END OF THE LINE FOR LOCAL TOURIST RAILWAY
Friday March 20th, 2009
THE PROLONGED DRY PERIOD TOGETHER WITH THE EXCESSIVE HEAT IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY HAD CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO THE LIONS CLUB OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL'S TRACK BETWEEN WALLAROO AND BUTE THAN FIRST THOUGHT.
MARKETING AND PUBLICITY OFFICER FOR YP RAIL, PETER THOMPSON SAID "THE RECENT COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION OF THE TRACK REVEALED MAJOR WORK WAS REQUIRED TO REINSTATE THE LINE TO A GOOD USEABLE STANDARD. THIS WORK WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CLUBS VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE AND IF CONTRACTED OUT COULD COST IN THE VICINITY OF $1M OR MORE." THIS FORCED THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE RAILWAY AND A DECISION TO CLOSE OPERATIONS WAS MADE AT A MEETING OF MEMBERS HELD ON SATURDAY 7TH MARCH.
PRESIDENT OF THE LIONS CLUB OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL, MR BRIAN REAY SAID "WHILST TRACK CONDITION HAD CAUSED THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF TRAIN SERVICES, THE MANAGEMENT HAD LONG BEEN AWARE OF THE OTHER THREATS TO THE RAILWAY'S SURVIVAL, WITH RAPIDLY DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, EXPENSIVE FUEL AND PARTS, COMPLEX ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE AGEING OF A DIMINISHING VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE. THE OPERATION URGENTLY NEEDED IMPROVED DEPOT FACILITIES AND WAS EXPECTING A LARGE FINANCIAL OUTLAY IN OVERHAULING BOGIES TO OCCUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE AS A SAFE AND RELIABLE TOURIST RAIL OPERATION, WE WOULD NEED TO ENTER INTO SUBSTANTIAL LONG TERM DEBT, WITH NO GUARANTEE OF ONGOING VIABILITY".
THE YORKE PENINSULA RAIL PRESERVATION SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN 1992 TO PRESERVE AND OPERATE A TOURIST RAILWAY ON THE LINE BETWEEN WALLAROO AND KADINA. RAIL OPERATIONS ON NORTHERN YORKE PENINSULA COMMENCED AROUND 1861 WITH AN ENTERPRISING MR GOUGE OPENING A HORSE DRAWN TRAMWAY CARRYING COPPER ORE OVER PREDOMINANTLY THE SAME ROUTE BETWEEN THE MINES NEAR KADINA AND THE SMELTERS AT THE PORT OF WALLAROO. THE SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED BY THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS WHO EXTENDED THE LINE FROM THE MINES TO KADINA AND ON TO ADELAIDE VIA PASKEVILLE AND PORT WAKEFIELD. IN 1975, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOOK OVER, EVENTUALLY CLOSING THE LINE IN 1990.
ON THE 12TH APRIL 1994 THE YP RAIL PRESERVATION SOCIETY RAN ITS FIRST TRAIN BETWEEN WALLAROO AND KADINA, AND FROM 27TH DECEMBER 2000 EXTENDED A FURTHER 38 KMS TO BUTE. A"T" CLASS LOCOMOTIVE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS AND THREE "BE" CARRIAGES CIRCA 1910 WERE PURCHASED FROM STEAM RANGER. IN 2004 A NEW ERA BEGAN IN THE HISTORY OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SUPER CHOOK RAILCARS. ORIGINALLY FROM ADELAIDE, THESE CARS WERE EXTENSIVELY REFURBISHED AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL YEARS IN SERVICE IN VICTORIA.
ACCORDING TO MARKETING MANAGER AND TREASURER, PETER THOMPSON, YP RAIL HAD CARRIED IN EXCESS OF 35.000 PASSENGERS OVER THE 15 YEARS OF OPERATION, MOSTLY TOURISTS WITH MANY FROM INTERSTATE AND OVERSEAS, AND THE VOLUNTEER STAFF HAD RECEIVED FREQUENT COMPLIMENTS ON THE SERVICE AND FRIENDLINESS OF THE CREW. HE SAID "IT IS WITH SAD HEARTS THAT THE MEMBERS REACHED THE DECISION TO CLOSE". THE CLUB ACKNOWLEDGED THE HELP GIVEN BY LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS, AND THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE DISTRICT COUNCILS OF COPPER COAST AND BARUNGA WEST. "OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE BUTE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE ADVERSLY AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE. THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PROVIDE OUR PASSENGERS WITH GOOD FACILITIES, MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT, AND OUR STAFF HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM IMMENSELY".
MARKETING AND PUBLICITY OFFICER FOR YP RAIL, PETER THOMPSON SAID "THE RECENT COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION OF THE TRACK REVEALED MAJOR WORK WAS REQUIRED TO REINSTATE THE LINE TO A GOOD USEABLE STANDARD. THIS WORK WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CLUBS VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE AND IF CONTRACTED OUT COULD COST IN THE VICINITY OF $1M OR MORE." THIS FORCED THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE RAILWAY AND A DECISION TO CLOSE OPERATIONS WAS MADE AT A MEETING OF MEMBERS HELD ON SATURDAY 7TH MARCH.
PRESIDENT OF THE LIONS CLUB OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL, MR BRIAN REAY SAID "WHILST TRACK CONDITION HAD CAUSED THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF TRAIN SERVICES, THE MANAGEMENT HAD LONG BEEN AWARE OF THE OTHER THREATS TO THE RAILWAY'S SURVIVAL, WITH RAPIDLY DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, EXPENSIVE FUEL AND PARTS, COMPLEX ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE AGEING OF A DIMINISHING VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE. THE OPERATION URGENTLY NEEDED IMPROVED DEPOT FACILITIES AND WAS EXPECTING A LARGE FINANCIAL OUTLAY IN OVERHAULING BOGIES TO OCCUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE AS A SAFE AND RELIABLE TOURIST RAIL OPERATION, WE WOULD NEED TO ENTER INTO SUBSTANTIAL LONG TERM DEBT, WITH NO GUARANTEE OF ONGOING VIABILITY".
THE YORKE PENINSULA RAIL PRESERVATION SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN 1992 TO PRESERVE AND OPERATE A TOURIST RAILWAY ON THE LINE BETWEEN WALLAROO AND KADINA. RAIL OPERATIONS ON NORTHERN YORKE PENINSULA COMMENCED AROUND 1861 WITH AN ENTERPRISING MR GOUGE OPENING A HORSE DRAWN TRAMWAY CARRYING COPPER ORE OVER PREDOMINANTLY THE SAME ROUTE BETWEEN THE MINES NEAR KADINA AND THE SMELTERS AT THE PORT OF WALLAROO. THE SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED BY THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS WHO EXTENDED THE LINE FROM THE MINES TO KADINA AND ON TO ADELAIDE VIA PASKEVILLE AND PORT WAKEFIELD. IN 1975, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOOK OVER, EVENTUALLY CLOSING THE LINE IN 1990.
ON THE 12TH APRIL 1994 THE YP RAIL PRESERVATION SOCIETY RAN ITS FIRST TRAIN BETWEEN WALLAROO AND KADINA, AND FROM 27TH DECEMBER 2000 EXTENDED A FURTHER 38 KMS TO BUTE. A"T" CLASS LOCOMOTIVE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS AND THREE "BE" CARRIAGES CIRCA 1910 WERE PURCHASED FROM STEAM RANGER. IN 2004 A NEW ERA BEGAN IN THE HISTORY OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SUPER CHOOK RAILCARS. ORIGINALLY FROM ADELAIDE, THESE CARS WERE EXTENSIVELY REFURBISHED AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL YEARS IN SERVICE IN VICTORIA.
ACCORDING TO MARKETING MANAGER AND TREASURER, PETER THOMPSON, YP RAIL HAD CARRIED IN EXCESS OF 35.000 PASSENGERS OVER THE 15 YEARS OF OPERATION, MOSTLY TOURISTS WITH MANY FROM INTERSTATE AND OVERSEAS, AND THE VOLUNTEER STAFF HAD RECEIVED FREQUENT COMPLIMENTS ON THE SERVICE AND FRIENDLINESS OF THE CREW. HE SAID "IT IS WITH SAD HEARTS THAT THE MEMBERS REACHED THE DECISION TO CLOSE". THE CLUB ACKNOWLEDGED THE HELP GIVEN BY LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS, AND THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE DISTRICT COUNCILS OF COPPER COAST AND BARUNGA WEST. "OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE BUTE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE ADVERSLY AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE. THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PROVIDE OUR PASSENGERS WITH GOOD FACILITIES, MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT, AND OUR STAFF HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM IMMENSELY".
HEAT STOPS TRAIN IN ITS TRACKS!
Wednesday March 4th, 2009
The Wallaroo to Bute Tourist Railway has been stopped in it's tracks this week following the recent exceptional run of heat caused movement and buckling of the track.
President of the Lion's Club of Yorke Peninsula Rail, Mr Brian Reay, said that a prolonged dry period coupled with excessive heat had caused damage to a number of lengths of track' in both the Wallaroo and Bute areas.
For safety reasons trains could not operate until the affected track had been thoroughly inspected and assessed. and the appropriate repairs carried out. Cooler weather was needed to allow the line to settle before work could be commenced. Other railways in South Australia and Victoria had suffered similar damage, resulting in severe disruptions to services.
Mr Reay said that passenger safety was paramount and that the train scheduled for Sunday March 8th. would have to be cancelled. This was most unfortunate because this coincided with the Bute 125 celebrations. He also reiterated his previous plea for more volunteers to become involved in the railway which is run solely by volunteers.
Mr Reay said that volunteers did not necessarily have to be Lions Club members, and were covered by the club's insurance while carrying out activities organised by the club. Interested persons could contact the club on 0418 859 389 or 0418 826 232.
THANKING FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
BRIAN REAY
PRESIDENT
L.C.Y.P.R.
President of the Lion's Club of Yorke Peninsula Rail, Mr Brian Reay, said that a prolonged dry period coupled with excessive heat had caused damage to a number of lengths of track' in both the Wallaroo and Bute areas.
For safety reasons trains could not operate until the affected track had been thoroughly inspected and assessed. and the appropriate repairs carried out. Cooler weather was needed to allow the line to settle before work could be commenced. Other railways in South Australia and Victoria had suffered similar damage, resulting in severe disruptions to services.
Mr Reay said that passenger safety was paramount and that the train scheduled for Sunday March 8th. would have to be cancelled. This was most unfortunate because this coincided with the Bute 125 celebrations. He also reiterated his previous plea for more volunteers to become involved in the railway which is run solely by volunteers.
Mr Reay said that volunteers did not necessarily have to be Lions Club members, and were covered by the club's insurance while carrying out activities organised by the club. Interested persons could contact the club on 0418 859 389 or 0418 826 232.
THANKING FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
BRIAN REAY
PRESIDENT
L.C.Y.P.R.
NEW PRICES
Friday June 8th, 2007
With the rising cost of fuel and other costs involved with administrative functions required by government regulations etc, the club has increased ticket prices effective 1 June 2007. It is a number of years since there has been a fare rise, and comparisons with other tourist attractions still make it an affordable day out.