Victoria's Lost Heritage Railways Ep1: The Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society

[@Versitileprisim]

Well done! As a local to this area (and hubby is an avid train buff) we have seen alot of this area. Saddly the entire line has been pulled up and the trestle bridges are almost ready to fall down. Precious little of this amazing line still exists and you almost have to know where to look to find it. Shelley was the highest station in Victoria. Thank you for putting this together! We very much enjoyed watching

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

Final upload for 2024!!! This one was a nightmare to research... So many scrambled letters I know the audio is a little choppy, sorry for that.

[@Dave_Sisson]

What a great concept for a series of videos. I really admire that you went to the trouble of doing original research by going to the PROV (state archives) in North Melbourne and going through the relevant files. That effort really distinguishes your work from that of people who only use secondary sources like websites and books for their information.

[@pvda64]

The migrants who used the migrant hostel in Bonegilla pronounced it Bon-a-gill-a, the locals however call it Bone-gilla.

[@MartinAsleep]

Barclay Number 5 is now stored at Dorrigo, as evident by Dorrigo's Facebook photos.

[@xr6lad]

So that will rust away then.

[@Brad_The_Truckie]

Wow thank you. I’ve always loved this railway and up until now never knew the full story. I’d always assumed the rail cars and rolling stock were left at Huon when the track was removed as part of the reserve there. Now in the 2000’s they are all becoming rail trails for the fit and healthy to ride. Would have been great to see it saved. Thank you for the most informative video about the line on the internet. Well done

[@LiliaArmoury]

as someone who's volenteered with puffing billy the moment i heard the heritage mob had decided to play trains without permission i knew it was over for them. in it's early days puff had a lot of trouble with vic rail and for this other mob to just go ahead and run trains without any kind of permission on track they didn't yet own I knew they were doomed at that moment. they came so close and blew it all for a festival. hopefully they got some good memories from that event

[@rsinclair6560]

They never came close and very little membership or finances. Most train enthusiasts love playing trains but the real work is track and bridge maintenance.

[@rsinclair6560]

All trains crews running on the PB railway up until 1977 were paid Victorian Railway rostered. Driver, Fireman, guard and owned by VR until transfer under the Emerald Tourist Railway Act. Track, fire patrol gang motors were driven by volunteers and safeworking staff and ticket rules applied as far as I remember. The Na steam loco was taken for an unofficial night time drive by an engine cleaner, but wasn't 'stolen' since it saved on the rails.

[@MattsScaleModels]

Outstanding research work, resulting in an excellent presentation; well done and thank you! I was 9yo in 1980 when this all began and as a young train fan, I heard bits of the story throughout the 1980s. Then, living in Albury in 2000, I used to go boating on Lake Hume and I saw the rollingstock for myself. A mate and I drove out there and had a good look around one day, it was all pretty sad. My one very small respectful suggestion relates to the pronunciation of some of these out of the way places. Rule to live by is that very few Aussie place names are pronounced the way they’re written! I’d be happy to help with any future videos, and will message you. Again, excellent work, cheers!

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

I definitely will be taking you up on the pronunciation offer, Thank You.

[@WindsweptHavoc]

Great idea for a series! I understand your channel is based on Vic history but if you're willing to, I'd recommend a special on the following groups of lines: Mt.Gambier-Heywood, Mt.Gambier-Millecent (or Beachport if u wanna cover narrow gauge stuff), Mt.Gambier to Naracoorte, Naracoorte to Kingston S.E (again if u wanna do narrow gauge stuff), and finally, Naracoorte to Wolesy and or Bordertown. You could call it Operations in the SE, etc. Thank you for producing amazing videos; I'd love to see this one come to life!

[@RichardFelstead1949]

I was a trainee locomotive engineman (ie trainee driver) based at Wodonga 1969-1974 and ran trains up and down this branch many times.Do you have an email address ? I'd like to send you a link to a video I filmed whilst stationed in Wodonga.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

My Business Email: [e-mail]

[@lachlangrant1588]

"Campaspe" is a dining car, not a sleeping car. It is currently under restoration at the SRHC. J509's boiler didn't go to Seymour until the mid-1990's, well after the TSPS had been wound up.

[@jashugg]

This is beautifully researched and referenced, an absolutely top rate job that fleshes out the sorry story. Should be compulsory viewing for everyone in the tourist and heritage sector!

[@woobyvr9654]

anyone in the preservation industry will tell you its a long term game and if you don't play your cards correctly and appropriately this is what happens. I've seen similar things like this happen on a smaller scale and its upsetting to see when people either cant follow the process correctly resulting in something that ultimately hurts the industry

[@WayneKline]

Happy New Year. Another great history video, well done!

[@brianwilson2904]

I lived in the region during the 80s and know some people involved with the Tallangatta Valley Steam Preservation Society. I can tell you that the RMs were moved during this time. I also remember seeing the Andrew Barclay stored in an old shed on the Lincon Causeway. Later, it was stored on a military siding near Beechworth Road, as this was a mixed gauge area, not far from where the B class were converted before being delivered to VR. This line has a long history. Many migrants were taken by train from Station Pier to Bonegilla ( pronounced Bone a gill r), the former WWI army camp. The line was also used during the construction of the Snowie River Scheme; materials were sent to Cudgewa. It was this line with the highest station at Shelley. I never reached its intended terminus, Corryong. It would have made a fantastic tourist asses to the region, state and Nation. Also, I must congratulate you on pronouncing Talangatta right; lots don't.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

Thank you for the information, the script for the Cudgewa Forgotten rail line video is being written, and your information is interesting as well as helpful. The script won't be complete until one of the books I bought arrives, so might be a little while before the video is out.

[@brianwilson2904]

@@VictorianTransportHistory I can recommend an excellent book, "The Branch Line: A History of the Wodonga - Tallangatta - Cudgewa Railway, Lloyd Holmes, 1985" It is an excellent book. You can get a copy from the Corryong Museum.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@brianwilson2904 Luckily that's the book I'm waiting on :)

[@kellyswoodyard]

There was a rail motor stored at Huon siding for years, basically rotted into the dirt.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@kellyswoodyard That was 24rm, it never functioned when it was in preservation and sadly likely never will

[@ThompsonSteamtrain]

15:43 I never heard of this film before, but it’s cool that has a K class locomotive on the poster

[@XxBec3509]

Interesting video. I subscribed. Happy new year from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@slepper98]

Good work, well done. Cheers.

[@brackenboy6321]

Well researched, very interesting.

[@lzappa9109]

Thank for your effort, excellent video. 10/10!

[@evanclarke5561]

What about a video about either the Mirboo or Mansfield line?

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@evanclarke5561 1 of them might be next:)

[@sjdtmv]

Thank you, a great video and a greater history lesson

[@mrK163]

Dorrigo was mispronounced. It is more like “Dorago”, not “Doreego”

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@mrK163 Whoops, sorry about that. Hopefully that didn't make the video less enjoyable

[@bradwilliams1691]

Also, it's not pronounced bon egg gilla. It's pronounced as bone a gilla. Good video just the same.

[@rsinclair6560]

A doco on the Tasmanian North East linecwould be great.

[@rsinclair6560]

The steam locomotive was privately owned and was not owned by the society. The wheels were sent to Junee to be turned but don't know the rest.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@rsinclair6560 Sent to Junee? I couldnt find anything about, although the engine is a bit of a mystery

[@MattsScaleModels]

Ah yes, that’s right! I was the Workshop Coordinator of Junee Railway Workshop from 2008 to 2014, and I remember at least one steam loco wheelset on site. It had been sat in the wheel lathe in the machine shop, but I can’t remember the other two wheelsets. Not a surprise as there was plenty of stuff in the big machine shop! The wheelset in the lathe was still in faded apple-green paint. I don’t recall if it was turned before I worked there, but I certainly know that nothing was done with it in my time. From memory, the owner collected the wheelset or at least signalled an intention to retrieve it, but I don’t recall any further details. This may have been before the 2010 auction or by the new owners after the auction.

[@rsinclair6560]

​@@VictorianTransportHistoryI can get full details on the loco.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@rsinclair6560 that would be helpful, thank you

[@ThompsonSteamtrain]

Happy new year

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@ThompsonSteamtrain Happy New year

[@philh6814]

Might that F413 have been T413?

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@philh6814 Maybe, but that letter deffinetly said F

[@philh6814]

@ yeah - thinking it was a Freudian slip. Didn’t T413 basically live on the Cudgewa line?

[@jashugg]

Agreed, the former Fyansford cement loco with dynamic brakes had maybe 15 years of history on the Cudgewa.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@philh6814 Yep, it was fitted with dynamic breaking for the fyansford line, but then found work on the cudgewa line due to the grades.

[@lachlangrant1588]

@@VictorianTransportHistory D1/T413 was built with dynamic braking. It wasn't a retrofit. Hope this helps.

[@kellyswoodyard]

You do good work. But PLEASE get the pronunciation of the place names RIGHT!!!! I worked for the Victorian Railways back in the early '70's and worked out of Wodonga a fair bit. I did the run up to Cudgewa a number of times. It would have been one of the world's most scenic railways. T413 was allocated to Wodonga depot as it was the only T class fitted with dynamic braking, very useful for the hilly terrain. It's a real pity this project never went ahead, it had real merit.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

@@kellyswoodyard Whoops, sorry about the pronunciations. What places did I miss pronounce?

[@kellyswoodyard]

@VictorianTransportHistory Bonegilla. Dorrigo. For starters. Other vids you've put up, also have this problem. Bone a gilla is how it's pronounced, and Doree go.

[@kellyswoodyard]

@VictorianTransportHistory your content is very informative. I was a fireman on V.R. based in Ballarat, and often got sent to loco depots that were short of crew for whatever reason. It was s great job.

[@pvda64]

@@kellyswoodyard the locals pronounce it Bone-gilla, it is the migrants from the hostel that used to be there (like my ancestors) and non locals call it bon-a-gill-a.

[@brackenboy6321]

@@pvda64 We lived in Lavington and always called it Bon-a-gilla 🙂

[@Tauraco00]

nice

[@timothyteo4602]

The Scottish builder’s name (for the sake of the algorithm because IT IS SOOOO WOKE is pronounced as Kill-Marr-Knock.

[@michaelchurchley4238]

you need to look into ya research a bit more some of what you say is incorrect

[@peterdoyle3205]

You really need to learn how to pronounce town names as you get their pronunciation wrong a fair few times. How about contacting locals before finalising your vlogs to get the pronunciation of names correct.

[@VictorianTransportHistory]

Contacting locals is a little difficult, however some very helpful people have given me correct pronunciations for the next few videos.