Lithgow State Mine Railway

Discussion in 'Locomotives' started by 69843, Apr 6, 2016.

  1. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    Well, as prior promised, here we go!

    I have started this topic due the interest shown here for the Lithgow State Mine Railway. We're only a small group at the moment, but we are pushing the envolope quite quickly (see 661/726 to Rylstone)

    The year has started off with a bang for us, with restoration re-started on 2605, our resident 2-6-2 Saddle tank that has been a part of the Lithgow fabric for many, many years. The locomotive was nearly lost in an arson attack in 2001, but was fortunately saved and is now just months from running.

    We also have railcar set 661/726 out and about on tours before going up to Byron Bay, and in fact are about to do another this weekend (private chartered trip to Bathurst). Photos of the recent trips and the 26 will come after this weekend.

    It has been amazing seeing the progress since my first visit to the mine in January 2014. Little did I see then that fate was calling me up there to lend a hand, and that is where I now find myself. I will try and semi-reguarly update this thread where and when I can, and I am also happy to field questions, if and where I can answer them.

    Enjoy!
     
  2. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Fantastic,
    I'll look forward to your updates and maybe a few photos if and when you get the chance.
    cheers
    toto
     
  3. elimatta

    elimatta Full Member

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    Byron Bay? Is that line to be revived with rail motors? Good news if that's so.
     
  4. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    elimatta wrote:
    That is (fairly) correct mate. The North Byron Beach Resort will be basically leasing the train, and running it between Sunrise Beach and a point just short of the old station. More information can be found here:
    http://northbyronbeachresort.com.au/rail-shuttle/
     
  5. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    As promised, here are some photos from the last little bit:

    726 sits side by side with CFCLAs VL 356, currently on hire to SSR and up at the workshops for work on April 3rd. Not often something like this is seen!
    [​IMG]

    "Queen Mary" (D34) sits in the yard awaiting the time to do more work on her. She can and does start, but other projects are priority and work will be done as time permits

    [​IMG]

    Our steam baby, 2605 sitting in the shed being worked on. The saddle tank is off and outside whilst boiler work is undertaken.
    [​IMG]

    And the dream view for any railway enthusiast....one day I do hope to see scenery moving out of this view! The gauges have been re-located from their original placement to allow better viewing for the driver.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Great pics Zane. I have watched the start up of D34 on youtube and I can say those English Electrics smoke more than Bob Marley and his mates ! :squint:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  7. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Ah but the English Electrics were designed in the 60's when we had loads of smog, so you wouldn't notice :giggle:

    Lovely pics Zane, and 726 just looks amazing - probably in better condition than when it was built.

    Paul
     
  8. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    I know, I know....I've left here for a bit! I've been flat out of late again, but I'm back with more photos.......and some BIG news

    On Saturday April 9th, while most of the railfan population was descending on Maitland for some form of steam festival (;)), LSMR ran a chartered trip out to Bathurst and return with the railcars. To say this was one of the best trips I have ever been a part of is like saying Scotsman is only mildly famous!

    First stop for the set was Tarana station. The weather was bang on perfect for the day, given the day prior we had some very interesting weather in NSW. And when one cannot visit the pub due to being on duty, the next best thing to do is to take photos for an hour
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Bathurst was then reached for the first time, and was a bit of a milestone in itself with the train getting to there. It is the first time that we have run the train into Bathurst (The train passed through and may have picked up passengers when chartered by LVR to Orange). Of course, 'provisions' were taken, as well as lunch at the wonderful Vic Hotel just up from the station.
    [​IMG]

    Last stop of the day was Wallerawang, where some lovely times were had, a couple of rounds of pool lost to a lovely Eveleigh driver (bugger!) and then it was all to Lithgow, by which time it was too dark for any more photos
    [​IMG]
     
  9. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Zane Thanks For the update.
    By the Look of the photos you had a great day
    Some top weather for it as well.

    I trust the railcars performed well some stiff climbs to pass over on the way out to Bathurst and back.

    On Duty? I'm guessing you were on attendant Duties for the day.:thumbs:

    http://www.click
     
  10. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Great pics Zane.

    You should have paid Carah's Pies and Cakes a visit for lunch. Best pies in Bathurst and directly up the road from the station in Keppel Street ! :thumbs:

    Last time I visited Wallerawang, I got kicked off the platform by the woman who runs the antiques/cafe on platform 1. She had told me it is 'private property' !

    For the UK members, Wallerawang is pronounced as ; Wal - lair - ra - wang Quite easy compared to Welsh... :avatar:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  11. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    Cheers Gary. Will keep that in mind for next time I am in Bathurst on tour. And either your lady friend was gone, or she was not there on Saturday afternoon/evening at 'Wang

    SMR CHRIS wrote:
    Yep, had a brilliant day :) So many stories swapped between mates old and new.

    The Railcars performed faultlessly. No problems on the climbs at all. But the mountains will be a challenge on June 4th!
    http://www.stateminerailway.com.au/tours-and-events-4-2/

    And thanks to both of you for the comments about the photos
     
  12. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    The link you provided for LSMR 4th June tour is a real bargain at $105.00 for a FULL day out and a very late finish. I'd say there will be a few knackered passengers at the end of the day !:faint:

    Thanks for sharing the link and I would love to go, but lack of time prevents me... :whatever:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  13. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    Gary wrote:
    It certainly is a small price for a BIG day-the trip sold out in under 5 days!

    It will hopefully not be the last big run, combined trip and/or run into Sydney we do. But the West is our real home
     
  14. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    G'day again folks,

    I do apologise for the rather long time between drinks. This year has been a very flat-out one for me, and unfortunately this took the backburner.

    The good news is we have not been sitting idle up at State Mine in all this time. 2605 is going through some of the final important work needed before returning to service, including straightening out the bunker from the 2001 fire damage, repairing coupler pockets and oiling up inside valvegear. I believe there is a somewhat unflattering photo of me doing the latter somewhere on the web.....B---dy inside valvegear!

    I shall be up again this weekend for the first time in two months, so will take some photos and add back in here for you all.

    Until that point, hooroo :)
     
  15. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    Great thread Zane its fascinating to us 'right way uppers' to see the railways of other countries especially the big beasts of Australia ... what engines would the big diesels have?

    Ian vt
     
  16. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    ianvolvo46 wrote:
    G'day Ian,

    Our 'little beast', 661 (the power car in the 2 unit set) has 2x Cummins NTA-855-R2 engines mated to Twin Disc DFFR 10034 gearboxes. Which have recently given us a large amount of trouble, requiring total rebuilds. Turns out it's hard to get parts for heritage trains, even when the company still exists today!

    The VL has an EMD 16-645E3C, and D34 has a English Electric 12CSVT under her large hood.
     
  17. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    Cummings theres a name to conjure with I used to fix the baby ones on double deck buses ... steady plodders though

    Ian
     
  18. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Looking forward to the pics - oil stains and all
     
  19. 69843

    69843 Full Member

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    Sorry for the delay in replying folks-was crook as last week so couldn't get around to doing this. But happily, I can now!

    Now, as some of you would be aware and I have stated previously, LSMR actually shares the site with Lithgow Railway Workshops, mainly dealing with Southern Shorthaul Railroad items but also doing work for many other companies. To that end, here are a couple of items that have come in and out the last few times I have been up at the works:
    Australian Built EMD GT26C Class/BRM Class BRM 002, owned by Consolidated Rail Leasing but run by SSR:
    [​IMG]

    QUBE owned 44202 and 864 in for work and an inspection:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Lachlan Valley Railway 47 Class 4701, in very recently de-branded SSR livery. The locomotive has recently come off hire, but was previously used by SSR for various work. RL305 is in front, having just been re-activated:
    [​IMG]

    And long term storage veterans T381 and T363, along with big girl D34:
    [​IMG]

    Another recent and interesting development has been the delivery of 8609 and 8622 to the site from Lithgow depot for stripping and then scrapping on site. This is the first time 86s have been to State Mine, but funnily enough not the first time for an electric locomotive-4615 was stored for SETS down here years ago:[​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    And then there's everyone's favourite little girl-AIS D9 Class unit D20. She's the yard girl, dragging everything around that needs dragging-more than proving her worth. She recently spent a full day shunting the yard to release B65 to attend the Streamliners 2016 event at Goulburn in October:[​IMG]

    On the railcar front, 661/726 was recently out of commission as hinted at earlier due to a broken gearbox, so LVR kindly assisted by loaning their 3x CPHs (12, 24 and 25). We then headed out on an unusual trip in August-to Capertee station. This is the first time in a good long time that a passenger train has terminated at Capertee, and was a brilliant little run out and back, with the CPHs slogging away on the line:
    [​IMG]

    However, 661/726 are now back in commission and recently ran some successful trials both on the branch and out to Ben Bulllen and back (we LOVE the Gwabegar line :) ). Seen here on the State Mine branch, just about to pass the main level crossing on State Mine Gully Road, and passing the recently mowed back points for the original State Mine yard:[​IMG]

    Well that's yer lot for now.....unless I am forgetting anything? Ah yes-come and join in with us for a jolly Christmas trip on the evening of December 3rd!
    http://www.stateminerailway.com.au/tours-and-events-2-3/
     
  20. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Great set of pics. :thumbs:

    I saw the CPH's at Central a few weeks back (28/10) and there were a bunch of AMRA members on board for a trip to Sutherland.

    Why did the SRA not continue with the 86 Class or for that matter, electric traction ??

    Cheers, Gary.
     

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