CREDITS
Page last updated on 2012-02-06 06:12:08 CBR
|
|
|
|
News RHA (NSW) NOVEMBER 2010 NEWSLETTER EXTRACTS Patron The Hon Tim Fischer RHA (NSW) – Member groups 3801 Limited Binnaway Rail Heritage and Preservation Group Inc Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot Inc Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum Ltd Glenreagh Mountain Railway Inc Goulburn Crookwell Heritage Railway Inc Goulburn Loco Roundhouse Preservation Society Inc Hunter Valley Training Company Pty Ltd Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society Ltd Lachlan Valley Railway Society Co-op Ltd New England Railway Inc NSW Rail Motor & Rollingstock Preservation Assn Inc Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc Pacific Coast Railway Society Inc Regional Heritage Transport Association – Junee Inc Richmond Vale Preservation Co-operative Society Ltd Robertson Heritage Railway Station Inc Rothbury Riot Railway and Steam Museum Group Ltd South Pacific Electric Railway Co-op Soc Ltd Steam Tram and Railway Preservation (Co-op) Soc Ltd Tenterfield Railway Station Preservation Society Inc Transport, Signal and Communications Museum Inc Tweed Rail Society Inc Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd Committee of Management John Glastonbury President Sam Burgess Vice President Bill Pascoe Secretary/Treasurer Tony Healey (Lachlan Valley Railway Society Co-op Ltd) Howard Clark (South Pacific Electric Railway Co-op Society Ltd) Darcy Reid (Goulburn Crookwell Heritage Railway Inc) Ian Wallace (Robertson Heritage Railway Station Inc) Annual General Meeting of Rail Heritage Australia (NSW) held on 10 October, 2010. The 6th Annual General Meeting of Rail Heritage Australia (NSW) Inc was held on Saturday 10 October 2010 in the offices of the Rail Tram and Bus Union, 321 Pitt Street, Sydney. Thanks was given to the Union for its generous support in sponsoring the meeting and the Members’ Forum which followed the AGM. The results for the elections for positions on the Committee of Management falling vacant at the Annual General Meeting were: • John Glastonbury was re-elected as President. • Sam Burgess was re-elected as Vice President. • Tony Healey was re-elected as the committee member representing Category (a) Members (Main Line Operators). • Darcy Reid was re-elected as the committee member representing Category (c) Members (Trike Operators). The President reported on activities since the previous Annual General Meeting held on 31 October 2009, including the successful Members’ Forum which had followed the 2009 AGM. Copies of the presenters’ papers from that forum had been burned to CD and distributed to member groups. A similar forum would follow the 2010 AGM. He also reported on dealings with the Association of Tourist and Heritage Rail Australia (ATHRA) the National body representing rail heritage groups from each State. RHA (NSW) is a founding member of ATHRA. RHA (NSW) will host the next meeting of ATHRA in Sydney on 5th March 2011. The report also covered activities of the NSW Independent Transport Safety Regulator (ITSR) which conducted a number of valuable operational hazard workshops with heritage operators during the year with the aim of assisting them to produce sustainable risk registers. The President advised members of the work being carried out by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) through the National Transport Commission (NTC) which is currently conducting a review of transport medical standards involving both assessing Fitness to Drive and National Standards for Health Assessment for Rail Safety Workers. These will apply to all railway operations in Australia and will have implications for rail heritage groups. He also covered a number of matters which needed to be considered to ensure the ongoing viability of rail heritage groups. Members’ Forum 10 October, 2010. RHA (NSW) conducted a Members’ Forum on 10 October 2010 (following the Annual General Meeting). There were seven sessions spread over a full day covering a range of topics pertinent to the rail heritage sector. All were well received by those in attendance. Delegates thanked Dr. John Glastonbury for assembling the range of speakers on topics surrounding rail heritage groups in the State. The presenters were: 1. The keynote speaker was Bryan Nye, Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) whose paper was titled “Future Direction of Rail and the role of Heritage Rail.” He spoke of the history of the development of railways in Australia, the current state of railways throughout Australia and the massive investments planned, the challenges and opportunities for the future of rail generally, the regulatory framework, the place occupied by the rail heritage sector and some of the exciting plans for the future, including high speed rail. 2. Chris LeMarshall (Linqage International) presented a paper titled “What is Your Economic Benefit to Your Local Community.” Chris set out methods to assess the value an individual rail heritage operator or museum added to the local community which could encourage Local, State or Federal Governments to provide financial and other assistance to heritage groups. Chris spoke of a computer application which could be used to assist in making the benefit assessments and offered to provide assistance to groups which would like to participate. 3. Warren Doubleday (ATHRA Rail Safety Representative) presented a paper dealing with Rail Safety Worker Training and Competency Assessment under the new National Regulatory regime which requires the use of rail training organisations to train and assess the competency of any person working in a rail safety environment. He discussed a number of options to avoid the expenses involved in each heritage operator using different training organisations. These were being further investigated. 4. David Edwards from Australasian Transport Risk Solutions presented a paper on the formation of the National Rail Safety Regulator, a single rail safety regulator covering all rail operations in all States with one set of Rail Safety Guidelines working off one single Rail Safety Act and Regulations. 5. Eamonn Seddon, CEO of Puffing Billy, presented a paper entitled “Marketing the Experience of Heritage Railways” covering the importance of developing and establishing a Brand and measures used by Puffing Billy to understand its market segments and to develop techniques for yield management. 6. John Glastonbury and Warren Doubleday presented a paper on Reciprocating Steam Accreditation covering the need to ensure that operators of steam locomotives complied with occupational health and safety regulations. 7. David Edwards spoke in his role as Co-Chairman of the organising committee for an International Rail Safety Conference to be held in Melbourne in October 2011. This will be hosted by the Australian Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board and its New Zealand equivalent. He said that this would be followed by a post-conference tour in New Zealand hosted by KiwiRail, including a trip on the Tranz Alpine Scenic Tour train from Christchurch to Greymouth and return. More information on the program and costs can be obtained from the website set up for the conference: www.irsc2011.org In addition to the formal speakers, Colin Holmes from ITSR and Mark Hanna and Paul Murphy from SGP Insurance Brokers were in attendance to assist delegates with enquiries and any problems. Similarly to the 2009 Forum, it is planned that copies of the 2010 presenters’ papers will be burned to CD and sent to each member group of RHA (NSW). Office of Rail Heritage Forum - 27 October, 2010. On behalf of RHA (NSW), Committee Member Ian Wallace attended the Rail Heritage Forum conducted by the NSW Office of Rail Heritage on 27 October 2010 at the Powerhouse Museum. He reported that it was well attended and that the matters covered at the Forum included the following items: • Much of the overflow collection from the Thirlmere Rail Transport Museum had been moved to Broadmeadow roundhouse. • Work was progressing on the work required at the Large Erecting Shop, Eveleigh to enable the heritage electric fleet to be relocated there. • The overhaul of locomotive 3801 at Chullora was progressing. The new (welded) boiler, which had been fabricated in Germany, had been shipped to Port Kembla and then transported by road to Chullora. The refurbished tender has also been transported from the Hunter Valley Training College at Maitland to Chullora. • RailCorp apprentices were now working on the restoration of a powder van, scheduled for completion in 2011. • Jim Longworth spoke about his new book “Triking the Length”. He also advised that RailCorp apprentices had restored a “quad” and ORH would allocate it to a worthy group. • A presentation was given on “Managing the Media” with helpful advice given on how to build a relationship with the media and how to get the message across. If you require any further information on the activities of RHA (NSW) or any items included in this Newsletter, or you would like to make a contribution for inclusion in future Newsletters, please contact: Bill Pascoe, Secretary RHA (NSW) Postal Address: PO Box 152, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125 Emails: secretary@rha-nsw.org.au ROBERTSON HERITAGE RAILWAY STATION Contribution by Ian Wallace, Secretary, Robertson Heritage Railway Station. This is a brief account of how Robertson Heritage Railway Station Inc (RHRS) came to be, how it functions, as well as some of its features and challenges. Background Robertson is a small town (which retains a village atmosphere) in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Robertson stands at the top of the Illawarra Escarpment, and commanding views can be obtained of the Pacific Ocean and the Illawarra area below the escarpment. Robertson is noted for its cool climate, its relatively high rainfall and for its history of potato growing. The Unanderra to Moss Vale railway line was opened on 20 August 1932 as a significant link between the Illawarra line at Unanderra and the main Southern railway line at Moss Vale. The line passes through Robertson the main populated settlement on the line. The main purpose for building the line was to transport limestone (used as flux in steel-making) from the large open-cut mine at Marulan South to the (then) new steelworks at Port Kembla. At the time of its opening, Robertson was the only manned station between Unanderra and Moss Vale and was the intermediate staff station and crossing loop. Over time, several more crossing loops were constructed to facilitate increased traffic movement on the line. Due to the improvements in road transport and declining patronage, passenger services on the line ceased on 21 December 1985. Road coaches took over and still operate today, but without the romance and scenic spectacle offered by the railway. Centralised Traffic Control was introduced in 1989 and Robertson station was no longer needed for safe-working purposes. This followed three serious head-on collisions at Robertson between 1962 and 1972, two of them fatal. Although the Unanderra-Moss Vale line remained an important link in the national railway system for conveying freight, Robertson station was closed. The railway precinct was for some time used for storage of rail track ballast and for housing railway workers (in what is now The Fettlers Shed). It was left as a derelict railway site which had seen better days. Robertson Environment Protection Society (REPS), with assistance at the time from Wingecarribee Shire Council and State Rail’s heritage group, was awarded a lease over the railway station and precinct in 2001. A number of volunteers from REPS and the community undertook work to restore the station and railway precinct into a facility for public recreation. This included grading, planting, carpentry, painting and building conversion. The Fettlers Shed Gallery and Robertson Heritage Railway Station Inc (RHRS) were born, and became valuable parts of Robertson village life. Over the ensuing years, RHRS volunteers have hosted regular trips to Robertson and Moss Vale of the “Cockatoo Run” diesel-hauled heritage train as well as many steam-hauled special trains, which are very popular with the public. The “Heritage” part of RHRS When the Unanderra-Moss Vale railway line was being constructed (during the years of the Great Depression) the use of precast concrete panels and other concrete units in construction of railway stations and associated buildings was popular. Accordingly, Robertson station was provided with a Pc.3 station building, while stations of lesser railway importance at Calwalla, Burrawang and Mount Murray were provided with Pc.1 structures. As Robertson has a fine assemblage of concrete structures on the platform, in the station and at the nearby former gents’ lavatory, it received a heritage classification from the National Trust. In fact, Robertson station is considered to be the last such Pc station building constructed. RHRS today Robertson Heritage Railway Station Inc (RHRS) is a body of volunteers who administer the heritage-listed Robertson railway station and railway precinct. RHRS operates under a lease from Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). The Mission Statement of RHRS is “To maintain, manage, enhance and conserve the Robertson Heritage Railway Station and Precinct”. The station and railway precinct has been enhanced by mounting a display of the history of Robertson and the Unanderra-Moss Vale railway line in the station building, as well as by extensive plantings of waratah and other Australian native plants. Included in this is an Aboriginal reconciliation garden featuring waratah plantings, carved totem poles and attractive native plants. A short rainforest walk has also been created near the station building. In addition, the former fettlers’ gang shed (or trolley-shed) is being enhanced with a display of tools and equipment used to maintain the permanent way. It is termed the per-way shed. Further, the former gents’ lavatory, later lamp room and storage shed, which is of concrete drop-panel construction, is being enhanced with a display explaining and illustrating precast concrete panel construction, which was used to construct so many station buildings in the 1917-1932 period. The RHRS organisation is structured with key roles of President, Vice–president, Secretary, and Treasurer, supported by a range of special interest and operational groups comprising the following, each of which has a co-ordinator: • Safety management • Station management and history display • Grounds and gardens • Buildings and maintenance • Heritage and conservation • Publicity and promotion • Major events co-ordination • “Junior” membership The RHRS management committee meets regularly, usually on a monthly basis unless special events necessitate more closely-spaced meetings. A typical meeting would be attended by nine or ten members, each with one or more roles. Membership of RHRS is offered to anyone with an interest in railways, the precinct gardens, history, gallery functions, in fact any (or all) of the above list. A modest ($5 per annum) membership fee is charged. Although Robertson railway station is officially “closed”, it has received a new lease of life and is very much an “operating” railway station in terms of servicing heritage passenger trains. These trains are very popular with the community, particularly when steam-hauled. One regular example is the “Illawarra Tree-top Flyer”, which operates to the “Cockatoo Run” timetable on many Sundays and some Thursdays. This train typically offers a combined return heritage diesel-hauled train journey to Robertson station plus bus transfers to and from Robertson station to the ‘Illawarra Fly’, plus admission to the ‘Fly’. The recently opened “Illawarra Fly” is located at Knights Hill at the top of the escarpment about nine kilometres from Robertson, and affords spectacular views. Passing through Robertson station on a regular basis are freight trains conveying limestone, coal, copper-ore, grain, flour and, occasionally, steel products from and to Port Kembla. When the main Southern line or the Illawarra lines are closed for maintenance, a bevy of trains pass through Robertson re-routed from their normal path. The most spectacular of these re-routed trains may be very long intermodal or steel trains headed by three or four NR locomotives, occasionally with a further two diesel-electric locos bringing up the rear. Major RHRS events Each year RHRS stages two major events, namely, the ‘Vintage and Classic Car Day’ in April and the Railway Spring Fair’ in October. These events are important fund-raisers for RHRS. If possible, steam trains from Sydney are run to Robertson and return to coincide with these days. These have proven to be popular, as Robertson is an ideal destination for a day’s rail trip from Sydney, offering spectacular coastal and other scenery as well as wonderful steam action on the steep 1 in 30 grade up the Illawarra Escarpment. These steam trains typically receive rear-end assistance from one or more heritage diesel-electric locomotives. At the Vintage and Classic Car Day, the “People’s Choice” awards for many categories featuring special RHRS “dog-spike” trophies are highly regarded by participants. A major attraction at the Spring Fair is the display of many flowering waratah shrubs in the railway precinct gardens. The Fettlers Shed Gallery stages exhibitions of art and craft, including photography, and art shows/competitions are held regularly. A more-or-less permanent display of railway photographs, featuring heritage steam locomotives and contemporary trains, is mounted in the gallery. This is adjusted in size to accommodate whatever else may be displayed in the gallery. Key issues The RHRS management committee regularly considers matters relating to finances, upcoming events, present and future membership, safety, publicity & promotion, signage, and maintenance of buildings and other structures. A matter of great concern to RHRS is succession planning – as it is with most railway heritage organisations. Simply, it is difficult to attract younger members, yet this is so important for the future viability of the organisation. A RHRS “Junior” group has been established under the direction of a senior member who functions as a mentor to the secondary school-aged boys. This group has established, and maintains, a model railway display housed within the Fettlers Shed Gallery. Places of modelling and general railway interest have been visited to maintain the interest of the boys. Another issue dealt with is that of accreditation. This was carefully considered, and informed advice received. As RHRS is not a train operator, it depends on the accreditation of train operators who visit the station from time to time. Safety of both the public and volunteers is a very important aspect of RHRS’s activities, and appropriate safety initiatives and documentation have been put in place at Robertson railway station. It is RHRS’s policy to act in co-operation with accredited rail operators at Robertson station, particularly on occasions of steam-hauled trains, when many people are in attendance at the station. An effective publicity program uses all forms of promotion to advertise important activities. Good contacts have been made with local and regional newspapers, as well as with regional radio and TV stations to promote the more important activities at, or staged by, RHRS. Should there be questions, or if additional information is required, please direct these to Ian Wallace, Hon Secretary, RHRS, phone 02-4885 2848, email ianwallace@aanet.com.au END |