The Bennett Brook Railway is a 2ft (610mm)narrow gauge tourist oriented railway operated by the West Australian Light Railway Preservation Association and is located within the boundaries of Whiteman Park, 19 kilometres (12mi) from Perth.
The Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (WALRPA) was formed on 26 April 1976 by a group of rail enthusiasts who shared an interest in less well known railways of Western Australia.[1]
Following the closing of the Lake View and Star Gold Mine in Kalgoorlie in the mid-1970s, four of the founding members purchased the railway's first locomotive - an LV&S 'Planet' Locomotive (which still operates at the railway - the Atlantic Planet). The Planet was first located at a member's Perth Hills property on 17 September 1976.
In 1977, the group proposed to develop a railway at Whiteman Park. Five submissions were received in total, 3 for a 610mm (2ft) railway, one for a 7+1⁄4in (184mm) railway, similar to the railway located at Castledare, and finally a submission to re-locate the Australian Railway Historical Society.
From 1977 to 1982, referred to as the negotiation period, the group also submitted proposals for an operational railway to El Caballo Blanco in Wundowie, The Maylands Peninsula Redevelopment, the former Upper Darling Range Railway (From Kalamunda to Goosberry Hill, and a Mandurah tourist development.
The closure of the Bristile & Wunderlich Brickworks in Belmont saw the donation of a number of hoppers and other rail items. The railway acquired a locomotive and a number of hoppers from the Maylands Brickworks.
In 1982, development and restoration continued in the Perth Hills, until 16 August, when the WALRPA was advised by Metropolitan Region Planning Authority that their submission for a 610mm (2ft) railway at Whiteman Park had been successful. On 18 September 1982, the first equipment was placed at Whiteman Park.
In 1983, two former Whiteman Brick locomotives - "Ridley 2" and "Yellow Rose" were acquired.
In June, the C passenger wagons (built on the Maylands Brickworks hoppers) and the Maylands locomotive were moved to Whiteman Park, hauling the first work train on 9 July, and the Planet Locomotive followed on 11 August.
Track laying began on 18 January 1984, and reached "Central" Station on 18 November the same year. Also in 1984, the WALRPA purchased the former Claisebrook railway station to be placed at Central Station (The building arrived in March of that year), acquired a 60ft Turntable from Midland Workshops, and in March they were notified of their success in a tender for two SAR NG15 steam locomotives (#118 & #123).
8 December 1984 was the official opening of the Bennett Brook Railway, and Peter Dowding MLA (The Patron of the Organisation), with some assistance, drove the first passenger train out of Central Station.[2]
Operations
The railway operates passenger services primarily on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, with some midweek services during school terms.
Held biannually, the railway runs a Friends of Ashley Day (formerly known as Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine),[3] which sees most of the railway's volunteers, locomotives and passenger carriages in operation. This is usually held in May and September which sees the start and end of the railway's steam season.
Enthusiast's days are also held occasionally. They are held in winter so there are no restrictions on steam operations. Most operating engines are involved in interesting freight and passenger trains.
Locomotives
September to May is fire season, so diesel engines will operate all services.
May to September is steam season, steam engines may operate weekend services when available and diesel engines will operate all other services.
Dates are approximate and are dependent on park conditions and approval.
Restored to operational service on a "Citra" chassis for BBR's 21st Birthday celebrations in 2005
1983
BV1
Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis
4 Wheel Passenger Brake Carriage
Air braked and Fitted with Brake wheel in Guards Compartment. Still operational
1984
ALV11
Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis
Air braked 4 Wheel Passenger Carriage
Still operational
1985
ALV12
Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis
air braked 4 Wheel Passenger Carriage
Still operational
1985
ADL101
Toast Rack Style Passenger Carriages
Originally built in Harvey for the Big Orange Railway. Transported to BBR in 2004 and purchased in 2020
2006
ADL102
Toast Rack Style Passenger Carriages
Originally built in Harvey for the Big Orange Railway. Transported to BBR in 2004 and purchased in 2020
2006
ADL103
Toast Rack Style Passenger Carriages
Originally built in Harvey for the Big Orange Railway. Transported to BBR in 2004 and purchased in 2020
Freight/industrial wagons
All Wagons are fitted with Jones couplers, unless said otherwise.
Class
Number
Original operator
Description
Comments
D
33
WAGR
Covered Goods Van
Restored, and reinstalled on LA Chassis (Used on work trains)
QBB
2889
WAGR
Flat Wagon, used to carry heavy and often large loads about the railway
To Carry Coal Bunkers for BT1 Betty Thompson
LA
23778
WAGR
Ballast Hopper
Used on work trains
JOA
12051
WAGR
Distillate Fuel Tanker
Used as a water tanker Needs Maintenance
J
11374
WAGR
Water Tanker
Used as a water gin for NG15 123 Fremantle
V
3326
WAGR
Goods Van
Currently to store equipment in and used on work trains
For more information, please Visit the BBR Pages
Buildings
Whiteman Village Junction Station, with the former Subiaco Signal Cabin in the background
At the Bennett Brook Railway, all buildings used on the line (with the exclusion of the yards) are former WAGR/Westrail Station Buildings.
Whiteman Village Junction Station houses the former station buildings from Claisebrook Station (Platform 1/Ticket Office), Subiaco Station (Platform 2/3, Party Room), and Signal cabins from Subiaco and Fremantle (Both are currently not operational). Down at Mussel Pool: The station building is from Nungarin (And was transported to BBR in 1989 with assistance from the Australian Army's 22nd Construction Squadron. There are also two signal Cabins, Collie (No longer operational, now located at parker siding), and Cottesloe, which is fully operational located at the northern end of the Mussel Pool platform.
Signalling and safeworking
The former Mussel Pool Signal Cabin, from Collie, in useThe ex Wagin lever frame, now installed in the Cottesloe Cabin at Mussel Pool
Located at Mussel Pool, the original Cottesloe Cabin (1897 - 1931) is in place on the Station Platform, and is fully operational. In the Cottesloe Cabin, stands the former Wagin Lever frame, with 15 levers, this frame turned out to be the perfect size for the Mussel Pool Station. 13 of the 15 levers in the frame are used, for 3 sets of points & Locks, and 12 Signals. The cabin is used mostly on weekends during run-arounds at Mussel Pool station, however during large events the cabin is used to assist sorting and preparing trains at the start of the event.
BBR uses the Staff and Ticket System for section authority on the Bushland Loop (Red Staff) and electric staff (Yellow) on Mussel Pool Branch. To travel on a section of line, the driver of a locomotive must be in possession of the relevant Staff. Using staff and ticket, in the case of multiple trains needing to use 1 section of track, the Staff unlocks a box located in the signal cabins at each end of the section, which hold the tickets. A ticket would be filled out and given to the driver of the lead consist, who would also be shown the staff. After the average time to complete the section has passed, the second train can depart the station, proceeding with caution in case the train ahead has broken down, holding both the staff (or another ticket) and a notice of train ahead.
In 1997 an Electric Staff system was introduced on the Mussel Pool to Whiteman Village Junction section, with staff instruments located in the signal cabins at both stations. At the same time a wired telephone line was introduced between the two stations, using telegraph poles. With electric staff working, the driver carries a staff withdrawn from the staff machine thereby locking the machines at each end of the line from releasing another staff. When the train reaches the end of the section, the staff is placed in the machine at the terminating end and both machines are unlocked allowing another staff to be removed.
BBR has recently completed installation of electric point motors on all mainline points, electrically operated semaphore signals at the north end and searchlight coloured light signals at the southern end of Whiteman Village Junction. Operation of the points and signals are controlled from cubicles located at ground level. Work has now started on the configuration of the elevated signal cabin (ex Subiaco) to control train movements at Whiteman Village Junction. Once completed, the cabin will be able to be switched in as required disconnecting the ground level cubicles.
The Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) refers to both a historical private railway company in Kent and East Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam.
Rail transport operations are the day-to-day operations of a railway. A railway has two major components: the infrastructure and the rolling stock
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a train driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the names of the section to which it belongs. A token system is more commonly used for single lines because of the greater risk of collision in the event of a mistake being made by a signaller or traincrew, than on double lines.
The Northern Counties Committee (NCC) was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of 914 mm narrow gauge lines. It had its origins in the Belfast and Ballymena Railway which opened to traffic on 11 April 1848.
Rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria is provided by a number of railway operators who operate over the government-owned railway lines. The network consists of 2,357 km of Victorian broad gauge lines, and 1,912 km of standard gauge freight and interstate lines; the latter increasing with gauge conversion of the former. Historically, a few experimental 762 mm gauge lines were built, along with various private logging, mining and industrial railways. The rail network radiates from the state capital, Melbourne, with main interstate links to Sydney and to Adelaide, as well as major lines running to regional centres, upgraded as part of the Regional Fast Rail project.
The Derwent Valley Light Railway (DVLR) (also known as The Blackberry Line) was a privately owned standard-gauge railway in North Yorkshire, England, and was unusual in that it was never nationalised, remaining as a private operation all its life. It ran between Layerthorpe on the outskirts of York to Cliffe Common near Selby. It opened in two stages, in 1912 and 1913, and closed in sections between 1965 and 1981. Between 1977 and 1979, passenger steam trains operated between Layerthorpe and Dunnington — the entire length of track at that time. In 1993 a small section was re-opened as part of the Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton.
The Longmoor Military Railway (LMR) was a British military railway in Hampshire that was built by the Royal Engineers from 1903 to train soldiers on railway construction and operations. The railway ceased operation on 31 October 1969.
Cottesloe railway station is a railway station on the Transperth network. It is located on the Fremantle line, 12.4 kilometres from Perth station serving the suburbs of Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove.
Templecombe railway station serves the town of Templecombe in Somerset, England. It is situated on the West of England Main Line, 112 miles 2 chains (180.3 km) down the line from London Waterloo. The main station opened in 1860 but a smaller station on the lower line opened in 1862. It was closed in 1966 but was reopened in 1983 following local community pressure. It is currently operated by South Western Railway.
Bodmin Parkway railway station is on the Cornish Main Line that serves the nearby town of Bodmin and other parts of mid-Cornwall, England. It is situated 3 miles (4.8 km) south-east of the town of Bodmin in the civil parish of St Winnow, 274 miles 3 chains from London Paddington measured via Box and Plymouth Millbay. Network Rail’s National Rail Timetable dated May 2023 records the distance from London Paddington to Bodmin Parkway as 252.50 miles.
Whiteman Park is a 4,000-hectare bushland area located 22 km (14 mi) north of Perth, Western Australia. The park is in the suburb of Whiteman, in the Swan Valley in the upper reaches of the Swan River.
Newquay railway station serves the town and seaside resort of Newquay in Cornwall, England. It is the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line from Par, 302 miles 49 chains from the zero point at London Paddington measured via Box and Plymouth Millbay. The station is situated in the heart of Newquay, close to the town centre itself and the beaches. The station is managed by Great Western Railway which operates local branch line services to and from Par. In the summer, there are also services to and from London.
The West Cornwall Railway was a railway company in Cornwall, Great Britain, formed in 1846 to construct a railway between Penzance and Truro. It purchased the existing Hayle Railway, and improved its main line, and built new sections between Penzance and Hayle, and between Redruth and Truro, and opened throughout in 1852.
The Steamtown Peterborough Railway Preservation Society Inc. was a not-for-profit incorporated society that operated a heritage steam railway from Peterborough, South Australia, north along a section of the Peterborough to Quorn railway line, between 1977 and 2002. The society based its operations on the former South Australian Railways roundhouse at Peterborough and purpose-built sheds and yard at Peterborough West.
The Gracefield Branch is a 1.6 km long, 3 ft 6 in gauge industrial line from its junction with the Wairarapa Line at Woburn in the Wellington region of New Zealand's North Island to its terminus at the southern end of the Hutt Workshops yard. The line formerly included an additional kilometre of track to Gracefield Freight Terminal, where it connected to a network of industrial sidings in nearby Seaview. Currently its only function is to provide access to the Hutt Workshops.
The Commonwealth Railways NC class consisted of two diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville, New South Wales in 1956. The Lakewood Firewood Company, Kalgoorlie was the first owner; the Commonwealth Railways purchased them in 1965. They ceased revenue service in the early 1980s.
Murphys Creek Railway Complex is a heritage-listed railway yard on the Main Line railway at Odin Street, Murphys Creek, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1921 to c. 1949. It is also known as Murphys Creek Locomotive Water Tank & Tower. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999.
Railway Signal Cabin and Turntable is a heritage-listed signal box at Ellenborough Street near the Ipswich railway station, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1881 to 1895. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 May 2005.
Train Off Schedule is a 1985 Soviet disaster film directed by Aleksandr Grishin.
Bennett Brook is a stream that runs from Whiteman Park to the Swan River in Western Australia.
References
↑ Whiteford, David; Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (2005), From back yard to Bennett Brook: a history of the Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association and the Bennett Brook Railway, Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association, ISBN978-0-646-49941-3
↑ Grierson, Lynn (15 July 2014). "Train for the train run". Midland Reporter. Community News Group. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
↑ Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (1977), Western rails, Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 20 February 2021 - not to be confused with Jim Bisdee's online publication - Bisdee, Jim (2009), Western rails electronic edition, Jim Bisdee, archived from the original on 12 April 2022, retrieved 20 February 2021
↑ Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (1900), Rusty rails, The Association, archived from the original on 12 April 2022, retrieved 20 February 2021 - supplemented with: Members newsletter (Bennett Brook Railway) 1991-1998
↑ Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (2003), Bennett Brook Railway, WA Light Rail Preservation Association, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 20 February 2021
↑ Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association; Bennett Brook Railway (2006), The shed: the newsletter of the Bennett Brook Railway, Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 20 February 2021
↑ Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association; Bennett Brook Railway (2004), The Bennett Brook railway worker, Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 20 February 2021
↑ Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (2011), Bennett Brook Railway newsletter, Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 20 February 2021
↑ The Bennett Brooklet, Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association Inc, 2012, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 20 February 2021 Irregular reports or extracts occur in the 'Heritage & Tourist News' section of Light Railways
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.
