MEDIA RELEASES
MVHR Press Releases
The Rattler and a Rolls Royce - 1 February 2012
Recently, when the Rattler arrived at Kandanga railway station, a 1919 Rolls Royce was present to greet it. The owner of the Rolls Royce, who had been staying at Montville, had heard about the Rattler and decided to drive to Kandanga and showcase the vintage car. Both well loved machines drew much attention and the point was made that it takes a lot of care and attention to keep both in running order.
Driver of the Rattler on the day, Nev Caldwell, was very impressed with the Rolls and when he asked how much the Rolls Royce was worth-the answer from the owner was, "quite a lot". It is interesting to note that the before 1935 the background colour of the Rolls Royce badge was red. After 1935 the background colour was changed to black.
Comments were passed that it is great to see that people have the time and energy to keep such heritage items operating. There was an extra whistle from the Rattler as it departed Kandanga in salute to the Rolls Royce.
Share a dreamy evening with your loved one ‘Romancing the Rails’
Back by popular demand, The Valley Rattler’s Romancing the Rails theme train offers lovers an evening of romance and wonder sure to make your Valentine’s celebration an unforgettable one.
This year the team at The Valley Rattler has put together a tempting new program for Romancing the Rails which will be held on Saturday 11 February 2012. Sure to delight romantics far and wide, the evening takes full advantage of the inherent romance of Old Gympie Station which upholds the beautiful workmanship of by-gone era when the station was built in 1913.
Champagne will be served as you board the train at 5.30 pm, before the newly restored DH 45 departs Gympie for a romantic twilight train ride to Dagun in the former Kuranda heritage carriages.
En route, be serenaded as the train meanders its way through the scenic Mary Valley. At Dagun enjoy an eloquent entrée at the charming country station which was established in 1914.
Take advantage of the opportunity to converse with your loved one as the train makes a leisurely return to Old Gympie Station for the main course and a dreamy dessert. After dinner enjoy dancing along the platform under the moonlight.
At only $65.00 per person, tickets for Romancing the Rails offer fantastic value and includes the train fare, pre-dinner drinks, a three course meal and live music.
Bookings for this romantic evening are essential and can be made by calling 07 5482 2750 or online at www.thevalleyrattler.com
First Revenue Run of DH 45
On Sat 26 Nov 2011 DH 45 made its first revenue run for the MVHR. The event was a 50th birthday and the excursion train headed to Imbil on Saturday afternoon with about 100 guests. When it was deemed safe a game of cricket was played in Imbil railway yard. There were no referrals to the video umpire. At about 4.30 pm the train departed Imbil and upon arrival at Gympie, a birthday bar-b-q was held at the café at Gympie Railway Station. Catering was supplied by Bianca Nagy.
DH 45 is a diesel hydraulic locomotive that was built at Walkers in Maryborough Qld between 1969 and 1970. It was used for shunting and light duties. In 1994 DH 45 was transferred to Cairns to be used by QRX. It was then moved to Central Queensland for shunting duties and de-commissioned about 18 months ago. In late 2010 DH 45 (or MMY 45 as it was known) was transferred to the MVHR as a restoration project. Over the past 12 months DH 45 has been slowly returned to working order and the results were on show on Saturday.
The MVHR thanks all those involved. Dh 45 will be used for shunting duties and charter/excursion trains.
On Board Services: Upskilling
On Saturday 12 Nov the On Board Services personnel of the Mary Valley Heritage Railway attended an upskilling and information seminar at the Old Gympie Railway Station. Twenty OBS volunteers, who work with passengers on the Rattler, spent Saturday morning being upskilled on Personnel Management, Rail Safety at the Mary Valley Heritage Railway, Volunteering at the Rattler, On Board Service to the Passengers, Emergency Evacuation Process and Procedures for On Board Services and Duties Whilst on Board the Rattler.
Jim Walker, General Manager of the MVHR, ran two of the information and upskilling sessions. OBS volunteers contributed valuable insights during the last session and these will be incorporated into the roles and duties of the volunteers. Jim Walker thanked the MVHR volunteers who worked with himself and the MVHR Volunteer Co-ordinator to put together the upskilling package. Tony Hallam, President of the MVHR, attended the seminar and described it as professional and informative.
If you would like to be a volunteer at the MVHR please contact 5482 2750.
Abc Interview with Jim Walker and Tony Hallam of MVHR.
On Friday 4 November General Manager of the MVHR, Jim Walker, and President of the MVHR, Tony Hallam, were interviewed by ABC Wide Bay. The topic was how the Rattler has been progressing since th floods of early 2011. This link will take you to the interview:
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2011/11/story-1-3.html
Rattler welcomes new carriages
The Valley Rattler sent three “new” carriages for their first Mary Valley run last Wednesday.
The carriages were last used by Queensland Rail on the Cairns Kuranda tourist train
“We are very happy to be able offer these carriages to our passengers” said Jim Walker, manager of the Rattler. “They are in very good condition, with walkthrough connections between the carriages, allowing passengers to access our club car facilities while on the move”.
While new to the Rattler, they are of 1910 vintage, and were used all over the state before going to Cairns and then coming to Gympie”
The new additions will allow the Rattler to rotate its current carriages for maintenance, giving the rattler staff and volunteers more time for care and attention to their equipment. It also opens the way for night trains, as the carriages are already wired and fitted for light.
The first use of the carriages was on a charter by the Gympie Family Day care group, who had a great trip through Dagun to Amamoor hauled by our diesel locomotive, while the regular steamer service went on to Imbil.
“With Christmas socials approaching it is a good reminder of the options we can offer to groups, from hiring a train, a rail motor, a carriage or two on our regular heritage steam train services, to taking advantage of our group rates for ten or more” Mr Walker said. “Come and join us for a relaxed ride through the Mary Valley” – contact the Rattler on 5482 2750
Brisbane Model Train Show – 30th April – 2nd May 2011
The Valley Rattler will be holding a display stand at the Brisbane Model Train Show this year which will be held on the 30th April – 2nd May (Labour Day Long Weekend). The Model Train Show has model trains of all types and sizes, a large range of train shops, interactive displays for children and demonstrations of wagon and building assembly.
The Brisbane Model Train Show is always a popular event and attracts the little kids as well as the big kids who have a love of trains. This show is a great opportunity to promote The Valley Rattler as a major heritage steam and railmotor tourist attraction in Queensland.
Rattler vital flood link: Gympie Times 12 January 2012
THE people of Monkland could still eat and get to work, despite being effectively marooned on their own island, during 2011’s floods, just south of the flood-bound city of Gympie. And city supermarkets could still supply meat to their customers, with the Mary Valley Heritage Rail carrying tonnes of frozen meat products from Nolan's, at East Deep Creek, into town by rail.
"We carried about 3500 passengers," Mary Valley Heritage Rail vice president Peter Alder said yesterday. "It was a free service for workers and a donation for other passengers. We ended up carrying milk and bread and a few boxes of eggs. We brought in about five tonnes of meat from Nolans”.
"The meat was all boxed up and they had refrigerated trucks delivering it to Monkland Station. "We took it to town and the shops had refrigerated trucks to pick it up at that end. Every morning we took bread and milk -and the Gympie Times- to the Monkland Store.
Last flagging at Dagun Station
Flagging the train becomes a celebration for Dagun.
The historical tradition of “flagging the train” at Dagun Station in the Mary Valley, had its last show-ing on November 21 when volunteers manned the crossing for the final time. After receiving a “cease and desist” order from police who have earmarked the practice of using flags to halt traffic to allow a steam train over the crossing unsafe, Dagun Community Group decided to pack the flags and fluoro vests away.
But far from taking a negative approach to the event, organisers celebrated the fact that Dagun has remained the only station in Queensland – and perhaps Australia – where the practice has continued long after electric rail became the norm.
A huge crowd enjoyed the final flagging celebration.
The Valley Rattler Steam Train has its Revenge
On Monday June 14th, a record breaking crowd gathered at the Old Gympie Railway Station to witness the arrival of the runners for the 2010 Race the Rattler Challenge. The numbers of entries this year exceeded expectations. This included 163 individual runners and 52 teams, (made up of four competitors, each of whom completed approx 4.5km).
Facing their 3rd defeat in a row, the Valley Rattler has steamed back into the Old Gympie Station ahead of almost 400 runners posting a convincing win in yesterday’s Race the Rattler footrace. It was the 7th Race start and 2nd time as driver for Peter Alder, who this year teamed up with a rookie fireman after being beaten by 5 seconds in last year’s race.
The fine conditions greeted the starter’s gun at Dagun station in the Mary Valley with the runners taking an early lead while the less energetic supporters boarded the train for the 18.5km journey into Gympie. It was neck and neck but the runners’ early lead soon went up in smoke as the Rattler arrived at the first relay changeover close behind.
Meanwhile back at the Old Gympie Station the excitement grew as the large crowd strained to sight the first runner but it was the sound of the engine that greeted them first as the rattler steamed up the last hill and crossed the finish line in 1 hour 1minute and 28 seconds.
Patrick Tiernan was the first runner to cross the finish line with a time of 1 hour 4 minutes and 13 seconds. He was a member of the “Losers Team.” This is the second year in a row that the Losers have been the first runners to cross the finish. The first male individual runner was Steven Page with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 17 seconds. The first individual female to cross the finish line was Clare Geraghty with a time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 40 seconds.
After achieving victory this year the Rattler crews are keen to make up for the defeats of recent years and are already looking to next year’s event.
The score now is Rattler – 7 and Runners – 5.
Gympie Ultimate Steam Festival
Queensland Events granted funding to assist in the marketing and running costs of the four day Ultimate Steam Festival which was held in Gympie on the 9th-12th April 2010. This festival promoted three of Gympie’s vital heritage tourist attractions – “The Valley Rattler” steam engine adventure trip, The Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum and the world class Woodworks Forestry and Timber Museum, with a “guest” appearance of the Mary Ann replica down from Maryborough, running on the Rattler tracks.
For the first time, all three Gympie heritage attractions combined forces to present a unique experience, not just for steam buffs, but for all people, young and old, to experience the various uses of the power of steam.
For many years discussions had been held with regard to the three attractions collaborating as it is well recognised that the synergy of combining these unique complimentary assets has immense potential. The Steam Weekend was the first of what has become a strong united front for Gympie’s tourist attractions.
Visitors experienced a full range of heritage steam working across a range of industries with combined ticket prices giving entry to all venues for four days of exceptional value and entertainment.
The highlights of the festival included rides on the unique ‘Mary Ann” full size replica of an 1873 timber line steam engine. The Woodworks Museum had a mobile saw milling competition and traditional handtool demonstrations, while the Rattler operated two return trips each day to Amamoor, 23 km down the old Mary Valley branch line. The Gympie Gold Mining Museum had a variety of steam powered equipment including a steam traction engine, steam roller and steam launch engine.
This event attracted people from all over South East Queensland and many from a lot further afield.
14 April 2009 - Arrival of Q150 Train
As part of Queensland’s 150th Birthday Celebrations, the Q150 Steam Train arrived at the Old Gympie Station in Tozer Street on Tuesday 14th April. The Old Gympie Railway Station was the first stop over for the Q150 Steam Train during its five month journey.
A Family Fun Day was held throughout the day with hundreds of people enjoying entertainment, displays, children’s rides and a sausage sizzle while waiting for the arrival of the Q150 Steam Train.
The Valley Rattler Re-enactment Group staged a mock hold-up as the Train pulled into the station. Passengers on the Q150 Train were welcomed by the local indigenous community, Gympie Regional Mayor Ron Dyne and local school children.
This was a once in a 150 year event and was a chance for the Q150 Passengers and Gympie Community to celebrate Queensland’s history.
10 February 2009
Steam Engine drivers, Locos and Peugeots………..they just keep on puffing and purring.
Neville Caldwell and fellow railway volunteer Kevin Power, were made Life Members of the Mary Valley Heritage Rail at the recent AGM held on 5th December, 2008.
Neville Caldwell
These men have displayed amazing commitment and have been instrumental in maintaining the wonderful volunteer contribution that has formed the backbone of MVHR. Neville and Kevin were completely surprised and obviously delighted to receive their awards as presented to them by President Tony Hallam.
Neville was the driver of the first train that ran for the Mary Valley Heritage Railway on the 23rd May, 1998. Ten years on, he is still working on the footplate and loving it. The railway has been his life, having worked 48 years with Queensland Rail. He has continued his long association with steam well into his retiring years with many roles in MVHR. “Every day is a good day on the line” he says “ MVHR gives me something to look forward to and without that, who knows, maybe it helps to keep me going.”
Neville also maintains and drives his cars just as lovingly as his locos.
Each rostered day, right on 6.30am, he can be seen driving up to MVHR workshops in his immaculate deep red Peugeot 405 SRDT sedan. And the day he gladly posed for these photos with the car on the old Gympie Station platform, the little diesel engined 405 looked spotless, and almost as if it was the very day he had driven it from Gerald Cullen’s Peugeot showroom in nearby Nambour.
Kevin Power
Kevin Power has also spent most of his working life in the railways. He tells many a tale of his experiences on Victorian steam rail. Just ask him, he is a cheerful bloke and he never seems to run out of steam as he goes about his daily tasks.
28 December 2008
AEC Badge completes Red Rocket Rail Motor
MVHR has added a new addition to RM 76 (known as the ‘Red Rocket’). A person has kindly donated an original AEC badge which has now been proudly fitted to the top of the radiator. This badge represents the maker of the RM 76, Associated Equipment Company Ltd.
Associated Equipment Company (AEC) was established in 1912 as the manufacturing side of the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC). When the Underground group of companies acquired the LGOC in the same year the AEC letters were incorporated onto its famous red circle and bar motif (still the symbol of London’s Public Transport today) In 1928, the AEC circle and bar motif was then enclosed in a blue base up triangle to celebrate the development of a new chassis design that is now proudly displayed by the badge on the radiator top tank of RM 76.
RM76 was built at Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1934 and entered service on the 21st August, 1934. It was built around an AEC truck chassis with a 100 HP AEC engine. Its carriage set consisted of PL 104 and passenger /luggage PL105. It worked in the Southern division of Queensland Government Railways during the 1930s. In 1938, it was refitted with a Gardner 102 HP diesel engine at the expense of the two front seats and was still operating in the Southern division in the 1950s. The RM 76 traditionally ran the Brooloo line to Gympie providing a daily link to the town for shopping, the transportation of goods and a means for children to get to school. It was also known to have worked in the Maryborough area before its retirement. It was written off by Queensland Railway on 1st July, 1970 and sold to Bellarine Peninsular Railway in Victoria.
MVHR acquired RM76 in 2005 from the Bellarine Railway in Victoria and has a lease to operate the rail motor until 2015. The RM 76 (Red Rocket) is now an active service with the Mary Valley Heritage Railway running a weekly return trip to Amamoor on Tuesdays and is also available for charter. The RM 76 is a Railmotor of significant heritage and character and a ride on it is not to be missed.
