Victoria Goldfields Railway

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Castlemaine Railway Station
 

While we were at the Burke and Wills Monument we heard the plaintive sound of a steam whistle and set out to investigate the source

On the platform at our local railway station we met a volunteer with the VGR who had just spent 5 years helping to renovate the signal box.  He invited us up to check it out and meet his similarly enthusiastic colleague who happily told us all there was to know about manual signalling systems

All little and not so little boys of their generation  were fascinated by steam engines and here they were like kids at Christmas playing with the ultimate train set.  I bet their wives were equally thrilled to have them out from under their feet
 
We watched the arrival of K 160 from the signal box, after she was uncoupled she steamed to the platform where our guide introduced us to the crew
   

The engineer entertained us with tales of his vacation train ride through the Canadian Rockies the previous summer.  What we would call a 'Bus Man's Holiday'

Priorities, kettle is on for tea

  

It was on this platform that we met our first Whingeing Pom.   Detecting our lingering Brit accents he took the opportunity to tell us he had been here 30 years and hated everything about Australia, especially the Australians.  He had been involved in laying the new rails for the tourist line but seemed to take no pleasure from it, unlike the good old boys from the signal box, it's no wonder the Aussies can't abide Whingeing Poms
1927 Royal visit of The Duke and Duchess of York (George VI)

They on the balcony of State Car 4
2006 visit of Sue and Tony - Delusions of Grandeur ?

Me on the balcony of the VGR 'Yarra' Parlor Car
The Royal couple arrived in Sydney aboard HMS Renown as did my Father some 18 yrs later as a crew member on the distinguished battlecruiser
 

 It's official we're pensioners, thankfully no room for the full OAP designation

Within minutes of leaving the station, no surprise, bush.  Everywhere is suffering from the drought, we badly needed rain

At times we could almost reach out and touch the branches as we leaned out of the windows to fully experience the delights of steam travel, smoke, soot and grit in out faces, oh how the smell of burning coal took me back in time, those were the days
Muckleford Junction

A Bogie Well Wagon, Powder Explosives Van, Water Tank and at the far end a Ballast Hopper
Turning her around for the return journey

Y 127 diesel electric engine for total fire ban days
 
 

Maldon

With its distinct mining, commercial and residential districts and it's 'Australia's First Notable Town' designation, is as near as we can come these days to an original 19th century mining town

Armed with a walking tour map we set off to peer into everybody's garden and peep through church windows.  There is nothing spectacular to see here, just the way it was and it was lovely

As evidence I offer this beautiful Victorian cottage, its English county garden with exotic accents 

   

Two days later we returned with Blot to photograph K 160 crossing Saw Mill Creek trestle

  Boys & Toys,  VGR volunteers have all the fun
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