The regular 4 car service train hauled by Rosalie, swelled to a 5 car consist just after lunch when the party coach (full of happy party goers) was added to the train for a full journey of the railway. Other duties carried out were loading of the LA ballast wagon and loading of steel sleepers onto the QBB flat wagon. A couple of steel sleepers were also inserted at the throat of the yard.

Betty Thompson had her boiler cladding modified so that at the next major inspection we shouldn't need to remove the cab and the many other fittings. Betty also had some of her Lagging
installed so she won't get cold,  in preparation to install the freshly painted cladding. Once this has been achieved the cab can be refitted and painted. Whilst the lagging was being fitted, one of our lovely ladies painted the lagging boiler bands.

A busy day was had by all - thank you to all members who helped to make this day a success

15/3/08

Sleeper Dropping continued on Friday 14th Feb with a further 300 sleepers dropped along the line by the crew before darkness set in. Approx 600 timber sleepers have now been placed line side between Mussel Pool, Whiteman Junction and Kangaroo Flats in preparation for the start of the Skilled Rail teams. Now there is a need to drop quite a number of steel sleepers once the remaining timber sleepers which have been loaded onto the QBB are dropped. 

The Regular Friday Evening crew will commence early this Good Friday with an intended start time of 10am. Members are requested to contact Derek Ruston and offer any assistance possible, as we now need to keep ahead of the sleeper insertion rate of the Skilled Rail crews. It would be nice to see some members other than the regulars to help out.

New Page Added - WVJ Scissors Crossing - Click Here

9/3/08

A BIG update this week 

One of our best Friday work evenings was held on the 7th of Feb with 15 members in attendance. Lots got done too and the evening disappeared so quickly that a bit of prodding was required to get members to pack up and go home as they were so involved in what they were doing.

Most of the jobs centred around getting organised for the nearing Skilled Rail project which will commence from the 17th of March at Mussel Pool. About 5pm Planet #1 was coupled to the QBB flat wagon which had been loaded with sleepers and it trundled off to Mussel Pool station platform road where selected dropping of sleepers commenced heading towards Whiteman Junction. Later the train returned and the QBB was loaded again. It then headed off to Kangaroo Flats where dropping of sleepers commenced from the Wig Wag crossing towards WVJ. The train returning to the depot just after nightfall. Further cut sleepers were prepared and loaded onto the QBB during the evening to ensure a good start for the next drop session. Other related jobs included retrieval of Blowhard (Mobile Air Compressor) from WVJ & D33 (goods van) for servicing, clean up and preparation for use by the Skilled team. 

Other jobs being worked on during the evening include - Sanding of the Perry cab ceiling timbers by Richard. Simon, Trevor and Greg continued with maintenance to the Fowler brake rigging - whilst cousins Michael and Andrew commenced wiring of the Dorman Planet electrical systems. Thanks to all who help out on Friday evenings and also to Tamper Dave and the midweek crew who have worked very hard cutting and preparing sleepers.

Other News

Safe working course

Another safe working course  was held at the Railway on March 2. The course was conducted by Daniel with help from Bob and Derek.

Six senior members, Trevor, John, Ken, Peter, Greg, Ross and two junior members Morgan and Samuel attended. In addition Harrison came along as a refresher.

Congratulations to all participants as everyone passed and are now able to start progressing through the ranks at BBR.

DW 1190 Arrives on the BBR

Over the last couple of months BBR member Richard Simpson has been negotiating with the Main Roads Department with regard to the safe removal of two ex WAGR goods vans from a property in Caversham. After a closer inspection of the 2 vans it was decided that only one was in good enough condition to be moved and that the other van would be stripped of all useful timber and fittings. The MRD donated the two wagon bodies to the BBR and organised for DW1190 to be moved to the BBR Mussel Pool depot free of charge. 

BBR rollingstock dept members have had their eye on these vans for some time now but had been unable to acquire them until more recent times when expansion plans for the Roe Hwy were put into place requiring demolition of the properties in its path. 

DW1190 is one of 75 wagons built by Gloucester RCW Co. to a New Zealand design in 1895 - Classified D and then later reclassified DW when it was transferred to use as a workmans van. It was written off in the late 1960's and was put to use as a grounded body on a property on Middle Swan Rd Caversham along with another D van of the same pattern as BBR's D33 which is slightly larger and has a higher roof profile 

The 2nd D van Number 4174 was believed to have been originally built in 1896 for the Great Southern Railway and was re-bodied as late as 1958 and not written off until 1971. It was found to be in a very poor condition having been seriously attacked by termites over the years and it was decided that it could not easily be moved and would be demolished on site for spare parts. Member Richard Simpson then spent 2-3 days removing the Doors, handrails, Tongue and groove side boards, the floor boards , steel door runner rails, steel structural supports and most importantly the builders plate. 

Thanks go to the MRD for donating these two vans to the BBR. Gary Player from Main Roads was enthusiastic to see a van saved for future preservation on the BBR. Ron Forknall was a prime mover in the project and organised the removal of the vans and then assisted on the removal day to ensure that all went smoothly with the lifting, cartage and delivery to the BBR workshops.. 

Thanks to R&L Hiab Services for the free delivery and supply of Driver Paul for the truck.

 Thanks to Barney Brown from Dept of Planning & also Rich More from Swan Shire. 

Thanks also BBR member  Richard Simpson who was responsible in organising and liasing with the departments involved in the project on behalf of BBR.  Ross Parker & Lindsay Watson also contributed information