Re: Welshpool to Port Welshpool NG

["Sean Kelly" <skelly@vtown.com.au>]

Troy,

As "B" has already told you there were four rail vehicles on this railway.
Two were (I think) the main equipment, passenger come goods vehicles with
longitudinal bench seats for the passengers, a forward facing front seat for
the driver and alike.  The other two I believe, were goods trailers for
attachment behind one of the passenger/goods vehicles.

I think the line primarily carried produce (fish) from Pt Welshpool jetty up
to the main, as well as general inwards goods and the occasional (brave)
passenger.  I believe construction was in steel rails on wooden ties.

"B" is also correct in saying that you need a copy of "Speed Limit 20" which
has a one page installment on this line's history.  The book was published
about thirty years ago and is rare.  I've only ever found one good/mint copy
for sale about ten tears ago and didn't purchase due to the excessive
(absolutely enormous!!) price.  However, I'm kicking myself now about this
decision.

The "Weekly Notice Extracts" book published by Keith Lambert and Alan
Jungwirth (dec), hereafter called the "Jungways", makes reference to the
line under "Port Welshpool Tramway" and also under the entry for the
safeworking location "Welshpool" (the BG station on the Port Albert line).

I did tramp over the line about 10 or 15 years ago.  There is very little to
see nowadays.  I have a vague recollection of minor signs of formation
(earthworks) across paddocks, in some places only (otherwise ploughed in &
vanished), and of at least one culvert (remains).  I might ask my much more
historically minded companion on that journey.  His brain cells have been
less degraded than mine by any close association with a good friend called
Dan Murphy.  "The Job" drives us all to it eventually!

At Welshpool the narrow gauge "yard" (if you can call it that) was, I
believe, on the north side of the BG main.  The NG crossed the BG at grade
and Jungways makes reference to this (the WN numbers are the weekly notice
references):

WELSHPOOL

WN 26/05, 26-6-1905 Welshpool tram line open.  Provide chock blocks on each
side of main line.

WN 18/17, 30-4-1917 Provide plunger locks in lieu of Annett locks.  Provide
catch points in jetty line on each side of main line secured by Annett lock.
Duplicate on levers of up and down home signals.

WN 2/41, 1-1-1941 Welshpool jetty tramway closed.

WN 15/42, 24-3-1942 Annett locks, catch points and connection to Port
Welshpool Tramway abolished.


WELSHPOOL JETTY TRAM LINE

WN 26/05, 26-6-1905 Line open to traffic, 3 1/4 miles long, 2ft 6in gauge,
worked by horse power. Man in charge of line, no signals.

WN 2/41, 1-1-1941 Closed to all traffic.

I expect there are references to the line in the Victorian Railways annual
reports for the years concerned (at least revenue and inwards/outwards
tonnage figures).  There may also be references in the Public Works
Department, Railway Construction Branch annual reports for the relevant
years as well.  A full set of each used to live in the PTCV library at 589
Collins, but who knows where this facility ended up under the
"dismemberment" of the rail industry.

I also expect there are records amongst the railway boxes at the Public
Records office.  A couple of interested (and very dedicated) volunteers are
working feverishly to "index" this vast resource so it may be of some use to
others.

Finally, "permanent survey" drawings must have been made of the line.  The
Signalling Record Society is custodian of much of these gems and they're
stored at Seymour.  The Welshpool tramway drawings may exist there or they
could be "lost" for all time.


Hope this info is of some use to you Troy.

Sean.





"Troy" <omeo27@hotmail.com> wrote in message
eCY66.539$aQ1.22778@ozemail.com.au">news:eCY66.539$aQ1.22778@ozemail.com.au...
> I remember reading somewhere that there was a Narrow Gauge Railway between
> Welshpool & Port Welshpool.  Only 5km long but I thought I remember
reading
> that it was of the 2'6" gauge.  i.e. same as the 4 Narrow Guage Railways
in
> Vic.
>
> Does anyone know if ever an NA locomotive was ever assigned to this
railway?
>
> Anyone with any information on this?
>
>
>
>
>
>