Seymour Railway Heritage Centre

Last updated

Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC)
Formation1983
TypeVolunteer Organisation
PurposeRestoration & Operation of Heritage Rollingstock
Location
  • Seymour Locomotive Depot
Website http://www.srhc.org.au/
Locomotives B74 and S303 with the 1937 Spirit of Progress consist, as restored by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre in 2007 Spirit-of-progress-70th-anniversary-2007.jpg
Locomotives B74 and S303 with the 1937 Spirit of Progress consist, as restored by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre in 2007

The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre (SRHC) is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association [1] was established in 1983 as the Seymour Loco Steam Preservation Group to restore and preserve locomotives and rolling stock as used on the railways of Victoria.

Contents

The group is an accredited railway operator under the Victorian Rail Safety Act 2006, permitting it to move trains within its own depot. [2] The group is also accredited to maintain and provide rolling stock on the Victorian railway network, [3] running charters, tourist and railfan specials across the state with their fleet of restored trains. Since the early 2000s, it is also a provider of locomotives to freight operator SSR, and previously Qube, SCT and El Zorro until the latter ceased trading.

Fleet

Locomotives T357 and T320 on a Seymour Railway Heritage Centre tour Restored victorian railways train.jpg
Locomotives T357 and T320 on a Seymour Railway Heritage Centre tour
T357 on hire to El Zorro with S302 on a Warrnambool freight in 2008 El-zorro-warrnambool-freight-daytime.jpg
T357 on hire to El Zorro with S302 on a Warrnambool freight in 2008

The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre is the custodian of a number of heritage pieces of rolling stock owned by the Victorian Government (by either VicTrack or V/Line), [4] which are on a permanent lease basis as well as other rolling stock owned outright.

Locomotives in the custody of the group include steam locomotives J515, mainline diesels C501, S303, X31 and B74 and a number of smaller branchline T class locomotives, [3] (T320, T357 & T378). Also 600 hp diesel railcar DRC43.

Locomotives owned by the group are: GM36, T378, T382, K176 & J512.

Carriages in the group's collection include 1906 E type wooden sitting and sleeping carriages as used on the Adelaide Express and The Overland , [5] the majority of the original 1937 Spirit of Progress consist, and carriages used on Victorian Railways Royal Trains.

In 2007, the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre was provided with funding from the VicTrack Heritage Program for the restoration of the Spirit of Progress consist and heritage diesel locomotives B74 and S303, [6] and on 25 November 2007 a commemorative run was made for the 70th anniversary of the first Spirit of Progress service. [7]

New additions

In late August 2009, locomotives S310 and T382 were transferred to Seymour and became part of the SRHC collection. Both units were delivered in a non-operational state with T382 being the first to undergo re-activation as well as a full bodywork overhaul and repaint into the Victorian Railways blue and gold livery and ran its first tour on 18 December 2021 to Tocumwal, New South Wales. [8] Restoration of S310 has been put on hold and will be restored at a later date.

In early January 2010, X31 was transferred to Seymour and became part of the SRHC collection. This event made X31 the first of its class to enter preservation. 31 underwent a full bodywork overhaul and repaint into Victorian Railways blue and gold livery, then entered traffic as a heritage unit on hire to El Zorro in March 2011. Until the transfer to Seymour, X31 was part of the Pacific National fleet and had spent many months in storage.

In early 2012, the SRHC purchased diesel locomotive GM28 (displayed as GM22) and three carriages located in Port Pirie, South Australia. Two of the carriages being sitting lounges and one a kitchen and dining area (All carriages have been burnt and vandalised after the train was moved behind a building in 2009). The group paid $33,000 in total, the train is still sitting at Port Pirie station until it can be removed. Trashed former display locomotive GM28 masquerading as GM22 departed Port Pirie bound for the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, 26 June 2012. The trashed carriages have been moved out onto railway land out near Coonamia. [9]

In August 2017, ex-Pacific National locomotive X37 was transferred over to Seymour and has become part of the SRHC collection. This event sees the second X class locomotive to enter preservation and X37 is the class leader of the subclass second series X class locomotive which had preserved. As of August 2019, X37 is still in Freight Australia livery and is not in an operational condition, as time and finances permit, X37 will be restored back into traffic within the near future.

In June 2020, VicTrack Heritage allocated locomotive A60 to the SRHC collection. This event sees the First Mainline Diesel Electric Locomotive for the Victorian Railways preserved and retained for future generations. A60 is the class leader of the A Class Locomotives and formerly the B Class Locomotive (prior to its rebuild). As of April 2021, A60 is still in its V/Line Red and Blue livery and is not in an operational condition, A60 will be restored back into traffic within the near future. A60 has been also been nominated and formally enlisted to be an asset of significant Victorian State Heritage for being the first mainline diesel electric locomotive to the Victorian Railways.

In January 2024, Seymour announced that Pacific National had gifted the organization A78 after being stored for many years at Bendigo Workshops with an uncertain future. [10]

Rolling stock

Locomotives

NumberImageYear builtBuilderStatusGaugeNotes
J5121954 Vulcan Foundry S/G
J515 J515atVGR.jpg Out of Traffic, Overhaul [11] B/GTo visit transfer to the Victorian Goldfields Railway in 2006 and Returned to traffic in mid April 2012. Loaned from Seymour Railway Heritage Centre. Returned to Seymour 24 January 2015 for major overhaul and awaiting test run.
K1761941 Newport Workshops StoredB/G
A60/B60 A60 between E and S cars.jpg 1952, rebuilt in 1983 to A60Clyde Engineering, Granville, Rebuilt at: Clyde Engineering, Rosewater StoredB/GRecent addition to SRHC.
A781953, rebuilt in 1984 to A78Clyde Engineering, Granville, Rebuilt at: Clyde Engineering, Rosewater StoredB/GRecent addition to SRHC. Stored at Bendigo Workshops.
B74 Spirit-of-progress-70th-anniversary-2007.jpg 1953Clyde Engineering, Granville Stored, OperationalB/G
C501 C501 on blocks Seymour loco.JPG 1977 Clyde Engineering, Rosewater OperationalS/GHired To SCT
S303 Victorian-railways-s-class.jpg 1957Clyde Engineering, Granville Stored, OperationalS/GStored awaiting repairs after suffering minor fire damage in January 2023. [12]
S307 S307 stabled at the SRHC depot.jpg 1957Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalB/GSold to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre on 17 March 2023. [13] Ran its first tour on July 14, 2023.
S310 S310 SRHC.jpg 1960Clyde Engineering, Granville StoredB/G
T3201955Clyde Engineering, Granville StoredB/G
T342 Former El Zorro T class locomotive T342 stabled at the SRHC depot.jpg 1956Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalB/GPrivately owned, leased to the SRHC
T357 T357 at Seymour Railway Heritage Centre Depot October 2016.jpg 1961Clyde Engineering, Granville Stored, OperationalS/G
T378 T378 IMG.jpg 1964Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalB/GT378 has been fitted with an EMD 8-645E engine.
T382 Victorian Railways T class T382 at the SRHC depot in 2024.jpg 1964Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalB/GNot fitted with an ICE radio so can not lead
P22 P22-SouthernCrossStation-SRHCSGCharterSOP.jpg 1985Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalS/GPrivately owned, leased to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, Not fitted with an ICE radio so can not lead
P23 P23 at Seymour Rail Heritage Centre.jpg 1985Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalS/GPrivately owned, leased to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, Not fitted with an ICE radio so can not lead
X31 X31-T378 at Traralgon Railway Station.jpg 1966Clyde Engineering, Granville, and Rosewater.OperationalS/GHired to SCT
X37 20181020-IMG 8869.jpg 1970Clyde Engineering, Granville, and Rosewater.Stored and awaiting restorationB/GYet to be restored, still in ex-Freight Australia livery. As sold condition from Pacific National.
Y102 Y class diesel Y102 at the SRHC depot.jpg 1963Clyde Engineering, GranvilleOperationalB/GUsed as a shunter at the SRHC depot.
GM281963Clyde Engineering, GranvilleStoredS/G
GM36 El-zorro-standard-gauge grain.jpg 1966Clyde Engineering, GranvilleOperational, awaiting repaint.S/G

Carriages and vans

ClassImageTypeBuiltTop speed

(km/h)

NumberStatusNotes
Z vans Victorian Railways ZD van.jpg
S type carriage State-Car-5-SRHC.jpg 115 km/h1810 Operational3AS, 4AS, 1BS, 11BS, 1CS & Parlor Car are operational on standard gauge.

3BS, Mitta Mitta, Dining Car & State Car 5 are operational on broad gauge.

E type carriage State-Car-4-SRHC.jpg 80 km/h (wooden carriage restriction)1010 Operational2AE, 30AE, 1BE, 14BE, 26BE, 5ABE, 16ABE, 3BCE, Yarra Parlor Car & State Car 4 are operational on broad gauge.
N type carriage VicRail N type car at the SRHC.jpg 115 km/h43 OperationalACN3, BRN53 & BN19 are operational on standard gauge.
Z type carriage PZ260.jpg 113 km/h22 OperationalPZ10 is operational on standard gauge.

VAM1 is operational on broad gauge.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midland Railway – Butterley</span> British heritage railway centre

The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway and museum complex at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways F class (diesel)</span> Class of diesel locomotives used in Australia

The F Class are a class of diesel locomotive shunters built by Dick Kerr Works for the Victorian Railways between 1951 and 1953. They are similar to the British Rail Class 11 and NS Class 600 shunting locomotives also built by English Electric during this period, but modified for use on the VR's 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirit of Progress</span> Victorian Railways express passenger train

The Spirit of Progress was the premier express passenger train on the Victorian Railways in Australia, running from Melbourne to the New South Wales border at Albury, and later through to Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seymour railway station</span> Railway station in Victoria, Australia

Seymour railway station is on the Tocumwal and North East lines in Victoria, Australia. It serves the town of the same name, and opened on 20 November 1872. The station is the terminus for V/Line Seymour line services. V/Line services to Shepparton and Albury, and New South Wales XPT services to Sydney, also stop at the station.

The Tocumwal railway line is a 1,600 mm gauge railway line in Victoria, Australia. The line runs between the border town of Tocumwal in New South Wales to Southern Cross station in Melbourne. The line is used by various passenger and freight trains serving the northern suburbs of Melbourne and northern regions of Victoria.

The Victorian Railways S class was a class of 4-6-2 express passenger steam locomotive operated by the Victorian Railways (VR) in Australia between 1928 and 1954. Built when the VR was at its zenith and assigned to haul the broad gauge-leg of its Melbourne to Sydney interstate express passenger services, the S class remained the VR's most prestigious locomotive class until the advent of diesel electric locomotives in the early 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V/Line N class</span> Class of Australian diesel-electric locomotives

The N Class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering in Somerton for V/Line between 1985 and 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V/Line A class</span> Class of diesel locomotives used in Australia

The A class are a class of diesel locomotives rebuilt from Victorian Railways B class locomotives by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater in South Australia for V/Line in 1984–1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways B class (diesel)</span> Class of Australian locomotives

The B class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways in 1952–1953. Ordered and operated by the Victorian Railways, they initiated the dieselisation of the system and saw use on both passenger and freight services, with many remaining in service today, both in preserved and revenue service. Some were rebuilt as the V/Line A class, while others have been scrapped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DRC railcar</span> Class of diesel rail car used in Australia

The DRC was a class of railmotor operated by the Victorian Railways on its country rail network in Victoria, Australia. The cars were built by Tulloch Limited in New South Wales, and featured aluminium and steel construction, air-conditioning, and twin diesel engines with hydraulic transmissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways S class (diesel)</span> Class of Australian diesel-electric locomotives

The S class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways between 1957 and 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways X class (diesel)</span> Class of diesel locomotives in Australia

The X class are a class of mainline diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville and Rosewater for the Victorian Railways between 1966 and 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways S type carriage</span> Class of passenger carriage used in Australia

The S type carriages are a corridor-type passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The first carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways in 1937 for use on the Spirit of Progress, with additional carriages built for other trains until the mid-1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">707 Operations</span> Australian railway preservation group

707 Operations is a railway preservation group based in Melbourne, Australia. The volunteer organisation was established in 1980 to restore R class locomotive R707. The company has its own section of the Newport Workshops that is used for storing carriages and locomotives when not in use for trips. They are located in roads 7 and 8 of the Newport West Block Workshops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways Royal Train</span> Trains to transport the royal family in Australia

The Victorian Railways' (VR) Royal Trains operated to transport members of the royal family on their numerous tours of Australia on the Victorian rail network. The same carriages were also used for a number of vice-regal trains for the governor-general of Australia and the governor of Victoria. The last Royal Train ran in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tocumwal railway station</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Tocumwal railway station is a heritage-listed closed railway station in the town of Tocumwal, New South Wales, Australia. It was once the break-of-gauge between the broad gauge Victorian Railways Tocumwal line from the south, and the standard gauge New South Wales Government Railways Tocumwal line from the north. However, only the line from Victoria is still open.

The Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (formerly known as the Nottingham Heritage Railway) is a heritage railway located at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC), on the south side of the village of Ruddington, in Nottinghamshire. The route consists of almost 10 miles (16 km) of the former Great Central Main Line from Loughborough South Junction (with the Midland Main Line) to Fifty Steps Bridge and the site of Ruddington's former GCR station, plus a branch line from Fifty Steps Bridge to Ruddington Fields station which is located on a former Ministry of Defence site next to Rushcliffe Country Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Australian Railways steel carriage stock</span> South Australian Railways passenger cars

Between 1936 and 1942, South Australian Railways built 36 steel carriages at its Islington Railway Workshops. All were painted cream and green being repainted maroon and silver in the 1960s. Aside from a few written off after accidents, all passed to Australian National in March 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Railways E type carriage</span> Class of passenger railway car in Australia

The E type carriages were wooden express passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Originally introduced by Victorian Railways Chairman of Commissioners Thomas James Tait for the interstate service between Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, these Canadian-inspired carriages remained in regular service for 85 years over the entire Victorian network.

References

  1. ↑ "Seymour Railway Heritage Centre website". Archived from the original on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
  2. ↑ Public Transport Safety Victoria: List of accredited rail operators Archived 20 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 V/Line: Network Service Plan - Addenda (5 December 2007) (NA_NSP_03 – R40) Archived 21 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "ASSOCIATION OF TOURIST RAILWAYS: Presentation of Heritage Issues by Mr M. Ryan of the Department of Infrastructure - 29 and 30 MAY 2004". Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
  5. ↑ "Comrails: Wooden Vestibule V&SAR Joint Stock". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  6. ↑ "MINISTER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 'SPIRIT OF PROGRESS BACK ON TRACK FOR 70TH ANNIVERSARY' - 25 November 2007". Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Seymour Railway Heritage Centre: The Official 70th Anniversary of the first run of the Spirit of Progress Tour". Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
  8. ↑ "We have arrived at Tocumwal!". Facebook.com/SeymourRailwayHeritageCentre. Seymour Railway Heritage Centre. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "A new addition!". Facebook.com/SeymourRailwayHeritageCentre. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "The end of another year". Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Our S class is in the bulldog house!". Facebook.com/SeymourRailwayHeritageCentre. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "SRHC post 20 March 2023 11:36". Facebook. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

37°1′22″S145°8′34″E / 37.02278°S 145.14278°E / -37.02278; 145.14278

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.