SteamRanger Heritage Railway: Difference between revisions

SteamRanger
	Rx 224 leaving Port Elliot; in January 2022
Established	1986
Standort	Mount Barker South Australia
Coordinates	35°03′58″S 138°51′56″E / 35.066064°S 138.865665°E
Typ	Heritage Railway
Website	www.steamrangerheritagerailway.org

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Revision as of 07:37, 15 August 2022

The SteamRanger Heritage Railway is a 77 kilometres (48 miles) long 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad-gauge tourist railway, formerly the Victor Harbor railway line of the South Australian Railways (SAR). It is operated by the not-for-profit South Australian Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society trading as SteamRanger. As the last operating non-suburban line of the former broad-gauge network, on which Australia's first public railway was opened, the line and its associated rail assets have high historical significance.

History

In 1989, the Australian Railway Historical Society established SteamRanger as a not-for-profit railway preservation offshoot to operate its train tours from Adelaide, mainly on rural lines throughout the state's broad-gauge and narrow-gauge networks. When plans were announced for the Adelaide to Melbourne line to be converted to 1435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge, SteamRanger's assets were based in a purpose-built, just-completed depot at Dry Creek railway station, 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) north of Adelaide. Once conversion occurred, the depot would be isolated and the society's trips would be confined to the city's suburban railways, which remained broad-gauge. Since that outcome would break the society's financial viabiity, in a huge project all of SteamRanger's locomotives, rolling stock and infrastructure were moved. A new depot was built at Mount Barker railway station, just off the interstate line in the Adelaide Hills at the northern end of the broad-gauge line to Victor Harbor. As part of the move, the District Council of Mount Barker renovated the station building, at the time derelict, to become SteamRanger's headquarters. The conversion of the interstate line was completed in 1995 as part of the One Nation infrastructure program, and with closures of South Australia's remaining broad-gauge tracks, the line became the last operating memory of locomotive-hauled trains on the state's broad-gauge network.

Operations

The Cockle Train operates year-round between Goolwa and Victor Harbor. It operates with a steam locomotive in school holidays, and historic diesel locomotives or railcars other weekends.

The Southern Encounter runs from Mount Barker to Victor Harbor from May to November on most of the line.

Some shorter services along the line are:

The Bugle Ranger - from Mount Barker to Bugle Ranges using a Redhen railcar set. Services operate one Sunday each month from late April to October
The Highlander - from Mount Barker to Strathalbyn using steam locomotives when possible. Operates on the second Sunday of each month from June until the end of November (excluding October).
StrathLink - from Goolwa to Strathalbyn using a restored heritage Brill railcar. Operates during School Holiday periods.
The Finniss Flyer - from Goolwa to Finniss using a restored "Red Hen" railcar.

Fleet

The SteamRanger fleet as of 2021^[update] was as follows:

Steam locomotives

Rx 207 Dean Harvey - built in 1913: operational
Rx 224 - built in 1915: operational
F 251 - built in 1922: stored for overhaul
520 Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey - built in 1943: under restoration
621 The Duke of Edinburgh - built in 1936: operational.

Diesel-electric locomotives

SAR diesel shunter 350: operational for shunting
SAR diesel shunter 507: operational
SAR mainline diesel 704: being prepared for operation as of 2022^[update] following donation by One Rail Australia
[[South Australian Railways 830 class|SAR mainline diesel 844]: being prepared for operation as of 2022^[update] following donation by One Rail Australia
SAR mainline diesel 845: under restoration
SAR mainline diesel 958: operational
SAR mainline diesel 963: stored.

Railcars

"Red Hen" railcars 334, 412, 428, 824 (trailer car): operational
"Red Hen" railcar 424: under restoration
"Red Hen" railcars 364, 405, 875 (trailer car): stored awaiting restoration
Brill Model 75 railcar 43: under restoration
Brill Model 75 railcar 60 (rebuilt from Brill trailer no. 207): out of service
2000 class railcars 2010, 2109: stored.

References

http://www.steamrangerheritagerailway.org/events/

http://www.steamrangerheritagerailway.org/volunteering-with-steamranger/520-restoration-appeal/

External links

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-The '''SteamRanger Heritage Railway''' is a historic train society in [[South Australia]] running trains on the [[Victor Harbor railway line, South Australia|Victor Harbor railway line]]. It is the only group regularly operating [[broad gauge]] [[steam locomotive]]s in South Australia. It is run by volunteers of the South Australian Division of the [[Australian Railway Historical Society]].
+The '''SteamRanger Heritage Railway''' is a {{convert|77|km|mi|abbr=off}} long {{Track gauge|1600mm|comma=off}} broad-gauge tourist railway, formerly the [[Victor Harbor railway line, South Australia|Victor Harbor railway line]] of the [[South Australian Railways]] (SAR). It is operated by the not-for-profit South Australian Division of the [[Australian Railway Historical Society]] trading as [[SteamRanger]]. As the last operating non-suburban line of the former broad-gauge network, on which Australia's first public railway was opened, the line and its associated rail assets have high historical significance.
 ==History==
+In 1989, the [[Australian Railway Historical Society]] established [[SteamRanger]] as a not-for-profit railway preservation offshoot to operate its train tours from [[Adelaide railway station|Adelaide]], mainly on rural lines throughout the state's broad-gauge and narrow-gauge networks. When plans were announced for the [[Melbourne-Adelaide rail corridor|Adelaide to Melbourne line]] to be converted to {{Track gauge|1435mm|comma=off}} standard gauge, SteamRanger's assets were based in a purpose-built, just-completed depot at [[Dry Creek railway station]], {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=off}} north of [[Adelaide]]. Once conversion occurred, the depot would be isolated and the society's trips would be confined to the city's suburban railways, which remained broad-gauge. Since that outcome would break the society's financial viabiity, in a huge project all of SteamRanger's locomotives, rolling stock and infrastructure were moved. A new depot was built at [[Mount Barker railway station]], just off the interstate line in the [[Adelaide Hills]] at the northern end of the broad-gauge line to Victor Harbor. As part of the move, the [[District Council of Mount Barker]] renovated the station building, at the time derelict, to become SteamRanger's headquarters. The conversion of the interstate line was completed in 1995 as part of the [[One Nation (infrastructure)|One Nation]] infrastructure program, and with closures of South Australia's remaining broad-gauge tracks, the line became the last operating memory of locomotive-hauled trains on the state's broad-gauge network.
-Prior to 1995 when the [[Adelaide–Wolseley railway line|Adelaide to Melbourne line]] was converted to [[standard gauge]], SteamRanger was based at [[Dry Creek, South Australia|Dry Creek]], an industrial suburb in the northern suburbs of [[Adelaide]], and home to the main road-rail freight depots in Adelaide. The ''Southern Encounter'' operated from Adelaide instead of Mount Barker, including six tunnels through the [[Mount Lofty Ranges]]. Special services were also operated to other places on the South Australian broad gauge network including [[Burra, South Australia|Burra]] (near the [[Clare Valley]]), [[Nuriootpa, South Australia|Nuriootpa]] in the [[Barossa Valley]] and shorter services on the metropolitan network.
 ==Operations==
 [[File:Mtb steamranger 1.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Barker railway station, South Australia|Mount Barker station]] in August 2007]]
-The ''Cockle Train'' operates year-round between [[Goolwa, South Australia|Goolwa]] and [[Victor Harbor, South Australia|Victor Harbor]]. It operates with a steam locomotive during school holidays & long weekends (when possible), and historic diesel locomotives or railcars at other times.
+The ''Cockle Train'' operates year-round between [[Goolwa, South Australia|Goolwa]] and [[Victor Harbor, South Australia|Victor Harbor]]. It operates with a steam locomotive in school holidays, and historic diesel locomotives or railcars other weekends.
-The ''Southern Encounter'' runs from [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]] to Victor Harbor from May to November, utilising most of the remaining broad gauge branch from the main Adelaide to Melbourne line.
+The ''Southern Encounter'' runs from [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]] to Victor Harbor from May to November on most of the line.
-Some other services along the line are:
+Some shorter services along the line are:
-*''The Murray River Connector'' (formerly ''The Highlander'') - from Mount Barker to [[Strathalbyn, South Australia|Strathalbyn]] & Goolwa using steam locomotives when possible. Operates on the second Sunday of each month from May until November.
+*''The Bugle Ranger'' - from [[Mount Barker railway station, South Australia|Mount Barker]] to [[Bugle Ranges, South Australia|Bugle Ranges]] using a [[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|Redhen railcar]] set. Services operate one Sunday each month from late April to October
-*''The Bugle Ranger'' - from Mount Barker to [[Bugle Ranges, South Australia|Bugle Ranges]] using a [[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|Redhen railcar]] set. Services operate on the fourth Sunday each month from June to November.
+*''The Highlander'' - from [[Mount Barker railway station, South Australia|Mount Barker]] to Strathalbyn using steam locomotives when possible. Operates on the second Sunday of each month from June until the end of November (excluding October).
-*''The StrathLink'' - from Goolwa to [[Finniss, South Australia|Finniss]] or Strathalbyn using a restored heritage railcar. Operates during School Holiday periods.
+*''StrathLink'' - from Goolwa to [[Strathalbyn, South Australia|Strathalbyn]] using a restored heritage [[South Australian Railways Brill railcar|Brill railcar]]. Operates during School Holiday periods.
+*''The Finniss Flyer'' - from Goolwa to [[Finniss, South Australia|Finniss]] using a restored [[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|"Red Hen" railcar]].
-*''The Hills Encounter'' - from Victor Harbor to Mount Barker, using steam locomotives when possible.
-Other special services operate throughout the year, including ''First Class Experiences'' (attached to ''The Southern Encounter''), ''Christmas in July'', and ''The Ghost Train.''
 ==Fleet==
-[[File:South Australian Railways 520 class loco at the SteamRanger Museum.jpg|thumb|[[South Australian Railways 930 class|958]] & [[South Australian Railways|520]] at SteamRanger's [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]] workshop in May 2006]]
+[[File:South Australian Railways 520 class loco at the SteamRanger Museum.jpg|thumb|Mainline diesel-electric locomotive no. [[South Australian Railways 930 class|958]] and steam locomotive no. [[South Australian Railways|520]] at SteamRanger's [[Mount Barker, South Australia|Mount Barker]] workshop in 2006]]
+The SteamRanger fleet {{As of|2021|lc=yes}} was as follows:
-Steam Locomotives:
-*[[South Australian Railways R class|Rx 207]] ''Dean Harvey'' - built in 1913 - Operational
-*[[South Australian Railways R class|Rx 224]] - built in 1915 - Operational
-*[[South Australian Railways F class (1902)|F 251]] - built in 1922 - Stored (requiring overhaul)
-*[[South Australian Railways 520 class|520]] ''[[Charles Barclay-Harvey|Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey]]'' - built in 1943 - Under restoration (as funds permit)
-*[[South Australian Railways 620 class|621]] ''The Duke of Edinburgh'' - built in 1936 - Operational
+;Steam locomotives
-Diesel Locomotives:
-*[[South Australian Railways 350 class|SAR diesel shunter 350]] - Limited shunting service only
+*[[South Australian Railways R class|Rx 207]] ''Dean Harvey'' - built in 1913: operational
-*[[South Australian Railways 500 class (diesel)|SAR diesel shunter 507]] ''-'' Operational
+*[[South Australian Railways R class|Rx 224]] - built in 1915: operational
-*[[South Australian Railways 700 class (diesel)|SAR mainline diesel 704]] - Awaiting transfer from [[Islington Railway Workshops|Islington Workshops]] (Donated by [[One Rail Australia]])
+*[[South Australian Railways F class (1902)|F 251]] - built in 1922: stored for overhaul
-*[[South Australian Railways 830 class|SAR mainline diesel 844]] - Under restoration (Donated by One Rail Australia)
+*[[South Australian Railways 520 class|520]] ''[[Charles Barclay-Harvey|Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey]]'' - built in 1943: under restoration
-*[[South Australian Railways 830 class|SAR mainline diesel 845]] - Under restoration
+*[[South Australian Railways 620 class|621]] ''The Duke of Edinburgh'' - built in 1936: operational.
-*[[South Australian Railways 930 class|SAR mainline diesel 958]] ''-'' Operational
-*[[South Australian Railways 930 class|SAR mainline diesel 963]] - Stored
+;Diesel-electric locomotives
-Railcars:
-*[[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|Redhen railcars]] 334, 412, 428, 824 (trailer car) - Operational
+*[[South Australian Railways 350 class|SAR diesel shunter 350]]: operational for shunting
-*[[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|Redhen railcars]] 424, 875 (trailer car) - Under Restoration
+*[[South Australian Railways 500 class (diesel)|SAR diesel shunter 507]]: operational
-*[[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|Redhen railcars]] 364, 405 - Stored
+*[[South Australian Railways 700 class (diesel)|SAR mainline diesel 704]]: being prepared for operation {{As of|2022|lc=yes}} following donation by [[One Rail Australia]]
-*[[South Australian Railways Brill railcar|Brill railcar 43]] - Under restoration
+*[[South Australian Railways 830 class|SAR mainline diesel 844]: being prepared for operation {{As of|2022|lc=yes}} following donation by One Rail Australia
-*[[South Australian Railways Brill railcar|Brill railcar 60]] - Currently Out of Service awaiting maintenance (Rebuilt from Brill trailer 207)
+*[[South Australian Railways 830 class|SAR mainline diesel 845]]: under restoration
+*[[South Australian Railways 930 class|SAR mainline diesel 958]]: operational
-*[[2000 class railcar]]s 2010, 2109 - Stored
+*[[South Australian Railways 930 class|SAR mainline diesel 963]]: stored.
-Carriages:
+;Railcars
-* Wooden 52ft "Centenary" cars 52, 54, 56
+*[[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|"Red Hen" railcars]] 334, 412, 428, 824 (trailer car): operational
-* Wooden 56ft "Centenary" cars 60, 61, 62, 66
+*[[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|"Red Hen" railcar]] 424: under restoration
-* Wooden 56ft suburban cars 70, 71, 73
+*[[South Australian Railways Redhen railcar|"Red Hen" railcars]] 364, 405, 875 (trailer car): stored awaiting restoration
-* Wooden 56ft suburban baggage car 82 (in as-built configuration)
+*[[South Australian Railways Brill railcar|Brill Model 75 railcar 43]]: under restoration
-* Wooden 56ft suburban baggage cars 81, 83 (both had buffet fitted mid-1980s)
+*[[South Australian Railways Brill railcar|Brill Model 75 railcar 60]] (rebuilt from Brill trailer no. 207): out of service
-* Wooden 4400 class brake-van 4420
+*[[2000 class railcar]]s 2010, 2109: stored.
-* [[South Australian Railways steel carriage stock|Steel 500 class]] First Class car 503
-* [[South Australian Railways steel carriage stock|Steel 600 class]] Second Class car 602 (buffet fitted mid-1980s)
-* [[South Australian Railways steel carriage stock|Steel 700 class]] Second Class cars 701, 704, 706, 710
-* [[Victorian Railways E type carriage#Sleeping cars|ex V&SA Joint Stock Sleeper]] ''Finniss''
-* Steel CGP brake-van CGP2
-Formerly:
-* [[South Australian Railways 350 class|SAR diesel shunter 351]] - Major failure in 1991, placed on loan to the [[National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide|National Railway Museum]] (later sold to the [[Milang railway line#Milang railway museum|Port Milang Historic Railway Museum]])
-* [[South Australian Railways 900 class|SAR mainline diesels 907 & 909]] - sold in 2000
-* Wooden 52ft "Centenary" car 50 - sold in 1995
-* [[South Australian Railways steel carriage stock|Steel 600 class]] Second Class car 606 - sold in 2000
-* [[South Australian Railways steel carriage stock|Steel 700 class]] Second Class cars 712, 715 - sold in 2000
-* [[South Australian Railways steel carriage stock|Steel 780 class]] Officer's Car 783 - transferred to the [[National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide|National Railway Museum]] in 1995
-* [[Victorian Railways E type carriage#Sleeping cars|ex V&SA Joint Stock Sleepers]] ''Coliban'' & ''Inman'' - sold to [[Steamrail Victoria]] in 1996
-* [[Victorian Railways E type carriage#Sleeping cars|ex V&SA Joint Stock Sleepers]] ''Angas & Tambo'' (both derelict) - sold in 1995
-Most of the above were sold due to the relocation from Dry Creek to Mount Barker.
-SteamRanger also had a large collection of derelict wooden cars at its Dry Creek depot. Some were sold to various organizations, while others were scrapped at Dry Creek.
 ==See also==

v t e Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Major Townships	Birdwood Clarendon Echunga Gumeracha Hahndorf Littlehampton Lobethal Macclesfield Meadows Mount Barker Mylor Nairne Oakbank Stirling Strathalbyn Woodside
Attractions	Mount Lofty Mount Lofty Botanic Garden SteamRanger Heritage Railway Heysen Trail
See also	List of towns in the Adelaide Hills Wine regions of South Australia Adelaide