book 2 - Stations of the West Footscray to Sunbury|Book 3 - Stations of the West other than the main linerailways, railway stations

Black Powder Mill from Tom Rigg 11/6/2004

ill, p.20.non-fictionA history of the greyhound racing stadium at White City, Tottenham, Victoria, on the Bendigo line, and the involvement of Victorian Railways, 1927-1955.railroad infrastructure - victoria, railroad operations - victoria - history

In photograph symbol of City of Brimbank on lectern drapeh.v. mckays, h.v. mckays massey harris, massey ferguson, russell street, devonshire road