A Brief History

The Mooroolbark and District Miniature Railway and Steam Club Incorporated was established in 1980 in the outer eastern suburb of Kilsyth, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The club was formed at a meeting at the Shire of Lillydale offices, with approximately 25 foundation members.  The meeting was Chaired by Shire Recreation Officer, Pam Street.  The Committee Members were as follows -

President: George Poar
Vice President: Brian Buckland
Secretary: Peter Jones
Treasurer: Ron Fisher.

The Shire of Lillydale (now Shire of Yarra Ranges), nominated several sites within the shire as appropriate to build a permanent track and finally the site at Kiloran Reserve in Kilsyth was chosen.  The track was officially opened for public passenger carriage in April 1983.

The activities of the club are not confined to operating a miniature steam railway, although this is the major activity.  Members have, or are constructing and operating other engineering items such as traction engines, steam powered boats, stationary steam engines, internal combustion driven locomotives and batter powered locos, together with general workshop items.

A very important part of the club is the help that is extended to anyone interested in becoming a model engineer or, to those already in the hobby but needing assistance with a project.  In order to promote the hobby of model engineering, the club displays the work done by members at various functions and locations within and outside the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Track Extensions Progress

Those who have visited the club during the past five years will have noticed many changes.  In 1994 the idea of seeking extra land to enable a track extension was first suggested. By 2000 this finally happened and a whole new era of development blossomed.  It was not so much the size of the new land acquired, but its shape which enabled the current expansion boom to take place. 
The space allows for a return loop at the eastern end which in turn allows the length of the main line to be doubled plus many other features to be included.  Our railway has always lacked siding space to stable trains or do any shunting.  The new development will have six through sidings, plus two dead end sidings, and a five track carriage storage facility.  

Carriage shed

Before the ink had hardly dried on the planning permit in June 2001, the cement was being poured for the floor of the new carriage shed. This 22 metre long building was soon completed and will house five tracks of rolling stock storage space.  At present it provides secure storage and a workshop for the many track extension projects.

The next obvious part of the development to visitors was the excavation of the future yard area and the embankment building and rerouting of the drain for the east end loop. The major features of this part of the new track will be the three span steel bridge and the tunnel.

Tunnel

The pouring of the concrete crown units involved many members for many months and took place on a farm at Coldstream.  The 22 metre tunnel is now in place.  Each section is slightly wedge shaped and when assembled gives an S shaped curve which means you can’t see out the other end until half way through.  Most of the earth is now in place above the tunnel and the track bed in place ready for track laying of the east loop. 

Three Span Bridge

The steel work for what will be the major bridge on the track is cut, drilled and two thirds welded up.  There is still a bit to go to get it completed, galvanized, and assembled.

Once the east end loop is operational, there is not as much excavation involved to get the remainder of the main line ready for laying.  One main objective and operating benefit of the future new main line will be the elimination of the diamond crossing. The interest of the ride will be greatly improved as nearly two thirds of it will be parallel to tracks where trains will be passed going in the other direction.

Other associated projects include a pedestrian footbridge, a station upgrade, improved unloading facilities in the steaming bay, and of course there is still all those points to build and laying of track in the sidings.  Apart from the longer and more interesting ride, the public will benefit from the development as it will result in a bigger usable picnic area.

Come and visit us sometime, have a picnic and enjoy a ride.  More help is always welcome.  We have enough interesting projects to keep us going for years!

Other Steam Interests

Here is a selection of photographs showing a wide range of members' interests that are not railway related.  You may click on photo to see a clearer, larger image.

Public Run Days 2008

Rides are $1.50 per person.  Children under 3 are FREE when accompanied by an adult.

Public run days are always on the 4th Sunday of each month (except December).   Runs commence at 11.00 am and finish at 4.00 pm.

The number and type of locomotives that run vary from day to day, so it pays  to visit more than once to make sure you get a ride behind the full complement of locos.

All proceeds from rides are used to continue improving the grounds and railway.

For the safety of everyone concerned, we do ask that adults make sure children are kept under control and that all directions from Club Members are adhered to.

Group Bookings

The miniature railway can cater for groups by two methods -

Discount Tickets -
These are available on our regular 4th Sunday Run Days.  These tickets can be purchased on the day from our Ticket Box.

Private Groups -
Private parties can be booked to suit your time and date (subject to club availability).  For these parties a deposit will be required.

For information on Discount Ticket prices and Private Group bookings and prices, please telephone Bob Mitchinson on (03) 9726 7037.  Please leave a message on our answering machine if no one is available to take your call.

New Members

The club welcomes new members, so if you are a budding model Engineer and feel you would like to meet others, why not join our club.  Monthly meetings are held at the clubrooms on the 3rd Monday of each month, and commence at 8.00 pm.

Links recommended by members

http://www.branchline.com.au.
Model railway retailers with a huge product range

http://www.croydonmrc.com.au
The Model Railway Club in the Yarra Ranges

http://www.railserve.com/Models/Live/
Live Steam

http://www.fsmr.org.uk/
The Stapleford Miniature Railway

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Tomlinson.htm
Clennell "Clen" Tomlinson CNC-machined miniature engine masterpiece

http://www.cbel.com/railroad_models/
Railroad models recreation sites.

http://www.railways.pilbara.net.au/
Looking at the Iron Ore Railways of North West Western Australia.  An area known as the Pilbara, and around the world for it's huge Iron Ore Trains that stretch for well over 3 kilometres in length and employ some of the worlds highest horsepower and most modern locomotives.

http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail/
Southend Pier Railway

http://motorrad.cx/tspotsim/index.html

http://www.starfury.demon.co.uk/uground/

http://www.vgr.com.au/
Victorian Goldfields Railway

http://member.melbpc.org.au/~bradmac/Rail/
Victoria (Australia) Railway Diagrams 

http://www.old-dalby.com/
The Old Dalby test track

http://theupmain.tripod.com/
British Railways up to the end of Steam 1967

http://www.aeat.co.uk/rail/what/products/moving_model_rig_fr.htm
The Moving Model Rig (MMR) is major test facility able to fire scale model trains at speeds of over 300 km/h unscaled.

http://www.britishsteam.com/
British Steam Locomotives from the WD GWR LMS LNER & Southern Railway in a Searchable Database

http://www.lmscomm.com.au

http://www.lhup.edu/%7Edsimanek/museum/unwork.htm
This museum is a celebration of fascinating devices that don't work.

http://freespace.virgin.net/neil.worthington/jx/1943.htm#l

http://users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/
The Garratt Locomotive.

http://www.wis.co.uk/justin/deltic-engine.html
Deltic Engine.

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/locoloco.htm
Extreme Steam- Unusual Variations on The Steam Locomotive.

http://www.yarravalleyrailway.org.au/
The Society is a not-for-profit organisation dependent on the work and contributions of dedicated volunteer members to succeed.  The railway is currently running Trolley Trains from Healesville to the Tarrawarra Winery, crossing the Watts River, under the Donovan's Road overbridge and through the historic tunnel at Tarrawarra Winery.  The Society is currently restoring other sections of the track and the immediate aim is to get the track to Tarrawarra up to train standard so that train rides on RM22 can commence.

http://www.whitehat.com.au/

Information about Melbourne & Australia which is (the website says) Informed, Intelligent, Independent (and sometimes) Irreverent.