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Tourist and Heritage railway groups and their response to COVID-19

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      NG Sulzers Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Quorn
    Pichi Richi Railway services are to resume next weekend with a Brill and Trailer service on Sunday 28th June. This is a service that is not on the printed timetables in circulation, it is a service to carry public passengers to ease back into operation, and also to validate our Covid Safe plans.

    Then from Saturday 4th of July, all services will resume as per the printed timetables in circulation until the end of the season. Coffee Pot services are included.

    As per our Covid Safe plan, passenger numbers are currently limited to 20 per vehicle/carriage, this will give some of our larger carriages a bit more elbow room. The cap of 20 per carriage is a government directive.  As the situation with Covid-19 improves, it is anticipated the government will adjust numbers.

    Because of the seating restrictions per carriage, it is important to book to guarantee a seat. Walk Up passengers intending to travel may not be able to be accommodated. Some services in July are already at maximum booking numbers.

    I hope to see you there.
    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 12:04

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      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    BPR is calling off their return to service for now.

    Posted: 22 Jun 2020 14:17
      apw5910 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Location: Location.
    Canberra Rail Museum will re-open on Sunday, July 5, 10am to 3pm. Visitors are very welcome although we ask all to be remain mindful of health measures such as social distancing.

    More info:

    http://canberrarail.org.au/

    https://www.facebook.com/CBRRailMuseum/
    Posted: 01 Jul 2020 15:51
      DCook Chief Train Controller

    Location: The standard state
    The Valley Heights locomotive depot and STARPS have postponed their planned July 17th reopening for an unknown length of time
    Posted: 01 Jul 2020 16:05
      DCook Chief Train Controller

    Location: The standard state
    NSW Status
    NSW Rail Museum- Open for pre-booked sessions on weekends
    Valley Heights Roundhouse- Closed
    Goulburn Roundhouse- Closed
    Junee Roundhouse- Open
    LVR Cowra Heritage Centre- Open
    Canberra Railway Museum- Open

    Volunteer activities occurring
    NSWRM- Yes
    Valley Heights- No
    Goulburn- Unknown
    Junee- Unknown
    LVR Cowra- Yes
    CRM- Yes
    Zig Zag Railway- Yes

    No tours are expected to occur for the rest of the year
    Posted: 22 Jul 2020 08:07
      route14 Chief Commissioner

    When is the Zig Zag railway likely to return to servicable status engineering-wise?
    Posted: 22 Jul 2020 14:39
      DCook Chief Train Controller

    Location: The standard state
    When is the Zig Zag railway likely to return to servicable status engineering-wise?
    route14
    They were meant to reopen at the end of this year but due to bushfire damage it will be delayed for an unknown amount of time, I have heard various reports of when it will, some say three years, some say five years, some say two years.
    Clarence station was hit hard by the fires which exposed a large amount of asbestos, cleanups are underway.
    Most of the damage done by the fires was on sleepers, about 300 need to be replaced.

    From what I know the order for recommencing services goes something like this: 1- All tracks, signals and sleepers reconditioned, 2- Locomotives and works carriages made operational, 3-Works trains recommence including station repairs at Bottom and Top points, 4- Get passenger certification, 5- Recommence limited services on weekends, 6- Repair Bottom Points workshop, 7- Return to full services

    Perhaps someone associated with ZZR could enlighten us on the time frame for reopening?
    Posted: 22 Jul 2020 17:06

    Last edited by DCook on 22 Jul 2020 17:16; edited 1 time in total
      Matthew Chief Train Controller

    Sydney Tramway Museum is to reopen from next Sunday (9th August), Sundays only.

    Trams will be running, but the number of passengers for each trip will be limited to maintain personal separation.

    Several trams have been fitted out with 'social distancing' signage and the end doors marked for 'crew use only'.  Only trams with suitable layout to facilitate this will be used.
    Posted: 02 Aug 2020 19:07
      Graham4405 The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Dalby Qld
    Southern Downs Steam Railway, now rebranded Downs Explorer ran a crew training run yesterday, looking to restart services next month.



    https://youtu.be/-RNUYq4JGzg
    Posted: 09 Aug 2020 13:27

    Last edited by Graham4405 on 09 Aug 2020 13:29; edited 1 time in total
      mikado5917 Station Staff

    Richmond Vale Railway Museum has been open, with social distancing applied on the train, since July 5. Currently open the first three Sundays of every month, and school holiday Sundays. Gates open 9.30am. First train 10.00am, operating shuttles on the Mulbring Road branch. Steam locomotive Marjorie is rostered whenever possible, dependent on the availability of steam-qualified crew in these virus-stricken times. Special event on September 26 and 27 - Family Fun Fest, with model railway displays,  G-scale U-drive, miniature railway, kids' activities.
    Posted: 21 Aug 2020 13:07
      DCook Chief Train Controller

    Location: The standard state
    The NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere will be recommencing limited services on the loop line from the 19th of September
    Valley Heights and Goulburn Roundhouse remain closed
    Posted: 02 Sep 2020 16:19
      lsrailfan Chief Commissioner

    Location: Somewhere you're not
    I believe the Picnic Train will be making a return to the mainline on Saturday the 24th, and Sunday the 25th October, this will be heading to Kiama, hauled by Loco 5917
    Posted: 05 Sep 2020 18:36
      james.au Minister for Railways

    Location: Sydney, NSW
    Id love to see the covid management strategies of both of these.  4 people in a compartment i cant see being covid compliant...
    Posted: 05 Sep 2020 18:59
      BrentonGolding Chief Commissioner

    Location: Maldon Junction
    Id love to see the covid management strategies of both of these.  4 people in a compartment i cant see being covid compliant...
    james.au
    I don't have any insight into these groups but when the VGR was looking at re-opening before it all went pear shaped down here I saw some of the proposals for running. 1 booking per compartment, all compartments labelled with group and guest names, boarding strictly controlled by staff (read volunteers) to ensure no groups were interacting etc etc

    Even to consider running these trips the organisations would be required to have a covid safe plan.

    Just hope they do a better job of sticking to theirs than the Rozelle pub or the Bondi Bowling Club managed.......
    Posted: 05 Sep 2020 19:30

    Last edited by BrentonGolding on 05 Sep 2020 19:31; edited 1 time in total
      DCook Chief Train Controller

    Location: The standard state
    A red set F1 tour is planned to happen on the this Sunday with a limit of 40 people, 10 per carriage (not including door monitors and staff). This will be the first tour in NSW since the February picnic train and F1's first run since the last day of the Carlingford line
    Posted: 14 Sep 2020 14:02
      apw5910 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Location: Location.
    A red set F1 tour is planned to happen on the this Sunday with a limit of 40 people, 10 per carriage (not including door monitors and staff). This will be the first tour in NSW since the February picnic train and F1's first run since the last day of the Carlingford line
    DCook
    Bookings on the October Picnic Train are very popular (ie sold out) and another is planned for the following week: https://picnictrain.com.au/tours.html
    Posted: 14 Sep 2020 14:28
      locojoe67 Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Gen X purgatory/urban Joh-land
    Thanks Graham. SDSR/Downs Explorer has now cancelled all proposed tours for 2020. The website indicates they will restart in 2021.
    Posted: 16 Sep 2020 11:01
      locojoe67 Assistant Commissioner

    Location: Gen X purgatory/urban Joh-land
    QPSR run the next picnic train on 19 September.

    Mary Valley are running out of Gympie but are two hours north of Brisbane.

    Lean times for gunzels in SEQ.
    Posted: 16 Sep 2020 11:03
      Graham4405 The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Dalby Qld
    E-mail received from SDSR/Downs Explorer today:

    Dear SDSR members

    Good afternoon all and thanks for sticking with us these past months of closure.
    Our website is now up and running with our events for the first six months of 2021. http://www.downsexplorer.org.au
    We would like to ask you a favour in helping with marketing. As we have had no income since February, our advertising budget is exactly zero. Which means no fancy TV ads and print media until we get some income.
    If you have access to a printer and know of a local notice board where it could be displayed, that would be a tremendous help!
    I have also attached our detailed six monthly timetable.
    If you require any further information please get in touch.

    Thanks for your help.
    Chris
    SDSR



    We are back
    Posted: 19 Nov 2020 01:30

    Last edited by Graham4405 on 19 Nov 2020 01:36; edited 3 times in total
      Gman_86 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Melton, where the sparks dare not roam!
    Puffing Billy is re-opening on Saturday the 28th of November. To start with, the PBR will be running only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and only 3 trains per day between Belgrave and Lakeside. From the 19th of December, this will be increased to daily with an additional train to run between Belgrave and Menzies Creek.

    The Victorian Goldfields Railway is re-commencing running steam trains on Sunday the 29th of November. To start with, they will be only operating 1 return train per day from Castlemaine to Maldon.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2020 19:35
      route14 Chief Commissioner

    Is the train stabled at Castlemaine now?  Otherwise to facilitate one Castlemaine to Maldon return it needs to run two Maldon to Castlemaine returns which has always been the case, and I don't think a volunteer run railway would want to run the balancing movements empty.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2020 20:01
      BrentonGolding Chief Commissioner

    Location: Maldon Junction
    Is the train stabled at Castlemaine now?  Otherwise to facilitate one Castlemaine to Maldon return it needs to run two Maldon to Castlemaine returns which has always been the case, and I don't think a volunteer run railway would want to run the balancing movements empty.
    route14
    Still being worked through AFAIK but the last Down CME > Maldon is almost always as good as empty anyways

    Covid rules probably forbid volunteers working a full day on the train (I have no inside knowledge here, just a guess) and the operation will be VERY different to a normal service, return trips only, online prepaid bookings, no Edmondson tix etc

    Working within the rules laid down by others, not ideal but it's a start.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2020 20:35
      c3526blue Deputy Commissioner

    Location: in the cuckoos nest
    Hello all,

    The Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre is re-opening for guided tours on Tuesday 01/12/20 (already passed).

    The following details apply -
    •  Tours are to be pre-booked by phoning 0427 152 100,
    •  Tours are limited to a maximum of 10 persons,
    •  Tours are only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,
    •  Tours are scheduled for 10:00am, 12:00pm, and 2:00pm, and will be of approx. one hour duration,
    •  All tours will have a tour guide and all persons must stay with the group,
    •  Payment by EFTPOS or credit card only (no cash),
    •  Covid Safe conditions apply including recording of visitors and entry to exhibits.


    If you have any other enquiries the office hours are 10:00 to 3:00pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on 02 4822 1210.

    Happy museuming,

    John
    Posted: 03 Dec 2020 00:09

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