Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. upcoming events

August 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Ross Sadler - Darjeeling Action 1996 (13 Aug 2026)

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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.

September 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Mike McCarthy - Tramways and sawmills of Erica (10 Sep 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Mike McCarthy will present on the following subject:

The Tucker Truck Came On Tuesdays

Erica - Gould 1910 - 1950

The region to the north of Erica, Gippsland (Vic) was a major sawmilling centre in Victoria with magnificent stands of Mountain Ash available to be sent over the narrow-gauge railway to Moe. Centred around Mt Erica, the region was at its peak in the 1920s and 30s when the Tyers Valley timber was exploited and despatched to Collins Siding over the Erica Steel Tramway. The 1940s saw a resurgence when a massive program to salvage the 1939 fire-killed forest commenced. This saw the construction of the Thomson Valley Tramway and the introduction of the State Mill at Erica to deal with the log volumes coming from the north.

The presentation will provide an overview of the mills and tramways that were such a feature of this region over this era.

October 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Floyd Bromley Eyre Peninsula Railways, Then and Now (8 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Floyd Bromley will present on the following subject:

Eyre Peninsula Railways, Then and Now

Please note that the start time is 8pm AEDT (UTC+_11.00)

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”!

November 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Michael Bailey - 'The Archaeology and History of LOCOMOTION No. 1 (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Michael Bailey will present on the following subject:

'The Archaeology and History of LOCOMOTION No. 1

Please note that the start time is 8pm AEDT (UTC+_11.00)

In 2023, the British National Railway Museum in York approached me and my colleague, Peter Davidson, to undertake a comprehensive archaeological survey of the locomotive, so that knowledge of its history could be better understood in good time before the bi-centenary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway last year. We carried out, over 18 months, a full physical survey of the machine and a detailed review of all archival material that had any reference to the locomotive. Threading the two studies together allowed us to understand much more about its history than had been previously known.

Its history was fascinating and we concluded that nothing of the 1825 locomotive survives! It was rebuilt several times, and the reasons for those rebuildings were ascertained in detail. Full knowledge was gained as to its operating history, its subsequent storage, its rebuilding to its present form in 1857 when it was placed on permanent display (the first loco. in the world to be displayed), and its final career on exhibition in different parts of Britain, and even its journey to Chicago in 1883. Our report to the NRM has now been published by the History Press of Cheltenham, in association with the National Railway Museum

December 2026, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - John Browning - The Evolution of Cane Locomotives (10 Dec 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 09:00:00 GMT

John Browning will present on the following subject:

Please note that the start time is 8pm AEDT (UTC+_11.00)

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.

February 2027, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Bill Hanks - Coal Mines & Railways of Korumburra, Jumbunna & Outtrim (11 Feb 2027)

Thu, 11 Feb 2027 09:00:00 GMT

Bill Hanks will present on the following subject:

Coal Mines & Railways of Korumburra, Jumbunna & Outtrim

Please note that this meeting will start at 8p AEDT (UTC+_11.00)

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.

April 2027, LRRSA Members Zoom meeting - Andy Becker - Japan's Oigawa Railway (8 Apr 2027)

Thu, 08 Apr 2027 10:00:00 GMT

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.