Buy an individual print copy of August 2021 Newsrail here
August Newsrail, another 36-page edition, has a wide range of feature articles and other content of interest to all who follow the Victorian rail scene.
We have four feature articles this month:
- John Hearsch writes on the recent introduction of A-Double trucks, also known as High Productivity Freight Vehicles, to the Victorian road network and the risks they pose to the ongoing viability of regional rail freight at a time when much of Victoria’s regional rail network is hamstrung by under-investment in infrastructure;
- Phil Dunn presents a fascinating 1935 Victorian Railways report proposing options for new shunting locomotives, options which included a predecessor of the Victorian Railways F Class locomotive eventually adopted, and a K Class-based 0-8-0 tender locomotive adapted for shunting work;
- Terry Norton encourages railfans to not leave it too late to experience the rail journeys on offer to us today, and recounts just how many once-everyday journeys he took on now-closed and dismantled railway lines. Along the way he discusses everything from the horrors of clapped-out NSWGR sleeper stock on peak holiday trains, through to the simple joys of a freshly-brewed cup of VR coffee;
- and finally, Scott Gould takes us on the journey of a train-chasing rail photographer, and the elusive search for “The Shot”, beautifully illustrated with photographs from his recent travels chasing the Cruise Express tour.
We also note the passing of the old Mooroolbark Station into history, and the impending closure of Lilydale Station, as part of the current project to eliminate level crossings at Manchester Road and Maroondah Highway.
As ever, the edition is illustrated with spectacular photographs from Andrew Blair, Thomas Hobley, Ian Green, Marcus Wong, Geoff Oliver, Alan Greenhill, John Dare, Graham Edwards, Nick Cutter, Alex Pate, Peter Thornton, and David O’Brien.
All your favourite columns are included:
- News and Announcements – including details of the new Surrey Hills Station
- Rail works
- PTV reliability
- Tramways
- Operations and sightings
- Preservation – including a special report from Walhalla Goldfields Railway
- Where is it?
- Taildisc
I think that Newsrail is going from strength to strength. Congratulations.
I really appreciate the historical articles, particularly the Overland, the Kew line and the Heidelberg line.
The article in the August edition about not leaving it too late for photos is very timely.
The suburban network is becoming unrecognisable from what it was a few years ago and definitely unrecognisable from when I was growing up and was too young to take photos.