Healsville 2003

I visited the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway at Healesville when our club was invited to show engines at their station during a running day. Of course the club ever seeking excuses to play with engines joined in the fun. Visit the related engine show album.

The group of volunteers who run the YVTR have been making great progress in restoring the line and have completed about 5km so far from Healesville towards Lilydale. The line itself runs from Lilydale to Yarra Glen and I imagine the group will get the whole line running as time and funds permit. The broad guage branch line was closed during a period of downsizing the country rail network in Victoria. The group has a T class diesel, a DERM (Double Ended Rail Motor); a couple of J class steamers (not in steam - one of which is to be restored at Puffing Billy Museum in the near future so expect a blow by blow description of the restoration :) and a huge collection of differing examples of rail trolleys used on the Victorian Railways.

On the day I visited, they were running a rattle trap contraption which was basically a dressed up oversized trolley which carries passengers up and down the line. These guys have a lot of enthusiasm and while the trolley trip was short, the commentry from our driver was good. Unlike many of the tourist railways this one is still relaxed and I was invited into the sheds to check out the trolleys and the progress on the T class and got to have a chat about some of the works in progress. A good friendly bunch of people with tremendous community support.

I look forward to the completion of the line because it will be great to ride it again - it is really nice countryside around the area and I'm sure they will be successful. The area the line is in is already an established tourist location and the railway will be able to run combined train/bus winery tours and the like of the local wineries (of which there are many!).