Lachlan Valley Railway

Lachlan Valley Railway
Established 1974
Location Campbell Street, Cowra
Coordinates 33°50′33″S 148°41′49″E / 33.842486°S 148.696906°E / -33.842486; 148.696906
Type Railway museum
Nearest car park On site
Website www.lvr.com.au

The Lachlan Valley Railway is an Australian rail preservation society based in the New South Wales Central Western town of Cowra. It was established in 1974 to preserve former New South Wales Government Railways locomotives and rolling stock.[1] The Lachlan Valley Railway established a base in the disused 1923 built former Cowra Roundhouse.

History

3237 leading a triple header into Maitland at the Hunter Valley Steamfest 2009
5917 on the South Maitland Railway in April 2014
CPH railmotor at Wagga Wagga station in March 2011

The Lachlan Valley Railway was formed in 1974 initially to preserve 5917 and four carriages. It would soon acquire other locomotives and form as association with the Lachlan Vintage Village, Forbes. It had become a successful operator of rail tours, with its rolling stock stabled at Parkes Locomotive Depot, including an interstate tours from Parks to Peterborough in August 1976 with 5917.[2]

On 18 June 1977, it moved to Cowra Roundhouse.[2] Initially allocated a couple of roads, in 1985 it took over the entire facility when the State Rail Authority vacated it.[3]

In 1979, it commenced operating tours from Sydney to Kiama,[2][4] with a base established at West Ryde in Sydney, however this was vacated in August 1987 to make way for the Northern line to expand.[5]

In November 1983, the LVR purchased 4204 its first diesel locomotive followed shortly after by Australian Iron & Steel shunter D9.[6]

Following the cessation of State Rail Authority services in 1987, the Cowra to Blayney section of the Demondrille to Blayney line, it was leased to the LVR.[7] The line was closed for repairs in 1990 and wasn't reopened until September 1993.[8]

In late 1990 subsidiary Lachlan Valley Rail Freight successfully tendered to operate wheat trains between Woodstock and Cowra on the Blayney to Cowra line for the Grain Handling Authority.[7] However, due to the line being closed for repairs LVR grain services didn't commence until September 1993 with 4204 hauling the first services.[9] In August 1994 the LVR operated wheat trains from Trajere on the Eugowra line to Cowra with 47 class locomotives.[10]

In June 1999, LVRF commenced operating trip working services between Port Botany and the Cooks River container terminal in Sydney using 47 class locomotives and ex Australian National wagons.[11] In July 1999 LVRF commenced operating a service between Cooks River and Carrington with 44 and 47 class locomotives for R&H Transport Services.[12] Congestion in Carrington saw the service diverted to the Toll Holdings siding at Sandgate.[13] In January 2000 LVRF commenced hiring locomotives from Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia and Freight Australia and in September 2000 from Great Northern Rail Services.[13][14]

Following a short notice decision by RailCorp to close the Demondrille to Cowra line, the serviceable stock was hurriedly moved to Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga in August 2009 with all future movements having to be made by road transport.[15]

Fleet details

Lachlan Valley Railway are in custody of the following locomotives:[16]

Steam Locomotives
No.DescriptionManufacturerYearLocationStatusRef
3026 4-6-0 mixed trafficBeyer, Peacock and Company1903 Cowra stored
3237 4-6-0 passengerBeyer, Peacock and Company1892 Eveleigh operational
5367 2-8-0 goodsClyde Engineering1914 Cowra under restoration
5917 2-8-2 goodsBaldwin Locomotive Works1953 Eveleigh operational [17]

Diesel locomotives

Railmotors

PF903, HPF957, HPF958, TC751, TM803 & TBR855 are owned by a member and are soon to be restored and all are ex Rothbury Riot Railway

Passenger Rolling stock

References

  1. ↑ Lachlan Valley Railway Society Co-op Ltd NSW Rail Heritage
  2. 1 2 3 Woodland, Tony (1989). Lachlan Valley Railway Society (a pictorial history) Volume 1: 1974 - 1977. Elizabeth: Railmac Publications. pp. 4, 27. ISBN 0 949817 98 8.
  3. ↑ "Keeping the spirit alive" Railway Digest September 1995 page 44
  4. ↑ "Byways of Steam: Cowra" Roundhouse January 1980 page 24
  5. ↑ "And LVR Moves West" Railway Digest September 1987 page 291
  6. ↑ "LVR" Railway Digest February 1984 page 69
  7. 1 2 "LVR to carry wheat from Woodstock" Railway Digest January 1991 page 9
  8. ↑ "Lachlan Valley Railway Re-opens Blayney to Cowra Line" Railway Digest November 1993 page 503
  9. ↑ "The Lachlan Valley Railway's Wheat Haulage" Railway Digest October 1993 page 420
  10. ↑ "The Lachlan Valley Railway commences operations on the Cowra - Eugowra line" Railway Digest September 1994 page 31
  11. ↑ "LVR Commences Sydney Freight Operations" Railway Digest July 1999 page 12
  12. ↑ "Lachlan Valley Rail Freight Expands Sydney Based Operations" Railway Digest September 1999 page 10
  13. 1 2 "Lachlan Valley Rail Freight - ELs commence working Newcastle - Sydney freight" Railway Digest March 2000 page 33
  14. ↑ "GNR Power in Sydney" Railway Digest October 2000 page 33
  15. ↑ Cowra to Demondrille Line Closure Lachlan Valley Railway
  16. ↑ Learn About the Train Lachlan Valley Railway
  17. ↑ °ARHS Digest September 1972
  18. ↑ 47 Class Vicsig
  19. ↑ Cowra Loco News April - May 2011 Lachlan Valley Railway
  20. ↑ 49 Class Vicsig
  21. ↑ 49 Class Update Trackside
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