News Oct-Nov 07

Friday 30/11/07  

Another well attended Friday evening saw much done around the depot. 

Ng123 was dragged from the shed and had the boiler water dumped, washout plugs and manhole cover removed.

Charlie and Michael were busy during the day returning the Krauss chassis to its wheels. As the evening wore on the boiler was refitted to the chassis along with the chimney, cab side sheets and front sheet/spectacle plate. Other items added were the smokebox door, fire hole door, main steam delivery pipes, sandbox and reverser arm & reverser support bracket in cab.

Others continued working on the removal of the wheels from under the chassis of BT1.

In all - a good night of activity.

Members are encouraged to come along on Friday evenings and help out with maintenance projects as well as have a bit of a social get together with fellow members. 

Krauss page updated - click here.

26/11/07

Sad News

It is with great sadness that we learnt that Dave Cochrane had passed away at home last week after a short illness.

Dave, aged 75, had been a member of WALRPA since 2004

He had worked for the WAGR for 48 years. His skill as a fireman was an inspiration to all who spent time on the footplate with him . He taught many of our steam crews the best way to fire a steam locomotive

Dave was a true railway gentleman and will be sadly missed 

Other News

23/11/07 - The Friday evening crew had a good turnout with 14 members on site to get some jobs done. 

Ng118 was hauled from the 1 road in the engine shed to enable BT1 to be pushed to the back of the shed to be lifted off its wheels. After removal of the axlebox keeper plates, BT1 was shifted from the pit shed into the loco shed and jacking up of the locomotive commenced. Using the hydraulic lifting jacks and then packing with sleepers, BT1 was raised high enough for the wheels to drop free from the chassis hornstays.

Once out from under the loco the wheels will be sent off to have the axleboxes replaced - hopefully complete with roller bearings.

Whilst BT1 was being lifted Michael and Scott were busy in the pit shed fitting one of the chain sets to the Dorman Planet. Previous weeks have seen the fitting of the brake rigging and shoes which has now led to the ability to start fitting the drive chains.

Other little jobs also got done on this evening including some repairs to carriages and further work on the Fowler cab seats

18/11/07

Work parties continue on Friday evenings at BBR. 

The 16/11/07 saw further work done on the Perry with the boiler cladding being removed, followed by the insulation to expose the boiler barrel for inspection. Removal of back-head fittings and the crown mount commenced also.

In recent weeks Ken has been working towards installing another concertina on AQ 1788 which has had one concertina for some time. This addition will make AQ 1788 our second through coach which will enable a 4 car corridor set. On Friday evening Ken and Greg built the tread-plate needed for the walk way between the cars. Whilst Greg was cutting, welding and assembling the tread-plate, Ken continued on fitting new crew seats in the cab of the Fowler.

Opportunity was also taken to lift the chassis of the spare Ng tender and roll out the damaged bogie to enable assessment for repair by Gemco 

3/11/07

New page added - Sleepers & Fastenings - click here.

 On Friday 2/11/07, 10 members and 1 new prospective member were at the Mussel Pool depot to get on with the jobs at hand. 

 With an extra hour of sunlight up our sleeve, work continued on the dismantling of BT1 with the main objective being to remove and store the cab. With Derek directing, Liam, Neil & visitor Trevor dealt with the removal of the remaining bolts, whilst Simon drove the crane. Meanwhile Scotty was getting quite greasy working in the pit, underneath the Gemco, adjusting the brakes. Ken, Greg & Samuel were preparing and constructing a new drivers seat for the Fowler and Jamie and David busied themselves with "rail safety" paperwork. The evening went well with visitor Trevor enjoying the evening, getting his hands dirty again - says "He will be back". 

Although work mainly seems to take place on the Locomotive fleet, the Friday night crews would also like to get some works done on the carriages and perhaps some signalling equipment too. Any members interested in these areas as well, are encouraged to come along.         4.30pm onwards at the Mussel Pool Depot.

29/10/07

Electric lower quadrant signal info added - Click Here

Friday Nights 

Friday night work parties are on again and last Friday was well attended with 9 members. The current priority  project is the dismantling of BT1 for a thorough boiler inspection and axlebox overhaul.

BT1 has been one of the hardest working locomotives in the BBR fleet during steam season. This is due to its ideal size for easy operation, minimal required light up time, and suitability to BBR operational needs. It has consistently hauled BBR trains for the last 10 years on most Saturdays, Sundays and School Holiday periods during the steam season with little major maintenance being required. 

It is of high importance that we carry out the required maintenance on BT1 over the 2007/08 summer period and ensure that the locomotive is returned to service for the 2008 steam season. The last 2 Fridays saw the removal of the internal timber cab ceiling, dismantling of the valve gear, removal and storage of all cab fittings and removal of the cab roof. Next Friday hopefully will see the dismantling of the cab and maybe a start on the removal of the boiler casing and lagging.

 All assistance from the membership on Friday nights is gratefully appreciated by the locomotive team, who encourage all to come and help keep the wheels rolling. Dinner and a chat is also on the agenda.

Garry - BBR Signals Manager & Track Master is turning 50

The wet and windy Sat evening 28th of Oct saw a few members and relatives arriving at WVJ station for a private Surprise party for Gaz.

Partner Kym sneekily made all the appropriate arrangements and much to Garry's surprise even got him onto the platform totally unaware of the event about to take place for him as friends and family poured out of the coaches stabled on platform 1. 

After a train ride, dinner and a story or two, another journey was made to Mussel Pool and back to test ( the proviso of which was used to get Garry to the railway) the night lighting equipment on the recently installed electric lower quadrant signal. All worked well.

 A great evening was had by all. 

Garry turns 50 next month.

Happy 50th Garry!!!

22/10/07

NEW OUTER - HOME SIGNAL COMMISSIONED

On Saturday October 20 the 2pm passenger train from Mussel Pool to Whiteman Village Junction (WVJ) passed the new motorised outer home signal giving a clear indication for the first time.  This was the final stage of testing the signal’s operation after the signal department crew of Bob, Peter, Scott, Dave and Daniel completed the track circuit bonding, wiring of the control relay box and preliminary testing earlier in the day.  

Once the final commissioning test was completed successfully, the Operations Manager gave Bob the OK to remove the white cross declaring the signal operational.  Bob climbed the signal ladder with his trusty wire cutters in hand, cut the white cross free and it fell to the ground, to applause from the signal department crew.

This is the first electric powered lower quadrant signal on the BBR to be made operational paving the way to now motorize the outer home signals on the Bushland Loop North and South.

Our thanks go to Westnet Rail for donation of this signal from Guildford Training School and Rail Heritage WA for long-term loan of the signal motors for use on the Loop North and South signals.

2 crossbucks were  also erected at the wig-wag crossing on Saturday 20/10/07 as the "Wig Wag" on its own is not recognised under D.O.T. compliance requirements for level crossings in W.A..

18/10/07

New page added - Demonstration Freight Train - click here.

17/10/07

JUNIOR SAFE WORKING COURSE

On Saturday October 13 a safe working course was conducted especially for the junior members of the railway.  This is the first time in the railway’s history that a safe working course has been held solely for junior members.

Eight members attended the course conducted by Peter with assistance from Daniel, Cody, Scott and Bob.  In addition Jim made himself a junior for the day, taking the course as a refresher.

The course entailed study of the safeworking rules, radio protocol, duties of a guard as well as practical experience in shunting and signal cabin operation.  Everyone enjoyed a BBQ lunch during the course.

All eight participants passed the exam at the end of the course.  Congratulations go to Paul, Jack, Tim, Harrison, Matt, Lachlan, Liam and Ian.  They are all eligible to be rostered as assistant guards to gain further experience on the railway.  By the way, Jim also passed.

15/10/07

BBR Members R. Simpson and I. Chandler were in attendance at the RHWA Railfest at the Railway Museum in Bassendean on the 14/10/07, with the BBR display boards, promoting our railways activities. 

Thanks guys for being available to chat and answer any enquiries from the public.

Sunday 14th of October also saw the last day of steam operations on the BBR for 2007. This was due to dwindling coal supplies, warm weather & fire restrictions coming into place.

The pictures below mark the end of Steam Season for 2007

Ng 123 ran throughout the end of the season from Fathers Day to the end of the School Holidays, operating regularly on both Saturdays and Sundays as well as almost everyday during the October holiday period.

Now the summer Friday night work parties begin again (not that we actually stopped) with much to be done to the locomotives. 

As well as keeping the diesel fleet operational, Perry BT1 requires a bottom end overhaul as well as a major boiler inspection. Work has already commenced on BT1 with the side tanks having been removed on Friday 12/10/07.  

Next will be removal of the cab and boiler cladding as well as the valve gear before the locomotive is lifted to have the wheels removed to enable overhaul of the axleboxes .

Ng123 is now fortunately in mostly good running order with only minor works required on top of the usual annual boiler inspection requirements.

All members any others interested are encouraged to assist on Friday Nights.

10/10/07

Sunday 7th of October was a little more unusual than a normal Sunday on the BRR. The Mussel Pool depot was abuzz with members preparing locomotives for the days running. The rostered crew were out early to relight and prepare Ng123 and Planet #1 for the regular service train. Brian Rouke was also out early to prepare Gemco diesel locomotive PW27 for a test run with a load. An extra crew had also been mustered for the running of a chartered demonstration steam goods / freight train which would use 0-4-2 Perry locomotive BT1 and a consist of the BBRs restored freight wagons.

Here below are a couple of pics from the days running.

 Click here for more Freight Train Pics from 7th Oct. 

06/10/07

BBR trains are operating everyday throughout the school holiday period with Ng123 being the main motive power in use with Planet #1 in "Top and Tail" formation. 

The section from WVJ to Kangaroo Flats has been opened for traffic since the recent FOTTE day and this has also been cleared for the NG to use however due to the loop at Kangaroo flats being out of service due to a collapsing platform edge and the section from KF to Zamia being closed for track maintenance, it is necessary to operate in "Top and Tail" formation.

Ng123 at Kangaroo Flats during school hols

Never before has an NG been consistently used for School Holiday services over consecutive days. By the end of the holidays, it would be the longest that an NG has been kept in steam on the BBR. Apart from the occasional issue, the Ng is performing well, enabling some of our crews to re-aquaint themselves with the operational needs of the machine.

On Thursday 4th of October, the drive mechanism of Gemco diesel locomotive Pw27, was completed and it was test run for the first time, emerging from the loco shed under its own power around 2pm. 

The Gemco has been out of service since July 2005 with a damaged crown wheel which was repaired and machined by member Brian Rourke. Thanks to Brian for his ongoing efforts with Pw 27.

Planet #2 the Dorman Planet has also seen much restoration work being carried out recently by member Barry Annetts . Most of this work being done on the engine components. During the 1st week in October the engine was started for the first time in ages and ran well. The recently fitted air compressor was tested also and found to be working well. 

This locomotive is a sister engine to Planet #1 and was used on the Lake View and Star Gold mine at Kalgoorlie. It was later purchased by the Boulder Loop Line group and converted to 3ft 6 inch gauge but saw little use due to tracking issues. A group of BBR members later purchased the loco and it was trucked to the Whiteman Park where it has since been converted back to 2ft gauge and is being restored for use on the BBR. A similar planet loco is in use on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways in Wales U.K.

Thanks to Barry for his excellent work on Planet #2

Click here for Archived News August - Sept 2007

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