February Newsrail is one with great stories and exceptional photography, both historic and current.
We have another wonderful feature article by Graham Bishop, who previously wrote about his experiences as a ganger in the 1950s. Graham now recounts the moment in 1960 when he realised he wanted to work on the footplate, and his career progression over the next five years at the Ararat and later Bendigo Locomotive Depots, through locomotive cleaner and fireman roles to finally becoming a driver. It’s a not-to-be-missed first-hand account of life on the Victorian Railways, illustrated with a superb collection of photographs from the collections of Des Jowett, Ian Cutter and Leon Marshall-Wood that we believe have not been previously published.
Our beautiful cover photo (by Jay Kittelty) features a Down Swan Hill pass crossing the Jacksons Creek Viaduct, the N Class/N set consist becoming an increasingly rare sight. Our columnist Michael Menzies reviews the V/Line network service plan that went into effect in December 2024 and the significant changes that it reveals.
Our Tourist and heritage rail column for this month takes us to Daylesford Spa Country Railway, where Steve Fiume reports on the work they have been doing on restoring their workmen’s sleepers. These old cars are not simply museum-pieces; they are being used by DSCR to accommodate volunteers who travel from far away to work on the railway and need to stay overnight, just as they once accommodated workneb on the Victorian Railways. Steve shows us the extensive and painstaking work that has gone into their restoration.
Our Photos in focus column makes another return. This month, Trevor Penn and Mark Cauchi dissect two photographs of train operations at the Bendigo racecourse platform back in 1974.
Our News pages look at recent developments on the Albury Line, the installation of lifts at Flinders Street Station, the tap-and-go trial underway at Wangaratta, footbridge designs for Ballarat Station and a heritage grant for the Stony Creek trestle bridge.
And our usual other columns are there:
- Operations and sightings
- Tramways
- PTV service quality
- Where is it?
Some nice pics in the February edition.
The pic of R715, a rare one indeed , would have to be in the 50s as 715 was withdrawn from service in 1959. I remember it sitting by the coal stage at Ballarat East stored for quite some time. Dad worked for VR at Ballarat North shops and used to take me to have a look around Ballarat East loco on Sunday mornings en route to seeing his Mum who lived nearby in Victoria St.
715 wasn’t the early R withdrawal. There were a few ‘bombs’ which were troublesome from the onset. Others were 702,710, 714, 716, 721, 729, 744 and 768. Other wrecks such as 713, 736, 756 and 764 spent more time out of service than in but were resurrected during the great motive power shortage of 1963.
Probably an order that was about 40 too many and the class suffered from poor quality control and corrosion from the sea air whilst on deck being shipped here.