BACKGROUND

Derwent Valley Railway is operated by the Derwent Valley Railway
Preservation Society. As the name suggests, its main area of operation is
the picturesque Derwent Valley in Southern Tasmania. The society's
locomotives and rolling stock are housed at New Norfolk station in the Lower
Derwent Valley.

The railway is a voluntary organisation whose members are committed to
maintaining an important piece of Tasmania's railway heritage. Derwent
Valley Railway has a strong tourism focus, maintaining a desire to expose as
many visitors to Tasmania as possible to Tasmania's rich railway history.

Derwent Valley Railway mainly operates on the stretch of track from New
Norfolk to Maydena, deep in the Mount Field National Park. The line is under
the control of ANR TasRail and covers a distance of some 50 kilometres. It
takes in some of the most magnificent scenery in Tasmania. Regular passenger
services were operated on the line by the former Tasmanian Government
Railways until 1974. Derwent Valley Railway is currently negotiating to
finalise a disused line running agreement which will see it take over the
responsibility for the line.

A range of scheduled services and charter trips are operated by the society
along the Derwent Valley line. Special passenger services are also
undertaken throughout Tasmania in association with ANR TasRail and other
Tasmania railway societies.

EQUIPMENT

The pride and joy of Derwent Valley Railway is its H-class steam locomotive.
The railway also uses three diesel locomotives for passenger services, two
X-class locomotives and a Y-class unit which is being prepared for permanent
loan from ANR TasRail.

Passengers are accommodated in coaches from the former Tasman Limited,
recognised as the most luxurious passenger train in Australia in the 1960s.
A full consist of three ACS and two ABL coaches comfortably accommodates
three hundred passengers. Catering facilities are provided in the ACS cars.

Two Derwent Valley Railway members are currently restoring a H-class diesel
rail motor capable of accommodating 48 passengers along with a driver and
guard. Once completed, the rail motor will be used to operate regular
scheduled tourist trips to Plenty (home of the popular Salmon Ponds) and
Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park.

A TYPICAL TRIP TO NATIONAL PARK

With a long blast of its whistle to warn vehicular traffic on Back River
Road, the train departs New Norfolk station. Outside, the rural beauty of
the Derwent Valley becomes evident, as the train winds its way along the
banks of the majestic Derwent River.

Two bridge crossings of the river provide spectacular views of the rapids.
If the time is right, we may see the rapids being "shot" by the New Norfolk
based Devil Jet. These rapids are also used as a training ground for
canoeists from around the world.

When the steam locomotive is operating, we may stop for water at Macquarie
Plains, in bygone days the site of a busy and important rural station.

After another crossing of the Derwent we tackle the Glenora Bank, giving us
sensational views over the hopfields of Bushy Park. In the distance we will
usually see Mount Wellington, on the foothills of which Hobart nestles.
Sleeping Beauty, a well known landmark further south in the Huon Valley
should be visible.

The notorious Karanja Bank is next. This is the steepest section of the
entire Derwent Valley line. After passing through the township of Westerway
we enter the rugged Tyenna Gorge, where lush rural scenery yields to rocky
bushland.

Finally with another blast of the whistle, we arrive at Mount Field National
Park where we disembark for a picnic lunch or barbeque. There is plenty of
time for a stroll through the spectacular primeval rainforests to a number
of beautiful waterfalls, including Russell Falls.

Having experienced the stunning Mount Field scenery, we embark on our return
journey to New Norfolk.

Our address is:
Derwent Valley Railway Preservation Society
PO Box 478
New Norfolk
Tasmania, 7140
Australia

Phone number for bookings:
(002) 34 6049

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am Marketing Manager for the railway and would be keen to hear from other
people who are involved in similar operations.

                -----------------------------------------------
                {                 Paul Daniel                 }
                {              pdaniel@ice.net.au             }
                { Derwent Valley Railway Preservation Society }
                {                 New Norfolk                 }
                {                  Tasmania                   }
                {                  Australia                  }
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