Giving a CooEE to All the Aussies Where are Ya Mate?

Nige said:

If you’re into railways then you should check out the “Steam Nuts” thread in the TGIF forum.

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Thanks Nige. It's been a passion of mine to Work Steam At Work, right from the time my Dad took me for a ride on one with one of the Old Steam Driver's when I was 3 or 4yrs of age. I Got qualified to Driver that Very Same Locomotive about 33yrs later. BB18 1/4 No.1079 which has be in continuous service since 1956. It has never officially been retired, even though Steam hauled trains stopped in 1969 in Queensland. So now Im not going to be in Brisbane and No longer in Heritage, I might have to find other outlets like the group you suggested. Please feel free to have a look at my Youtube channel just type my Name in the search.

Can’t/won’t go back after doing some time in Emerald?
Qualified steam loco drivers would be pretty thin on the ground in Qld. I would imagine.
Instead of going through Biloela, you could head west from Eidsvold, through the thriving metropolis of Cracow, to Theodore.
Because we can’t use the Gibihi road anymore, you turn off just north of Theodore and travel up west of the mine to Moura.
It’s a good road, only completely sealed in the last five years or so and should save about 40kms.

Queenslander said:

Can’t/won’t go back after doing some time in Emerald?
Qualified steam loco drivers would be pretty thin on the ground in Qld. I would imagine.
Instead of going through Biloela, you could head west from Eidsvold, through the thriving metropolis of Cracow, to Theodore.
Because we can’t use the Gibihi road anymore, you turn off just north of Theodore and travel up west of the mine to Moura.
It’s a good road, only completely sealed in the last five years or so and should save about 40kms.

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Thanks for the advice about which direction to take Qld'r, but I am keen to have a look around this time and I have mum with, so we are planning to take about 2 to 3 days to get there. That way we can stop to have a look at anything that takes our fancy. As far as your asking about going back to Brisbane from Emerald. The answer is Not on your Nelly! The Heritage devision of Queensland Rail, is apart of City Train & crewed by City Train Electric Train Driver's, who like myself have seniority and Diesel qualifications. At 43yr I'm the youngest "Steam Train Driver" with nearly 20yrs service in QR. Unfortunately when I transfer I will be classed as a "Regional Driver" and after 12months my qualifications for steam will become dorment and after 6yrs I will have to sit QR's Exams again to qualify as a Steam Driver if I wanted to work them, as well as transfer back to Brisbane. With the Current management, QR Heritage is almost finished. It's looking less and less likely that QR will be running any Steam Trains in the near future. They seem to be farming what operational locomotives we have out to private Historic railways on hire... All the rest will, become static display In the Ipswich Workshops Museum I would assume.

I'm sad to lose this part of my job, but can't wait to get away for driving these suburban electrics... The New Generation Rollingstock "Units" bought from India Are riddled with faults, uncomfortable and very poorly built. The Commute from Caboolture is becoming harder with the Bruce like a parking lot. and I really have never gotten used to the city. I grew up in Coppabella in the 80's in a town of 300 people. I'm glad to be going back to the bush to be honest. I only came because of Anna Bligh selling us off.

Anyway I've rabbited on enough. Thanks again, Merry Christmas to Yourself and your family and God Bless.

Adrian Nettlefold said:

With the Current management, QR Heritage is almost finished. It's looking less and less likely that QR will be running any Steam Trains in the near future. They seem to be farming what operational locomotives we have out to private Historic railways on hire... All the rest will, become static display In the Ipswich Workshops Museum I would assume.

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That’s sad to hear, it’s all well and good having static displays but there’s nothing like a working steam engine to draw a crowd.
Merry Xmas to you and yours and I hope to post a few pics from the Great Southern in a week or two.

Hi people. I know I haven't been here in a while, but I'm without Home internet at the present. I am now back in Emerald and have been attending to domestic chores etc... Anyway here are some photos of a No.16 at Banana Qld

That ole kid is a Beast!!!! Thanks for the pics!!!

Great pictures

Like how they blocked out 3R.

What is the other lever marked TD DD and another setting I can’t make out?

DB2 said:

Great pictures

Like how they blocked out 3R.

What is the other lever marked TD DD and another setting I can’t make out?

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I've never driven a 16 this old, but I think for each gear on the Powershift direction controller it is broken into Slow Drive, Direct Drive and Top Drive . Hope someone who is more knowledgeable than me can correct me and explain how it is driven. Cheers, Adrian.

I suspected direct drive but wasn’t certain.
Thanks

From the Cat No 16 sales brochure I have it says.
Three drives.. torque divider, direct and overdrive. In each of the three ranges give the operator nine speeds forward and reverse. Top speed of more than 30mph (50km/h)

Thank you Terry140 !

Terry140 said:

From the Cat No 16 sales brochure I have it says.
Three drives.. torque divider, direct and overdrive. In each of the three ranges give the operator nine speeds forward and reverse. Top speed of more than 30mph (50km/h)

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Hey thanks for correcting me, I wasn't sure. I thought it was something along those lines, but like I say I have Never driven a no.16 that old. 16G yes. On that note, does it explain how it is to be operated?? As in which is selected first etc...?

Another wonderful find although I wasn't able to get close enough to it was this grader at Biloela Qld.

Adrian Nettlefold said:

Hey thanks for correcting me, I wasn't sure. I thought it was something along those lines, but like I say I have Never driven a no.16 that old. 16G yes. On that note, does it explain how it is to be operated?? As in which is selected first etc...?

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It says - All speeds are truly powershift, available to the operator without clutching, braking or decelerating. The transmission automatically shifts down from direct drive or overdrive under lugging conditions. It does not shift up under lighter loads beyond the drive selected.

I had a play on one of these years ago..beautiful machine, but my ears are still ringing from it lol