Buy an individual print copy of May 2023 Newsrail here

We’re marking three years of Newsrail at Victorian Rail Publishing Inc. with a big 44-page edition!

Two stand-out feature articles make this edition a special one, as does the superb cover photograph (by Neville Gee) of the Down Yarram Mixed crossing one of the Tarwin River bridges on the former Great Southern Railway. Mark Cauchi has written a special feature article on the Yarram to Woodside extension of this line, which was completed 100 years ago next month and closed 70 years ago this month. Little has been previously published about this particular railway, and Mark has put forward an extensively-researched article and some very rare photographs of the line.

Photographer George Coop, whose rail photographs from the 1950s and 60s have already illustrated many other articles in Newsrail, has now written an article of his own. George recounts the five years he lived in Echuca, and presents an absolutely stunning collection of colour and black and white photographs of rail operations in the days when R Class steam locomotives regularly thundered between Bendigo and Echuca on freight services, K and J Class locos ventured across the iron bridge into NSW, and D3s ran the School Train, along with a variety of railcars.

Our Tourist and heritage rail column has an update on Steamrail’s restoration of locomotive B72. Last month we looked at the locomotive being craned back onto its bogies after lots of work by Steamrail volunteers to refurbish them. This month we cover yet another miletstone in the project: the engine being fired up for the first time in 36 years!

Our News column looks at the independent review into the Inland Rail project.While initially costed at $4.7 billion, the review has found that due to poor management. the cost is likely to top $31 billion. We also speak to the PTUA’s Paul Westcott about the possible shelving of Geelong Fast Rail, take a look at Metro Tunnel, the forthcoming Croydon Station, and the interesting decision to rename the new Glenhuntly Station as Glen Huntly.

Our other regular sections are there:

• Calendar anniversaries
• General works
• Operations and sightings
• Tramways
• PTV service quality
• Where is it?
• Taildisc