Loco "621" not Available for Summer Cockle Train services

Our hardworking Mechanical Services team had a Christmas present that they did not deserve when routine inspection of the loco in preparation for summer Cockle Train workings revealed water in the smoke box which was traced to an 8mm crack in one of the 20 year old flue tubes.

It was initially thought this could be welded up, but removal of the flue confirmed a much more serious and major problem which resulted in the boiler inspector condemning all flues and boiler tubes. This will unfortunately mean 621 will not be available over summer, and we will have to rely on DE507 and railcars

Apart from an indicative cost of around $50000 for new flues and tubes alone, procurement of material and consequent fitting will be a massive task taking into account our limited resources and based on previous experience other unpredictable maintenance work inside the boiler could well be required.

For more details
goto our loco maintenance page

Record crowds turn up to welcome the "Oscar W" at Goolwa

The October holiday long weekend drew record crowds to Goolwa to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the paddlesteamer "Oscar W', freshly restored and recommissioned by its "Friends". SteamRanger operated a capacity five car "Southern Encounter" train from Mt Barker on the Sunday which in addition carried local dignitories from Strathalbyn to Goolwa to participate in the ceremonies.

A large number of locals and visitors travelled on the Cockle train each day. A special feature was the combined Southern Encounter and Cockle Train around midday on the Sunday which was double headed by 621 and DE507.

Overall, and in spite of the lack of steam due to mechanical difficulties for some six of the fifteen scheduled running days of the holidays,ticket sales were up some 34% from the equivalent period last year, and added nearly $60,000 (gross) to our annual income.



A number of photographers have sent in shots of various trains over this weekend and a selection are included in our photoalbum HERE .       Your photos are always welcome!

All Spooled up for a busy Xmas Holiday Period

Reflecting the thoughts expressed in President Greeneklee's article (see "Presidents Ruminations box opposite) we have decided to increase the frequency of our Cockle Train services over the 2008/2009 holiday period to assist in rebuilding our image as a growth oriented passenger focussed organisation.

This will require a very solid commitment from our volunteers; loco guys, train crews and station volunteers at Goolwa and Victor. Their contributions are very much appreciated.

• The main drawcard will be recently re-commissioned steam loco "Duke of Edinburgh" which will run three return Cockle Train services each day between Goolwa and Victor - departing Goolwa at 10.00am, 12.30pm and 3.00pm.
  
  This service will run daily from the 18th to 21st December, with our ebuliant Santa on board selected movements and then daily from the 26th December right through to Australia Day.
  
  
• From the 27th December onwards we will be adding railcar services using our heritage Brill car departing Goolwa at 11.00am and 4.45pm, offering visitors more flexible stopover options at Victor, Pt Elliot and Goolwa and the opportunity to travel one way by steam and one way by railcar if they wish. The morning train will run daily until the 3rd January and the afternoon train until the 10th, plus Saturday 17th.
  
  
• And on Sunday 4th January the Brill will also be called into action to run the popular StrathLink service to Strathalbyn and return - from Goolwa just before noon and back around 4.30pm - connections both ways from Victor..

to see the new timetables,
including departure times from Victor, Middleton and Pt Elliot

Bookings now available on-line from your computer

How do you book on-line? - its as simple as 1 - 2 - 3

2009 Running Programme

The 2009 operating program from February 1st is now pretty much bedded down after taking into account input from all sections of SHR - Mechanical Services, Operations, Catering, Marketing, the Board of Management and our financial wizard. The full timeables will be on our website within a couple of weeks and our printed brochure should follow soon.

Features of the 2009 programme will be:

• Three Cockle Trains on Sundays and Wednesdays during Daylight Saving
• Reinstatement of the Twilighter dinner trips to Strathalbyn in February, March, September and November
• Christmas themed dinner trips in December
• Introduction of a Bugle Ranger train in winter and spring between Mt Barker and Bugle Ranges using a RedHen railcar as a replacement for the Junction Jogger
• ... and continuation of Southern Encounter, Highlander and StrathLink trains as in 2008

Mechanical Services

The first stage of jacking was carried out in early November when the loco was raised some 350 mm out of a total of 800 mm to prove the procedure was OK. The loco will now sit at this height for a few weeks whilst further retyring procedures are developed and work on 621's boiler takes priority.


Loco 224
Essential as a strategic backup for our other steam locos, Rx224 has not been forgotten and rebuilding is continuing as effort can be provided. A donation of laser cutting services from Williams Laser Cutting and Fabrication has been negotiated to supplement our resources. Tender construction is now likely to be undertaken at Plympton Steel by David Groves and his fellow workers during voluntary hours. Thanks David!


For more details on progress with the locos

Including a detailed run down on 621's problems in October
Look at our loco maintenance page

Marketing and Promotional Activities

Although we have not been able to reconstitute a formal Marketing Committee for the present, a number of volunteers have been beavering away on a number of initiatives to keep SteamRanger in the front of potential passengers.

• Trevor Blight has been composing targetted ads for each Saturday Advertiser's What's On section. As well as focussing on immediately upcoming trips his material has invited potential new volunteers to join us and to combine a CT trip with local special events at Goolwa and Victor. Trevor has also been working on producing ads for local magazines and newspapers on the south coast.
  
  
• SteamRanger featured in an article in the Victor Times in October when a number of Sudanese children were hosted locally by the Goolwa Holiday Refugee programme. The group had an outing on the Oscar W paddlesteamer, a farm visit, picnics in local parks and complimentary rides on the Cockle Train courtesy of SHR. They certainly looked happy in this picture accompanying the "Times" article.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• With assistance from Brenton Ragless and Anthony Colquhoun from TV Channel 9 a new 30 second promotional video has been developed and aired. Brenton, who is now the channel's Weather Man has also been able to slip in a few words on SHR from time to time
  
  

to run the video

SECOND ATHRA "Excellence Award" won by an SHR volunteer

This year we have done it again! Goolwa Depot Manager, trackworker and loco engineman , Philip Neville was announced at the September ARHS meeting as being the well deserved 2008 recipient.

Congratulations Phil!

SteamRanger's nomination of Phil occupied some two A4 pages listing his contributions, commencing in 1979 when we were based at Dry Creek and Phil was working full time as farmer. He moved to Goolwa in 1988 and began his volunteer work in earnest, ramping it up further on his retirement in 2002. Subsequent major milestones were;

• A member of ARHS Council from 1988 to 2003
• Coordination of volunteers. resources and operations at Goolwa Depot over nearly 2 decades.
• Acquisition of a Brill Railcar Trailer in 1990 and beginning coordinating a ten year task to install an engine in the freight compartment to create Railcar 60.
• Qualification as a track machine operator and loco engineman
• Appointment as SHR Track Manager from 2001 to 2005 which involved acquisition, modification and restoration of a wide range of track equipment.
• Major involvement with our significant track relaying in 2006
• And his next major challenge - restoration of recently acquired railcar RC43

The "Hidden" Infrastructure Teams - out along the line.

Team leader, Robert Haebich, comments "The fireban season commences in mid-November which will curtail some future burning off activities until next winter. However, as I have said before I don't think we will never run out of work along the line as there is always something that requires our attention. If you feel; you would like to join us or learn further about any of our activities please don't hesitate to contact me."

National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide

In 1988 the museum was fortunate enough, with the involvement of the History Trust of SA, to obtain a $2m Australian Bicentennial Commemorative Grant to relocate to its current site at Port Adelaide. Later Centenary of Federation funding allowed construction of the Commonwealth Railway Museum within the museum's precinct

The Museum features train rides, exhibits and displays. Its activities include a sales centre, tours and the publication of a national magazine as well as the operation of a tourist steam railway along the beachfront at Semaphore. The Museum is open from 10 am until 5 pm every day of the year except Christmas Day.          Click here to visit the NRM website.

Preserved and Tourist Rail in New Zealand

The New Zealand equivalent of ATHRA (see panel to the left) is FRONZ, the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand has an interesting website which gives a good overview of heritage rail operations in NZ.

Unfortunately it does not include downloadable copies of their excellent newsletter "Federation Journal".

Railway Technical Society of Australasia SA Chapter