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• June 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Richard Schurmann - The Wombat Creek Tramway, North Warrandyte Vic

  • When
    11 Jun 2026
  •  
    8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom

  Register

  Richard Schurmann will present on the following subject:

  The Wombat Creek Tramway, North Warrandyte

  Is the era of the small tramway for transport needs in a bush setting long passed? In 2003, Richard Schurmann was engaged as an owner builder on a steep bush block. Two septic tank absorption trenches were needed in a dense bush setting, and the excavated soil was required 60 metres or so up the hill. Small earth moving machines were tried but could not manage the gradient. Larger machines would have destroyed too much bush. The solution was a cable hauled tramway. This was used to remove about 30 cubic metres of soil and deliver scoria and top soil to fill the trenches. Some innovation was required to provide for a sharp curve part way up the incline.

  Richard will describe the building and operation of this line. and reflect on the practicality of the small ad hoc tramway in modern times.

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• August 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Ross Sadler - Darjeeling Action 1996

  • When
    13 Aug 2026
  •  
    8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom

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  Ross Sadler will present on the following subject:

  Darjeeling Action 1996

  The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is a world heritage listed site, some 88 kilometres long which connects Siliguri (New Jalpaiguri) and Darjeeling.   In the process, this 2 ft gauge line climbs from about 328 ft above sea level at Siliguri to 7,407 ft at Ghum, before descending to Darjeeling (7,218 ft above sea level), using six zig-zags and five loops to gain altitude. Construction took place between 1879 and 1881, with subsequent modifications such as the Batasia Loop which was built in 1919 to ease the grade for trains climbing out of Darjeeling.  Over the years, the line has seen a variety of motive power, ranging from the 0-4-0ST B-Class, built by Sharp, Stewart and Company and later the North British Locomotive Company, through Beyer Garratts to diesels, which are the present-day motive power on the line.  Attempts to covert one of the 0-4-0ST B-Class into a modern steam locomotive were unsuccessful, Indian Railways turning their back on offers from DLM (formerly SLM Switzerland).

  Today, steam is restricted to running special trains on the upper sections of the line, but in 1996, the DHR was a 100% steam operation.  The presentation is the result of three days’ linesiding on the DHR in that year, at a time when the track was fortunately free of the avalanches that have bedevilled its operation throughout its history.

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• October 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Floyd Bromley Eyre Peninsula Railways, Then and Now

  • When
    8 Oct 2026
  •  
    8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom

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  Floyd Bromley will present on the following subject:

  Eyre Peninsula Railways, Then and Now

  In the years 1972, 1980, 1986 and 1990, Roderick Smith explored the Eyre peninsula using a combination of train, bus, RTA tour and Holden. After a lengthy gap and a new young keen generation emerging, Roderick Smith (now 75 years old) returned to the Eyre Peninsula by Subaru, driven by myself, Floyd Bromley (27 years old at the time). Taking advantage of the gap between Easter and Anzac Day in 2025, I could take only 3 days of annual leave, but take a 10 day holiday to explore what is left of the Eyre Peninsula. Rod and I have been friends for many years and have been on many adventures together, however this would be the ultimate test. Could we make it to day 10 without killing each other, all while camping out of my station wagon? 

  Along the way we would cover nearly the entirety of what was and still is the Eyre Peninsula railway system: an isolated narrow gauge system that despite being run by the government backed South Australian Railways, shared more similarities to what would traditionally be called a “tramway” or “light railway”. Indeed even the privately operated “tramways” in the area (principally run by BHP for their steelmaking production) often more closely resembled traditional “heavy rail” than the railways themselves!

  Starting from Melbourne, we travelled as far north as Hawker (via many side interests), then to Port Augusta, west as far as Penong, south all the way to Port Lincoln, then north again to make our way home via Goolwa for the wooden boat festival. There truly was not a wasted moment! 

  Join me for a “then and now” comparison, featuring photos of Roderick Smith for “then” and myself for “now”!

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• December 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - John Browning - The Evolution of Cane Locomotives

  • When
    10 Dec 2026
  •  
    8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom

  Register

  John Browning will present on the following subject:

  Evolution of Cane Locomotives

  The evolution of locomotives used to haul sugar cane in Australia began in 1879 after a false start in 1870, and continues to the present day.

  Locomotive development progressed as innovation responded to technological, economic, and political circumstances.

  Queensland’s path differed from what was seen in South Africa and Indonesia, and we ask how and why.

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• February 2027, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Bill Hanks - Coal Mines & Railways of Korumburra, Jumbunna & Outtrim

  • When
    11 Feb 2027
  •  
    8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom

  Register

  Bill Hanks will present on the following subject:

  Coal Mines & Railways of Korumburra, Jumbunna & Outtrim

  The Great Southern Railway arrived in Korumburra in 1891, which at that time was “just a clearing in the bush”. Beneath the surrounding hills lay an extensive field of black coal. Between 1893 and 1962, 2,000,000 tonnes of coal was won from the Korumburra coal fields. To access the mines the Victorian Railways built a branch line to the towns of Jumbunna and Outtrim, which in turn serviced several sidings located near the many mines. They in turn had extensive tramways systems, some with inclines, and an aerial tramway, to reach the mines.

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• April 2027, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Andy Becker - Japan's Oigawa Railway

  • When
    8 Apr 2027
  •  
    8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    This meeting will be conducted online using Zoom

  Register

  Andy Becker will present on the following subject:

  The Oigawa Railway

  The Oigawa Railway is a private railway in Japan located about 200 km south west of Tokyo that runs electric local trains and restored steam trains.  It operates from Kanaya (interconnecting with the JR main line) to Senzu and then has a connecting train from Senzu to Ikawa that includes an ABT section.  The railway was originally built to 2'6" gauge but is now 3'6"

  gauge.  The lower portion runs along the stunning Oi river ('gawa' meaning river in Japanese).  The upper portion has some spectacular stations and views.  This talk will cover the entire line that was first visited in 2010 and then re-visited in 2018.  A little known railway that is well worth seeking out.

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