Bennett Brook Railway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bennett Brook Railway
Overview
Status	Operating as a tourist railway
Owner	West Australian Light Rail Preservation Association
Locale	Whiteman, Western Australia
Stations	Whiteman Village Junction (Formerly Central) Mussel Pool Kangaroo Flats Zamia (Formerly Maine)
Website	http://www.bbr.org.au
Service
Type	Light Rail
Operator(s)	West Australian Light Rail Preservation Association (WALRPA)
Depot(s)	Mussel Pool Workshops
History
Opened	1984
Technical
Line length	Approx 6 kilometres (3.7 mi)
Track gauge	2 ft (610 mm)
Operating speed	20 km/h (12 mph)

The Bennett Brook Railway is a fun, narrow gauge railway in Whiteman Park, about 19 kilometres from Perth. It's run by a group called the West Australian Light Railway Preservation Association. This railway is mostly for tourists and people who love trains!

History of the Railway

How the Railway Started

The Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (WALRPA) was formed on April 26, 1976. It was started by train fans who loved the smaller, less famous railways in Western Australia.

First Locomotives and Location

After a gold mine in Kalgoorlie closed in the mid-1970s, four of the group's founders bought their first train. It was an LV&S 'Planet' Locomotive, and it still runs at the railway today! This train, nicknamed the 'Atlantic Planet', was first kept at a member's home in the Perth Hills starting September 17, 1976.

In 1977, the group suggested building a railway at Whiteman Park. Their idea was chosen over other plans.

Building the Railway

From 1977 to 1982, the group worked on their plans. They also got some old train parts, including a locomotive and hoppers (open wagons) from the Maylands Brickworks.

On August 16, 1982, WALRPA got the good news: their plan for a 610mm railway at Whiteman Park was approved! The first equipment arrived at Whiteman Park on September 18, 1982.

In 1983, they got two more locomotives, "Ridley 2" and "Yellow Rose", from the old Whiteman Brickworks.

Laying Tracks and Opening Day

In June 1983, the first passenger wagons and the Maylands locomotive were moved to Whiteman Park. They pulled the first work train on July 9. The 'Planet' locomotive followed on August 11.

Track laying began on January 18, 1984. The tracks reached "Central" Station by November 18 that year. In 1984, WALRPA also bought the old Claisebrook railway station building to use at Central Station. They also got a large turntable and two SAR NG15 steam locomotives (#118 & #123).

The Bennett Brook Railway officially opened on December 8, 1984. Peter Dowding MLA, who supported the group, drove the very first passenger train out of Central Station.

How the Railway Operates

Passenger Services

The railway runs passenger trains at these times:

Special Events

The railway holds a "Friends of Ashley Day" twice a year, usually in May and September. This event, once called "Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine," brings out most of the railway's volunteers, trains, and carriages. It marks the start and end of the steam train season.

"Enthusiast's Days" are also held sometimes, usually in winter. During these days, many operating engines pull interesting freight and passenger trains.

Locomotives (Trains)

The type of train running depends on the season.

• From September to May, it's "fire season," so only diesel engines operate.
• From May to September, it's "steam season." Steam engines might run on weekends if they are ready, and diesel engines will run all other times.

These dates can change based on park conditions and approvals.

Steam Locomotives

Model	Name	Former Operator	Condition	Wheel arrangement	Comments	Coupler(s)	Image
SAR NG15 123	Fremantle	South African Railways	Maintenance	2-8-2	Being fixed up. Expected to be ready by mid-2021.	Jones Couplers	SAR NG15 123 "Fremantle"
SAR NG15 118	Elizabeth	South African Railways	Stored	2-8-2	Needs a lot of work.	Jones Couplers	SAR NG15 118 "Elizabeth"
Perry	Betty Thompson	Inkerman Sugar Mill, QLD	Operational	0-4-2T	Privately owned. This is the main steam engine running now.	Jones Couplers	Perry "Betty Thompson"
Perry		Marian Sugar Mill, QLD	Maintenance	0-6-2T	Being fixed up.		Perry locomotive from Marian Sugar Mill
O&K Mallet No. 3		Magnet Tramway, TAS	Maintenance	0-4-4-0T	Being restored.		O&K Mallet No. 3
Krauss		Multiple. Previous - Western Machinery, WA	Storage	0-4-0WT	Waiting to be restored.	Link and Pin

Large Diesel Locomotives

Model	Name	Former Operator	Condition	Wheel arrangement	Comments	Coupler(s)	Image
1938 Planet (Atlantic Engine)	Planet	Lake View and Star Gold Mine, WA	Operational	0-4-0		Jones Couplers, Link and Pin	1938 Planet locomotive
1968 Planet (Dorman Engine)		Lake View and Star Gold Mine, WA	Operational	0-4-0	Privately owned, got a new cab in the mid-2010s.		1968 Planet locomotive
Gemco Funkey PW27	Wyndham	Wyndham Jetty, WA	Maintenance	0-4-0	Waiting for its transmission to be fixed.	Jones Couplers	Gemco Funkey PW27 "Wyndham"
Fowler #2	Rosalie	Isis Central Sugar Mill, QLD	Maintenance	0-6-0	Getting a new engine and drivetrain.	Jones Couplers	Fowler #2 "Rosalie"

Small Locomotives

Carriages and Wagons

Passenger Carriages

Large Carriages

These carriages all use Jones couplers.

Small Carriages

These carriages all use Link and Pin couplers.

Freight and Industrial Wagons

Most wagons use Jones Couplers, unless noted otherwise.

Buildings at the Railway

Whiteman Village Junction Station, with the old Subiaco Signal Cabin behind it.

Most buildings at the Bennett Brook Railway (except for the workshops) are old station buildings from the WAGR/Westrail railway system.

At Whiteman Village Junction Station, you'll find parts of the old Claisebrook Station (ticket office) and Subiaco Station (party room). There are also old signal cabins from Subiaco and Fremantle, but they are not currently used.

Down at Mussel Pool, the station building came from Nungarin. It was moved there in 1989 with help from the Australian Army. There are also two signal cabins: one from Collie (not used anymore) and one from Cottesloe, which is fully working and located at the north end of the Mussel Pool platform.

Signals and Safety

The old Mussel Pool Signal Cabin, from Collie, being used.

The old Wagin lever frame, now inside the Cottesloe Cabin at Mussel Pool.

The Cottesloe Cabin at Mussel Pool is fully working. Inside, you'll see the old Wagin Lever frame with 15 levers. This frame was the perfect size for Mussel Pool Station. 13 of the 15 levers are used to control points (where tracks switch) and signals. The cabin is mostly used on weekends to help manage trains at Mussel Pool.

The railway mainly uses a "Staff and Ticket System" to make sure trains are safe. The railway is divided into two sections, and each section has a special "staff" (a physical token). A train driver must have the correct staff to enter a section of track. If more than one train needs to use a section, the staff unlocks a box that holds "tickets." A ticket is filled out and given to the first driver, who is also shown the staff. After the first train has had enough time to clear the section, a second train can follow, carrying a ticket and a warning about the train ahead.

In late 2012, an "Electric Staff system" was brought back for the Mussel Pool to Whiteman Village Junction section. This system uses special machines in the signal cabins at both stations. At the same time, a wired telephone line was set up between the two stations using old telegraph poles.

Recently, BBR finished putting in electric point motors and electric semaphore signals at the north end of Whiteman Village Junction. They are now working on adding more signals and point motors to the south end of Whiteman Village Junction.

Images for kids

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  A & J Inglis Crane from 1855 at Bennett Brook Railway