Australian Trains: VGR Maldon to Castlemaine from Tambo - Australia Day 2011

On the Australia day public holiday in January 2011, Vulcain foundry built steam locomotive J541 was operating the regular heritage services between Maldon and Castlemaine.

The Victorian Goldfields Railway is a volunteer run organisation that has preserved the 10 mile Castlemaine to Maldon branch line in the central goldfields region of Victoria. Features of the line are the timber bridges, 1 in 40 grades and short 22ft lengths of 60lb d rail.

This video features footage from Tambo's balcony at the rear of the train between Maldon and Castlemaine on the second trip for the day.

© 2011 James Brook

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Victorian
• Goldfields
• Railway
• J541
• class
• Vulcain
• foundry
• consolidation
• 2-8-0
• steam
• locomotive
• train
• railway
• railroad
• gunzel
• VGR
• VR
• Railways
• station
• trains
• branch
• line
• tambo
• lowanna
• australia
• maldon
• castlemaine
• muckleford
• heritage
• tourist
• railroads

[applecounty]

Why is the railborne vehicle following the train?

[vrfan2006]

@applecounty This was in the middle of summer when the fire danger is very high. Therefore a hi-rail vehicle follows the train to watch for fires and put them out.

[applecounty]

@vrfan2006 Thanks. Makes one wonder how the railway managed when steam was the only form of motive power.

[vrfan2006]

@applecounty Back in the steam days, the ground either side of the line was regularly cleared and burnt off, especially at the start of the fire season.

[applecounty]

Thanks again. Ah, the days when a bloke walked the length performing acts of maintenance and, noting the jobs that required further attention - a proper way to run a railway. Enough! Onward! PS: Nice video.