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A planned rolling stock shuffle at Valley
Heights involves in part, moving the derelict rail
car set down to the Ash Boards to enable them
to be taken away on a low-loader. Our locomo-
tive “Stepho” is to provide the motive power
for the shunt with the “S” truck ‘4360’ being
used as the ‘match truck’. A lot of work has
been done and is ongoing to bring this vehicle
up to standard. This has mostly entailed re-
conditioning the axle housings.
“Stepho” has not been operated since its
boiler was inspected about this time last year.
As a result, Craig thought it prudent to give the
engine a steam test some weeks ago. The test,
undertaken on August 14, indicated two weep-
ing boiler plugs in the smoke box. The fire was
dropped with the intention to thread clean and re-
seat the plugs when the engine was cold. This was
subsequently done and the boiler given a ‘cold water
squeeze”. The boiler plugs were fine however a leak
had developed in one of the boiler tubes. Needless
to say, this was extremely disappointing. Initially it
was thought that “Stepho’s” boiler tubes were cop-
per but this proved to not be the case. The original
boiler had been replaced in 1942 at Mort’s Dock by
an all-steel job however, it still retains the copper
firebox.
Sunday August 28, which was an operating
day, saw work commence on what should have
been the relatively easy job of removing one
boiler. It couldn’t have been further from the
truth. The tube was stubborn and reluctantly
yielded centimeter by centimeter. It fought
tooth and nail to stay where it had been for
half a century probably. Its final extraction was
thwarted by the close presence of the double-
deck car, so the job was postponed to the next
work-day.
Stepho was turned in the meantime to make
the tube extraction more accessible. With more
room being available the leaking tube was removed
with minimal difficulty.
Fortunately the tubes for Stepho are the same
diameter as those for the motor. With some spare
uncut lengths of tube on hand, one was selected,
tailored to length, fitted and annealed into place.
With one tube developing a leak, it stands to rea-
son that there are probably others not far behind.
Accordingly, a programme of tube replacement will
be developed and when tubes are available, supplies
obtained.
Craig and his assistants, Steve Tolhurst, Ted Dick-
son, John Webb and others, are to be congratulated
on a job that should have been relatively simple but
turned out to be more complex and difficult than
expected. Craig especially is to be congratulated for
his tenacity, ‘can-do’ approach and leadership in
executing and heading the project. As always, much
was learnt about Stepho’s ‘idiosyncrasies’ in the
tube department.
Replacement Bogies
When our end-platform car CBI 1073 was received
some years ago, it was without bogies. Those that
are presently underneath it are from Parramatta
Park and not in the best of condition. Two superior
sets as replacements, have recently been received
at the Valley, compliments of “State Mine.” Cartage
was arranged by member Andrew Coble.
We’re On Track
On Saturday 24-9-2011, a museum team accompa-
nied by some STARPS members, set up a demar-
cation fence down at the Signal Box. Advantage
was taken of a local ‘total possession’ situation
on the adjacent main running line. The line is
now complete and only requires a formal
‘turnover’ and interface agreement to be entered
into. Residual risk management issues will be
taken up with ITSR with every likelihood we
could be operating on the extension before
Christmas (this year!)
(See photo end page)
“Stepho” Gets a New Tube... - but not without a fight to keep the old one!
August / October 2011
“Preserving the past,
enriching the future” STEAM SCENE Newsletter of the Steam Tram and Railway Preservation (Co-Op) Society Ltd.
t/a Valley Heights Steam Tramway. Proudly associated with the NSW Rail Transport Museum ( Blue Mountains Division).
Affiliated with the Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia and Rail Heritage Australia (NSW).
Volume 8 Issue 4
(Above) The fire damaged
building at Ipswich.
FROM THE FROM THE FROM THE
EDITOREDITOREDITOR
Apologies for the lateness of this issue. Apologies for the lateness of this issue. Apologies for the lateness of this issue. It is so late, that it has had to be amal-It is so late, that it has had to be amal-It is so late, that it has had to be amal-gamated with the October issue due to gamated with the October issue due to gamated with the October issue due to extenuating circumstances. But on to extenuating circumstances. But on to extenuating circumstances. But on to
another matter of importance.another matter of importance.another matter of importance.
The recent fire at the Ipswich Rail-The recent fire at the Ipswich Rail-The recent fire at the Ipswich Rail-way Museum was very concerning. way Museum was very concerning. way Museum was very concerning. Although the fire was contained to Although the fire was contained to Although the fire was contained to disused buildings, it could have been disused buildings, it could have been disused buildings, it could have been far more serious. Police have since far more serious. Police have since far more serious. Police have since charged a 17 year old youth with charged a 17 year old youth with charged a 17 year old youth with arson. The museum is again open arson. The museum is again open arson. The museum is again open for business. This fire resonated for business. This fire resonated for business. This fire resonated deeply with our society members as deeply with our society members as deeply with our society members as has fires occurring locally and in has fires occurring locally and in has fires occurring locally and in overseas rail museums. At least overseas rail museums. At least overseas rail museums. At least someone has been charged with the someone has been charged with the someone has been charged with the Ipswich fire, unlike the arson attack Ipswich fire, unlike the arson attack Ipswich fire, unlike the arson attack on our Museum in Parramatta Park on our Museum in Parramatta Park on our Museum in Parramatta Park in June 1993. That perpetrator is in June 1993. That perpetrator is in June 1993. That perpetrator is
still at large.still at large.still at large.
This latest fire brings home yet again This latest fire brings home yet again This latest fire brings home yet again the fact that most rail museums in the fact that most rail museums in the fact that most rail museums in NSW at least, have minimal fire NSW at least, have minimal fire NSW at least, have minimal fire protection. What is even more con-protection. What is even more con-protection. What is even more con-cerning is that most don't have any cerning is that most don't have any cerning is that most don't have any fire insurance because it is too ex-fire insurance because it is too ex-fire insurance because it is too ex-
pensive.pensive.pensive.
With the Ipswich fire fresh in our With the Ipswich fire fresh in our With the Ipswich fire fresh in our minds, it is again timely that the rail minds, it is again timely that the rail minds, it is again timely that the rail heritage industry through agencies heritage industry through agencies heritage industry through agencies such as ATHRA, ORH and COTMA, such as ATHRA, ORH and COTMA, such as ATHRA, ORH and COTMA, get something positive rolling in get something positive rolling in get something positive rolling in regards to getting fire coverage at regards to getting fire coverage at regards to getting fire coverage at reasonable expense, for rail muse-reasonable expense, for rail muse-reasonable expense, for rail muse-ums. Sooner or later another mu-ums. Sooner or later another mu-ums. Sooner or later another mu-seum will be tragically, the victim of seum will be tragically, the victim of seum will be tragically, the victim of arson and items irreplaceable de-arson and items irreplaceable de-arson and items irreplaceable de-stroyed. Will we be leaving the mat-stroyed. Will we be leaving the mat-stroyed. Will we be leaving the mat-ter of fire protection and insurance ter of fire protection and insurance ter of fire protection and insurance
yet again, in the ‘too hard basket’ ?yet again, in the ‘too hard basket’ ?yet again, in the ‘too hard basket’ ?
Bruce Irwin, EditorBruce Irwin, EditorBruce Irwin, Editor
(Above) At work replacing the recalcitrant
boiler tube in Stepho.
(Above) The bogies received from State Mine.
The Things We Say… We use ‘figures of speech’ everyday and many if not most, without realizing where they came from. I came across
the following origins of two sayings, in two very old newspapers.
“ Hobson’s Choice”
Strangely enough, this saying preserves the memory
of a very good and useful man.
Thomas Hobson was born in 1544. He was for sixty
years, a carrier between London and Cambridge, con-
veying to and from the university, letters, packages and
passengers. In addition to this business, he had a livery
stable and rented out horses to the university students.
He made it a rule that all the horses should have, ac-
cording to their ability, a proper division of work and
rest. They were taken out in regular order, as they
stood, beginning with the one nearest the door. No
choice was allowed and if any man refused to take the
animal assigned to him, he might go without any. That
or none—hence the phrase “Hobson’s Choice.”
In the spring of 1630 another plague outbreak broke
out across England. The colleges of Cambridge were
closed and among the precautions taken by the au-
thorities to avoid infection, Hobson was forbidden to
go to London.
Hobson died in January 1631 partly it is said, from
anxiety and fretting at his enforced leisure. Hobson
was one of the wealthiest citizens of Cambridge. He
did much for the benefit of the city to which he left
several legacies. His death called forth many poems
from members, officers and students of the university.
Among them, two were by no less than the poet Mil-
ton, then a student at Christ College.
“I Don’t Give a Tinker’s Dam…”
This, and variations, is a well known saying though like
many, it seems to be dying out. Tinkers were travel-
ers who went about the countryside repairing kettles,
pans etc. The origins for the saying appears thus: In
Flanders (Belgium) during the Middle Ages, a ‘dam’
was the smallest coin of the currency. Tinkers in
those days were generally itinerant and little better
than vagrants. Their services were generally rewarded
by a ‘dam’ and as no other tradesman would take
such small remuneration for their services, it became
the custom to say that if anything was of very small
value, it was not worth a ‘tinker’s dam’. So the ‘dam’
has nothing to do with ponding water or cussing but
an obsolete unit of coinage. Come to mention it,
“cussing” or more correctly “cuss” does come into it.
An alternative saying, “I don’t give a tinker’s cuss..” is
generally thought by many people to mean a cuss as
in an expletive. In the instance of the tinker, it refers
to the piece of clay that was used by the tinker to
hold whatever he was repairing in place.
So there you are, if you want to flash around a bit
of erudition at your next dinner party, these are two
examples that will make you appear very well read
indeed. The tinker’s trade may long have passed into
redundancy but two small relics continue to linger but
how much longer who knows.
References: The Maitland Mercury etc. Sat, 7-4-1884
The Argus (Melbourne) Friday, 15-1-1892
Page 2 STEAM SCENE
Play Toys for Boys In this article, Secretary Peter Stock takes an in-depth look at the working tram crew. Are they indeed just ‘playing’
with an outsized train set? And what about some of the psychology behind their various actions and functions?
Peter puts forward some interesting (perhaps tongue-in-cheek) theories.
Play value is a term that child
psychologists use to evaluate
the effectiveness of toys. That
science is a study of what
keeps a child constructively
occupied and extends into a
child’s adult life. All of us
involved with the play value of
our tramway heritage know
that the term is self-
explanatory. It keeps us hap-
pily amused for indecent
lengths of time engrossed in an
activity or pursuit that fasci-
nates, but on occasions infuri-
ates, family and friends as to
our motives.
Steam tram drivers are a good
example. The driver’s play,
like most, has really never been analytically investi-
gated. Just check the look into the face of a Valley
Heights steam tram driver posed, yes posed, in front
of his motor, then check out the face of one of his
young passengers about to carry his/her teddy on
board. The child is smiling whilst the driver is
attempting to appear macho.
But beyond that look what is the difference between
their attitudes to the big tram toy? The child won’t
let anyone mess about with his teddy bear nor play
with it and the tram driver, too, wants to keep all his
play for himself! The driver can, and does, play act on
the footplate directed at the passengers seated in the
front carriage compartment.
The driver’s toy has to be fed with fossil fuel and
pieces of scrap dead trees and he enjoys playing in the
coal and wood heap with his fireman who has the
final play loading the driver’s play things into the bun-
ker. But the fireman has learned that playing in the
coal heap with the driver can lead to him transferring
heavy weights onto the driver’s toy alone.
Other toys that is the fireman’s exclusive domain is to
play with the water tank filling chain that will, in the
twinkling of an eye, unleash a cascade of water over
them. He also has access to metal toys with a spout
so that more fossil-based substances can be played
over wheels, axle boxes, the ground and whatever is
nearby. (Continued page 3)
(
Remember he cannot couple his priceless toy onto a
carriage without a signal from the delegated conductor
playing with hand signals and blowing a pea-whistle.
But he can play tunes on a rather unique toy, the whis-
tle and the gong in response. When driver arranges
coupling-up, the conductor can play with yet another
toy.
This time play is spinning a large and heavy toy bridge
around a dry pond with driver and fireman’s toy on
top. This manoeuvre attracts all and sundry to join in
playing with this toy but again the driver does not join
in.
The fireman do not have to worry about the driver
playing with their toys. All fireman’s energy goes into
his own toy, namely the coal shovel and playing with
bits of rag and the many levers, knobs and fire-doors.
And for good measure they play with the quirky injec-
tors for hours on end knowing the driver will avoid
taking that toy and play away from them.
When driver feels benevolent he allows the fireman to
join in with play acting on the footplate of his toy to
delight the passengers.
On other occasions the driver will allow the fireman
to play with their toy and manipulate some of his levers
and handles. But the driver and the fireman will never,
never allow a conductor into their domain to play with
their toys.
But the conductors have a play room and toys too.
They don’t have to clamber up into the driver’s toy to
get the benefit of play value. Their play with their toy
is initially concerned with sweeping out of the car-
riage compartments, the removal of grubby finger-
prints from the windows and removing the oily, soot-
laden smuts that spew from the funnel of the driver’s
toy. Even toys like metal cleaner tins, polishing rags, a
back-mounted vacuum cleaner and brooms can pro-
vide a certain satisfaction in play.
Conductors are often politely requested by driver to
assist them to couple-up their toy to the conductor’s
toy. Without the affable and courteous conductor
assisting and playing his part the driver would not have
a complete toy to play with for the rest of the day.
Conductors also get to play by smiling at the visitors,
helping passengers to gain entry up and down into
their toy that they just cleaned, talk to children who
have never before ridden in a rail-mounted toy. Other
play is diverting their fears away from this new experi-
ence by playing with a snake-in-a-box or rabbits-in-
hats, playacting by measuring up visitors for a funeral
“box” and spruiking the availability of “rat’s coffins”,
“doggies” and caffeine fixes. But their best play is
pulling tickets for the ride on their toy and playing with
another toy that rings a bell when it pokes holes in the
ticket.
Finally the conductor has an exclusive play with an-
other of his toys when he unclips, throws and re-clips
the points. There seems to be a reticence on the
driver and fireman to dismount from their toy and play
with the points. Perhaps playing with this particular toy
is literally beneath them. But having said that some
firemen occasionally seek permission to get down
from driver’s toy to join with the conductor and play
with this toy.
Pity the poor designated Operations Manager of the
day. They do not get to play with many toys other
people enjoy.
They have a
separate toy to
play with. Their
toy is reams of
paper, biro
pens, springback
folders, lever-
arch folders and
the like, allow-
ing the toys and
play to be lik-
ened to a game
of “number
d ummy i n g ” .
With those toys
he plays at not-
ing numbers
and words in longhand.
This play must be secreted in an ever-expanding col-
lection of folders kept in the O.M.’s play room. These
toys are then kept in trust for “other people” to make
an appointment to come into the play room. They use
their fancy auditing toys to have a cursory play with the
folders, etc.
When the toys of the O.M. become old the next part
of play is bundling them into parcels to store in case
different “other people” want to come with their
newer toys and change and alter how the play was
previously enjoyed. This further action by “other
people” might account for the irritability generated by
their actions. They do not get to play with the real
toys others enjoy. This then is a brief description
of the tram crews’ daily play with toys. But once these
activities take hold the players and the toys become the
norm. Just the experience of running a steam tram
twice a month is enough to answer the call “bring out
your toys and play”.
And still the psychologist is hard pressed to work it all
out.
Page 3 Volume 8 Issue 4
(Continued on page 6)
An example of a boy
looking after his toy
Memoirs of a Mangler (Part 1) No, not the ‘Boston Strangler’ but the infamous steam tram mangler. When steam trams were first introduced in
Sydney, such was their turn of speed, they frequently caught people off-guard resulting in unfortunate accidents
and indeed, fatalities. The press subsequently labelled them ‘manglers’ This is the first in a small series of articles
recalling some of accidents that happened during the early days of the steam trams.
“An accident of a character extremely rare on the
Sydney tramways, occurred at Moore Park on the 1st
instant (1-4-1899) when a collision took place be-
tween a Randwick race special tram and a Coogee
ordinary tram, The latter, which was heavily laden,
had stopped to set down a number of passengers for
the Zoological Gardens when the race special ran
into it. The motor of the colliding tram and cars of the
standing tram received some damage and unfortu-
nately a number of passengers received injuries. Five
were so severely hurt, they were conveyed to the
hospital and received treatment there, while some six
or seven others received injuries of a less severe na-
ture and were able to proceed to their homes.
“I tell you it was a steam train”, I protested to
Margot, my wife. “It woke me up last night.” Again she
gave me the “yeah, right” look. “Steam went out years
ago. It is all diesel power now or haven’t you noticed”,
she went on.
We were holidaying in Echuca in a caravan park. I
finished my breakfast and headed out to the car. The
car needed petrol so I pulled into the service station.
As I was filling up, I noticed a wrinkled old man sitting
on a bench outside the office. I went and paid my
money and while I was there, I asked the cashier if any
steam trains ran through here.
“Not for the past 40 years”, he grinned. I mentioned
that I had heard one during the night. He gave me a
funny look and assured me I had been dreaming. As I
walked back to the car, I heard someone call out to
me. I turned to see the old man on the bench beckon-
ing me back. I moved my car and went to see what he
wanted.
“I heard what you said in there”, he grunted.
“Yeah, everyone thinks I’ve lost the plot. Even my
wife.”
The old-timer chuckled and invited me to sit down.
“Sure could do with a cup of coffee.”
I went back inside
and ordered two
cups and a couple
of donuts then
settled down be-
side him.
“Let me tell you a
story”, he began.
“Back in the ‘50’s,
when steam ruled
the rails, the
Mildura Express
used to come right
through here daily.
She was the pride of the railways, a magnificent “R”
class engine, the best ever made. They used to hook
her up to goods vans a mile long and she would haul
them through the night without a whimper. Old Jim
Barnes was the driver and a proud man he was. He
used to have her gleaming, shiny black with the red
stripe down the side. You could comb your hair in the
reflection of the brass work and many a time I did.
You see, I was the guard. I rode in the very last car-
riage.
“Well, they named big R107, Black Beauty and she
would set a cracking pace. Weren’t no other engine
that could do the times “old Black” could do. Folks
used to set their clocks by her. She was always right
on time. If she got away late, old Jim would give her a
bit more and she’d soon catch up.
“Well, as steam went out of vogue and diesel took
over, the time came when she was to make her final
run.
“That particular morning we were running late. I
hopped out of the guards van and started towards
the loco to see if everything was alright. Just as I did, I
Page 4
Steam Scene
Ghost Train ? Its not often Steam Scene publishes fiction however member John Withers thought this might be a novel read for
a change. Thanks John.
heard the air-brakes release and I knew Jim was
under way. I jumped back into the van as we rolled
out of Mildura. I checked my pocket watch. It was
2.08 a.m. We were eight minutes late. Old Black
would have to have a red-hot go this morning be-
cause I had seen the manifest. We had one heck of a
load to haul.
“She started to gather momentum and before long
we were in full swing. I watched the crossings flash
past one after another. At each, the whistle would
blow a warning. So many folk used to get out of bed
to start the day by that wonderful sound.
“I checked my watch again. Old Jim had her flying. As
we rounded a bend, I looked out the window. The
old girl was trailing a flame and cinders about 20 feet
long from her stack. We were beginning to make up
all the lost time. I could imagine him right now, coax-
ing and talking her into giving a bit more. The auto-
matic stoker would have been working overtime. It
wasn’t an engine to Jim, It was his best mate, his
baby. They had been together since she was deliv-
ered new to the marshalling yards. They had not
been apart ever since. If he went on leave, he would
put her in for service. Nobody was allowed to drive
her but Jim.
“I settled back and let the clickety-clack of the
wheels and the rocking to and fro, remind me of the
days gone by. Too bad it was all going to come to an
end in a couple of hours. The blast of the whistle
brought me back to reality. I checked my watch
again. 4.17 a.m. This would be Echuca and we were
dead on time. The blooming diesels would never
hold a candle to old Black Beauty. At this stage, I
felt a chill come over me. Funny how you check the
time when you wake up in the middle of the night.
The time was embedded in my memory already. It
had been 4.17 a.m.”
The old chap paused for a moment as if to collect
himself. He glanced at me briefly and I think I saw a
tear in those old eyes. He went on.
“Well, we made it to Spencer St. station exactly on
time (as usual). I collected my things and had a last
look around the van, my workplace for the last 30
years. It was a sad moment for me. I walked up to
the loco looking for Jim. The footplate was deserted.
The engine-driver’s special security key was not in its
place. Guessed he had gone for a coffee in the driv-
ers room.
Typical “R” class.
I found that empty too. Where was the old warrior? I
went in to see Alec, the Station Master and as I came
through the door, a quietness fell across the room.”
“Hello Bert”, Tom said, “Did you hear about Jim?”
“I stood there in silence.”
“His wife found him dead in his bed this morning. He
apparently suffered a heart attack during the night. I am
so sorry.”
“The news hit me like a ton of bricks.”
“Well who drove the train?” I asked,.
“Well that is a bit of a mystery. You see, we don’t
know. There is no record of anybody signing her out.
No driver signed on and there was no stand-by driver
available anyway. It appears to have goy here on its
own accord which of course, is ridiculous. Bu nobody
can explain what happened. The security key is still
hanging in the locked cupboard in Mildura.“
“I shuffled aimlessly out of the office and headed for the
train which would return me to Mildura. I could smell
the thing even before I reached it. It was a stinking
diesel. Well, I quit the railways as soon as I got back
home. I had had enough. It wouldn’t be the same with-
out Old Jim and Black Beauty. But you know son, I
reckon I still hear the old girl charging through here
from time to time but folks around here, tell me I’m
crazy.”
Page 5 Volume 8 Issue 4
I said goodbye to the old timer and headed back to
the caravan park. I had to pass the level crossing
where the train used to run. I parked the car and
walked along the rusty old track. It was quite obvi-
ous they hadn’t been used for years. As I turned to
go back again, something glinting in the sun caught
my eye. I made a closer inspection. It was black
engine oil that had rubbed off on the long grass.
Then there was more and yet another patch.
Something had travelled these tracks as recently as
last night. Could it have been Black Beauty?
I raced back to the servo. The old man was still
there.
“When did all this happen” I asked, “you know, the
story you told me?”
He thought for a moment and then his reply stag-
gered me.
“Exactly twenty years ago, this very day.”
I walked into the caravan and my wife noticed a wry
smile on my face.
“What have you been up to?” she inquired.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you“ I replied.
(With thanks to Probus Magazine Feb/Mar 2011. Author
unknown.)
Heavy Overhaul for 100 The following report is reproduced from “The Controller”, Autumn 2011 edition. This is the house journal of the Mu-
seum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) Western Springs (Auckland) New Zealand
Just about everything that needed to be stripped off
Baldwin steam tram 100 has now been removed. Refur-
bishment is now underway on the parts that need doing
up. These include the wheels and axles which are at
respective contractors.
In the meantime, work is being done on stripping
paint and gunge off the various parts which have been
removed and re-painting them. This includes the chassis,
especially the hard-to-get areas behind the wheels.
Work has finished honing the cylinders and a quote
has been requested for refurbishment of the pistons.
Tony Messenger who has been overseeing the work,
said that despite the lapping technique, concentrating on
the middle of the bores, there is still some oversize at
each end. “This wear pattern would have been caused
by the extreme wear on the rod guide bushes which in
hind sight, should have been replaced at less that 100
year intervals, and slop in the cross head guide.” he said.
“However, it is relatively minor and not worth worrying
about.”
“Only boring of the cylinders would eliminate it but
removal from the engine to do this proved too difficult
with the resources available.” said Mr. Messenger.
The springs which had not been touched since the tram
was built in 1891, were found to be in a pretty bad way
and new springs are now being made. The wheels were
removed on February 27 and are now at A & G Price
awaiting work to correct a problem with the back-to-
back measurements and re-profile the tyres. The prob-
lem with the back-to-backs was caused when it received
railway profile tyres after being taken out of service on
the Sydney Tramways. This was because a lot of the
trams were sold to private
industry to work out the
rest of their lives in quarries
etc.
Project Leader, David
Robb, said removing the
wheels involved lifting the
tram with tram lifting jacks
in each corner, lifting on
cross bars under the
frames. Once the wheels
were out, the tram was
lowered onto stands, with
jacks supporting the middle
of the chassis rails. The axle
box keeper plates had pre-
viously been removed, to
allow the tram to be lifted
clear of its wheels.
(Top right) David
Robb (foreground)
and David Cawood
wind on the jack
handles as they lift
100 clear of its
wheels. (Right) The
wheels have rolled
clear and the tram is
ready to be lowered
onto stands.
PERSONAL
Life Member, Ron Mills is now
in nursing care at Avalon. Ron,
who is over 90, suffers from Park-
inson’s disease. On Friday August
12, Chairman Craig paid Ron a
visit. Ron was delighted to see
Craig and catch up on things at
the tramway. Ron still maintains a
keen interest in what is happen-
ing. His technological knowledge
remains as sharp as a tack.
ooo0ooo
Extremely sad to relate that
Daphne Millier , wife of late Life
Member, Frank Millier, passed
away suddenly on
August 12. Your Edi-
tor was privileged to
represent the society
at the funeral.
OTHER NEWS
Museum member Rod Hawkes
is a pretty handy sort of a bloke
as work on loco 3214 readily
bears testament to. Coming to
an enforced standstill on this
current project, Rod volunteered
to needle gun the under-frame of
our “S’ truck. This has put us in
front with this part of the pro-
ject. Our sincere thanks to you
Ron for your most excellent
work. Society members have
largely top coated Rod’s work.
ooo0ooo
Wheel Sets and Cylinder
Casting
Wheels and axles from one bo-
gey of 93B, together with the
cylinder casting of 1022, were
sent to DSL Engineering at
Wetherill Park quite some time
ago. The wheels were to be re-
pressed onto the axles whilst the
cylinder casting was to be ma-
chined.
These jobs were to be done at
‘mates rates’ but as so often
Steam Tram & Railway Preservation (Co-Op)
Society Ltd.
t/a Valley Heights Steam Tramway
ABN 46 193 707 109
P.O. Box 571, Springwood NSW 2777
Web site:www.infobluemountains.net.au/
Chairman and Works Manager,
Craig Connelly
02 9729 3536
Secretary and P.E.O. Peter Stock
(02) 9587 9051
Treasurer and Editor “Steam Scene”
Bruce Irwin
(02) 9651 1707
Membership Secretary, David Lewis
(02) 9630 6304
The museum is located in Tusculum Road,
Valley Heights. Ample parking is available. A
train service is available to Springwood. Valley
Heights station is accessible for museum
visitors but you must walk around to the
Tusculum Road entrance and not attempt to
short-cut across the tracks.
The museum is open
between 10 and 4 on the
2nd and 4th Sundays of
the month. Steam
operations on both days.
“Preserving the past,
enriching the future”
Works Report: LFA 179: Progress on cleaning bogey and parts prior to crack
testing. S4360: Under-frame needle-gunned and painted. Further work on wheel
set re-conditioning. Dust plates and seals manufactured. Axle boxes, wheels, spring
gear re-installed. DD99: Transverse tie-rods set-up. Sanding-back continuing for
undercoating. ‘Lazy-back’ seat timbers purchased. Stepho: Boiler tube replaced.
Last but not least…..
Turn Off the Light!
Changing hats from
Editor to Treasurer, I
would remind workers
that electricity prices are
soaring. We have some big
power consumers in the way of
depot and shed lighting. Without
compromising OH & S please
don’t burn those big overhead
lights unnecessarily and do you
really need to turn on the water
boiler when a jug of hot water
would do for one or two cups of
tea? Think conservatively and
help us contain costs. Our in-
come isn’t growing but our costs
are.
the case, the firm was always just
that much too busy to fit the job
in. Our patience having expired,
we have now taken both jobs to
Ainsworth Engineering at Goul-
burn. We are expecting the cylin-
der casting to be done first within
a couple of weeks.
A Word of Thanks
Museum members Terry Match-
ett and Alan Stanley are two
further very handy blokes. Re-
cently they jacked up the ‘S” truck
and reinstalled its wheels, springs
and axle boxes. Thanks men. This
work is very much appreciated,
especially as it is a society project
and not the museum’s. Its just
another example of how the soci-
ety and museum work together
ooo0ooo
Bits and Pieces
The museum (VHLDHM) has
made a bid to obtain from Pacific
National, rail tractor, X 102.
No word yet from ORH re secu-
rity fencing for signal box com-
pound.
At the commission of the ORH, a
consultant has prepared a report
on the condition of the sig-
nal box building. Report avail-
able shortly.
ooo0ooo
(Clockwise) 1.Op’s
Manager Peter
Stock starts his
tram. 2 Steve
Tolhurst working
on axle boxes.. 3.
Craig modifying
LFA bogey part. 4.
Setting up control
fence at new
terminus. 5. The
Editor receives a
birthday cake.
Trammies at Work and
Play
(From page 3.) An official inquiry
was held, the examination of the
men being conducted by the
Locomotive Superintendent and
the Tramway Traffic Superinten-
dent, and it is understood that as
a result of the inquiry it was
found that collision was caused
by the driver and fireman of the
special tram not keeping a suffi-
cient look-out, and both have
been suitably dealt with. From
inquiries made it is satisfactory
to know that the injured persons
are progressing well towards
recovery.” NSW Budget 20-4-
1899
It is with sadness
that we record the
passing of Dorothy
Ball on Thursday
6th October 2011.
Dorothy was a very dear friend
of Steve Corrigan (Museum
Retail Manager) and we know
her passing will be a deep loss
to him. Our condolences to
Dorothy’s family and Steve.
R.I.P.
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