Re: "Ballarat East Railway Complex" Q

[dbromage@metz.une.edu.au (David Bromage)]

David A. (David_Arblaster@nospam.dse.vic.gov.au) wrote:
>Hello all.
>There was an article in the August edition of Newsrail about the
>relocation of the 900,000 litre water tank from Waubra to the
>"Ballarat East Railway Complex".  The article went on to say that
>re-construction of the engine shed would commence shortly with bricks
>reclaimed from the gas and fuel site.  Who is behind this project ?
>Steamrail ?  

The project has been talked about ever since Ballarat East was taken over
by Steamrail and WCR. There always has been a plan to rebuild at least the
facade of the old loco sheds and turn the complex into a museum. There
is/was some government funding (from casino revenue) for the project which
would include reopening Ballarat East station. 

I understand ARHS is also part of it as there is not enough room at North
Williamstown for all ARHS rollingstock. ARHS has exhibits stored all over
the place including Newport Workshops, Seymour and Benalla. 

>I can understand West Coast wanting a water tank there, and possibly
>even covered accommodation for their expanding fleet of locomotives
>(including steam in the form of R 711, J536 and Y112 (which is
>leased)).  Does anyone have any gen on what form the reconstruction
>will take ?

There has also been talk for some years of restoring another D3. 
Steamrail has 608(?) at Ballarat and 677 is at Newport. WCR has also
obtained a D3 boiler from somewhere. 

Ballarat would be an excellent location for a working museum. If/when the
ARHS museum eventually moves into the East Block of Newport Workshops,
imagine how exhibits could be rotated through several locations. For
example, the D3 could run main line trips ex-Melbourne early in the year,
spend 3 months with SGR at Korumburra, spend 2 months at Ballarat (in the
museum when not running short main line trips), then back to Newport for
the annual boiler inspection and spending the rest of the summer in the
museum there until required for service. 

Such a project would engender greater cooperation between all the
preservation and enthusiast societies in Victoria.

Cheers
David