News June - Aug 08
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News June - Aug 08
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23/08/08 Friday 22nd saw 9 members in attendance for the night crew but still a bit got done - Derek had picked up the trailing axle for the Perry from Gemco and so much of the night was spent working towards putting the truck back together. Charlie was along to continue work on the Krauss cab roof. The Planet had had a high pressure clean and a new vacuum pump installed recently so there was some bits and pieces done to enable it to be returned to traffic use. The smokebox equipment was re-installed in the Perry.
News from Bob B Last week we trialled the tamper with its latest modification to stop the tines coming loose and breaking bolts. On Wednesday it had other ideas with a blocked fuel pump. Thanks to "RAC Tony" and "Busselton Ray" a fuel pump overhaul was completed. By Thursday afternoon the 0.5 km from the start of Robert's bank to WVJ South was tamped including the entry to 2 & 3 roads. The modification was successful, only requiring bolt tightening once during that period. Skilled Rail Services cannot recommence tamping until September 8. Jamie is hoping to join the midweek crew tamping one day a week until then. If others would like to help finish tamping and save the Railway $$$$, Scott will be happy to come out on Saturdays. He needs 2 assistants each day. The midweek guys, Bob, Kee, "Chairman Eric", Pommie Dave, Busselton Ray and RAC Tony - all over 60 years - got 0.5 km tamped in 4 hours. There is 1.5km left to do.
AGM On Sunday the 17/08/08 the BBR held its Annual AGM with a good number of members in attendance. Thanks go to the outgoing committee members for their contribution to the operation of the railway and Welcome to those filling the relinquished positions for the next term. Ross Parker was inducted as a life member - Congratulations Ross. Some interesting items and statics from the AGM are here below
TRACK 2000 sleepers were replaced during the 2007/ 08 period. Tamping is still being undertaken – should be completed by FOTTE. Unfortunately the Tamper has been troublesome – requires full overhaul once tamping completed NEW PROJECTS Finish Painting WVJ, Building of a New Passenger Vehicle, Erection of loco water tank at WVJ, Re-furbishment of existing rollingstock & Replace skylights in workshop sheds Workshop lighting is to be upgraded Rainwater storage tanks to be installed at Workshops, Clear out and Tidy up storage compounds
Rising fuel costs have impacted on our yearly net in 2007/8 - Bio-diesel is being trialled PASSENGER NUMBERS Passenger numbers remained good this year with approx 29765 being carried during the 2007/8 period - only slightly down on last year. LOCOMOTIVE KILOMETRES 2007/8 Our locomotive fleet continues to give good service with the diesel fleet being asked to perform more this winter period than in the past, due mainly to steam locomotive Betty Thompson being out for a 10 year inspection and the limitations of use of Ng123 due to track upgrade requirements. Each loco has travelled the distances shown below in the last period.
27/7/08 2 New Pages Added Parkers Siding and A & J Inglis Crane On Saturday 26/007/08 using the Gemco, the last of the ballast to be dropped on the Loop was finished by Scott, Michael, Chris and Alex. It started at WVJ south and finished at the end of the cutting. Now to finish tamping the loop. An attempt was also made to re-stand some fallen concrete "Cable" channelling.
21/7/08 Friday night 18/07/08 saw the Cab of Perry BT1 refitted to the chassis.
17/7/08 Friday 11th of July saw the lowering of Perry BT1 onto its wheels, with most members in attendance assisting with this project, although there was also a crew out on the line between Mussel Pool and WVJ with the Gemco and the mini excavator on the QBB flat wagon picking up dead sleepers (approx 180 were picked up). Charlie was busy cutting timber for the Krauss cab ceiling. With any luck the Friday nighters will get the cab refitted onto the Perry this week and then it can be prepped for painting.
Tamper Report by Bob Baker Over the last couple of weeks, Skilled Rail Services have been engaged in tamping the remainder of the Bushland Loop from Kangaroo Flats via Zamia to Whiteman Village Junction. The tamper had other ideas, firstly breaking off a set of tynes. Greg did a great job welding and re-fitting the tynes. Then it blew a hydraulic hose which Scott repaired, and finally it broke the shock absorber belt on the vibrator drive. At this stage, half the Bushland Loop (from Whiteman Village Junction to the top of Christmas Tree Hill) via Kangaroo Flats has been tamped and all except about .25km has had the ballast dropped.
The down time gives an opportunity to carry out some much-needed maintenance on the tamper's motor - an old Ford Falcon 6 cylinder. Once the tamper is repaired it will be extensively trialled before Skilled rail services will once again be engaged to complete the job. It is unfortunate that the completion of the trackwork, and hence the return of steam, has been delayed, but it is unavoidable.
5/7/08 There is always something going on at BBR. In recent weeks there has been progression on the construction of the Water Tank stand with the steel legs intended for use being dug out of the storage compound and preparation work commencing. The footings for the stand have also been marked out and the concrete poured at the location at WVJ station.
Further work has taken place on the cosmetic restoration of the Krauss with the rear cab sheet having been made and put into place along with installation of the handbrake fitting and erection of some of the roof structure. Well done Charlie.
Tamping of the remainder of the loop by the Skilled Rail crew has commenced although this has been slowed somewhat by a failure with the tampers Tynes, although progress has been made as far as the Emu Way level crossing on the Northern side of the loop. Ballast continues to be dropped in readiness for when the machine is working again. Once again Ashley is being used for the crew transport as it gives good trackside access and the Gemco is being used for ballasting work.
Friday 4th of July had a good evening attendance enabling many little jobs to be worked on. These included - Work on the Tamper, shimming of the Perry's leading axle axlebox bearing plates, as well as preparation for refitting of all axleboxes. The axlebox guides and wedges were dismantled and cleaned, keeper plates were cleaned, bottom of the axle lube pads which had in previous weeks been refurbished, were soaked in oil and refitted in their retainers. New wicks were made. Preparation work for lifting the Perry chassis and inserting the wheels sets was organised and put into place and by the end of the evening all 4 axleboxes had been fitted to the wheel sets. Next Friday should see the chassis lowered back onto its wheels. Keep up the good work Everyone.
2/7/08 Friday 27th June was a good night at the Mussel Pool depot, with the ashpan fitted to the Perry and the axleboxes measured to record details for the locomotive records. The QBB was also unloaded so (when we have the crews) we can continue picking up the recently removed dead sleepers from around the track. We are continuing to attract new members so please, spread the word, the more active members we have the more we can achieve.
28/6/08
22/6/08 Track Report from Bob The time taken to finish the tamping of the Bushland Loop was discussed at last Sunday's (June 15) General Meeting with the meeting recommending that Skilled Rail Services be engaged to complete the tamping. They will commence on June 30 and it is expected to take 3 weeks to complete - all going well. "Tamper Dave" has been teaching Scotty the ins and outs of the tamper. Bob, "Tamper Dave" and Kee have been busy dropping ballast around the Loop ready for the tamping.
In addition the midweek crew have been busy re-arranging the sleeper pile, servicing the generator sets and painting the buffer beams of Ashley red. They will paint the buffer beams on Gemco and Planet No.1 when they are available for painting. Work is also progressing at the Mussel Pool depot, on the construction & erection of the water tank stand which will eventually be put in place at WVJ station Friday Nights Friday night maintenance sessions continue with Locomotive Manager Derek, finding a constant variety of jobs to keep attendees busy. 11 members were in attendance on the 20/06/08, replacing all brake shoes on Planet #1, finishing fitting of the boiler cladding and bands on BT1, fitting new rubbing pads on BT1 axle lubricators, Loading the Mini Excavator onto the QBB flat wagon and trialling of dead sleeper pick-up ( about 65 -70 an hour could be achieved - in the dark). Some of the shelving units were also cut to size and placed into storage containers. Members are encouraged to come along on Friday afternoons from 4.30 onwards for a bit fun, get a bit of dirt on your hands, learn new things and get together with fellow likeminded members.
17/6/08 Currently there are no steam hauled services on the BBR due to continued track upgrade projects. All services will continue to operate "Diesel Hauled". It is hoped to resume steam services in early August
3/6/08 Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine Day 25th May 08 On the Day 3 trains were operating - Ng123 and Pw27 on the Mussel Pool Branch, Ashley and consist on the Loop and Planet#1 on the Loop. Rosalie was on standby at WVJ with the Dorman Planet, Yellow Rose, Maylands and Ruston on display in 4 Road. A good days operation was had with no major hiccups. Thankyou to all members who helped to make it another successful Fotte day. Cass Westphal of Pt Kennedy was the winner of the Thomas pedal car from the Fotte Day Raffle.
Click here for Archived News Apr - May 2008
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Bennett Brook Railway Webmaster N. Blinco
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