Newsletter #2 November 2016 |
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Welcome to the Munro Tramway Historical Group Inc. second newsletter for 2016. |
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AGM The Munro Tramway Historical Group Inc's AGM was held in September. Elected office bearers:
President - Col Seccombe Secretary - Ian Eustace
Treasurer - John Jeffery |
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UP COMING EVENT
'EARLY SETTLERS OF THE DISTRICT' Join us for our next gathering when Alan Bryce, Robyn Munro and Ian Eustace will outline what they have uncovered (photos and information) about the early settlers of the Perseverance, Pipe Clay and Ravensbourne districts from 1875-1925. TUESDAY 6 DECEMBER AT 10AM
Perseverance Hall (Cnr Esk-Hampton Rd and Perseverance Hall Rd) Topics covered will include McQuillan, Kynoch, Cleary, Purtell, McGrath Cameron, Hebbel, Munro.
- Cameron and Hebbel – Perseverance Sawmill
- Herbert A.T Shum and family
- Duncan and Billy Munro – Palm Tree Sawmill
- And others associated with sawmilling and farming in the district such as:
- Strohfeld, Muller, Humberdross, Bradshaw, Kean, White etc.
The discussion will continue through lunch (bring a plate to share).Tea and coffee will be provided. Stay as little or as long as you like.
All members, members friends, associates and interested parties are encouraged to attend. |
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Image above: Duncan Munro and daughters. |
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WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEBSITE www.munrotramway.wix.com/mthg Three new pages have been added to the website. 1. Cameron & Hebbel's Perseverance Mill You can find this under the Local History tab or just click here. Cameron and Hebbell operated this other mill just 2km from the Munro Mill. This article gives a detailed history on this mill. 2. Shay Locomotives You can find this under the Tramway tab or just click here. Why did the Munro's choose to operate a Shay locomotive? Here you will find out their reasons along with a history of the Shays and a nifty little video at the end of a Shay in motion. 3. Poem - Munro's Train You can find this under the Tramway tab or just click here. Written by Emile Tardent in the early 1900s, this poem pays tribute to Olaf Olsen, one of the Shay loco drivers for the A.& D. Munro company. Soon to be published on the website will be information on the four Munro brothers who came out from Scotland to the Toowoomba region in the mid to late 1800s. If you have information to share, please feel free to forward it to munrotramway@gmail.com |
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FROM THE HISTORY DESK... We’ve been researching Munro’s Hampton to Bunkers Hill tramway for some time now and along the way we’ve become aware that it wasn’t the first tramway they had built. Munro’s earliest tramway was a ½ mile long line used to haul logs up a relatively steep section of the range near Cabarlah, not far from their Argyle mill. We know about this and other details of the line as both Toowoomba newspapers of the day, the Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser and the Darling Downs Gazette, published articles on the 25th of September 1896 following an inspection of this line by their representatives. That inspection was guided by Duncan Munro who in turn was assisted by his Construction Supervisor, Mr H. Clarke.
One of these articles relates how, on the 18th of September 1896, the inspection commenced with the group heading out from Toowoomba in a “four in-hand driven by Mr. R. Munro” and how their first stop was at the range just to the east of Cabarlah. There they boarded a trolley for a trip down the tramway. That article provides some detail of the nature of the line and that detail suggests that the route was both steep and not without some curves:
“…. it was a veritable switchback railway ride, one minute diving down a steep incline, then gracefully rounding a curve, now a spurt to reach the rise in front, and so on until they reached the staging below. The country round is studded with immense blackbutt trees, the timber of which is strong and durable, and is used for house building, fencing, wheelwright's work, & also turpentine, a useful timber which is much valued for piles, girders, and posts”.
That report continues, relatlng how the group witnessed a log being loaded on a trolley at the lower staging point and then hauled up the tramway by a team of 5 horses.
Part way up the tramway the team was stopped as it crossed a bridge and the photo below was taken: |
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Later in that report we see that upon reaching the top of the tramway the logs were: • “ … placed on large timber wagons and hauled to the mill at Geham situated about 2 miles from the tram line”. Other information provided by these reports includes: • The change in elevation from the staging point at the bottom to the unloading point at the top was of the order of the order of 120 feet. • “A patent block brake prevents the trolley from running back when the horses require a spell”. • The tram line “was laid with wooden rails except on the curves where steel rails are used”. • The “steepest gradient was 1 in 5” making it much steeper than any section travelled by the Shays on the Hampton to Bunkers Hill main line. The exact location of the tram line is of significant interest to us but unfortunately the two reports don’t provide precise detail in that regard. Here’s what they tell us: • The Chronicle reports how “on the top of the range, the tramway starts in a 400 acre paddock of Mr Munro’s and descends for half a mile to where the timber is”. It also reports, as previously stated above, that the line was about 2 miles away from the Geham mill. • The Gazette reports that the “….. line is of 2’ 6” gauge and is constructed about 2 miles from the Cabarlah railway station” and that “in this vicinity Messrs. A. and D. Munro possess some 3,000 acres of heavily timbered country, principally hardwood”. So, some useful information but not enough to allow us to positively identify the location of this line at this time. Our research of this line continues though and we’ll keep you updated on any progress we make. |
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THE SHAY LOCOMOTIVES AT CASS, WEST VIRGINIA, USA MTHG Member and train enthusiast Bruce Steele recently visited the United States, stopping in Cass, West Virginia to visit the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Here is an article Bruce has written about this visit. With nearly all of our children living overseas, during July and August 2016, my wife Elaine, and I embarked on a holiday trip to USA, Canada, Scotland and France – primarily to spend time with three of our children and their partners, as well as their partners’ families. With a strong interest in trains of the steam powered type, and an avid interest in Shay locomotives, I planned (manipulated?) a few days of the itinerary to visit the Cass Scenic Railroad Park in West Virginia, USA. Nestled in the mountains of West Virginia, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park offers excursions behind Shay locomotives that transport you back in time to relive an era when steam-driven locomotives were an essential part of everyday life. |
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The Cass Scenic Railroad is the same line built in 1901 to haul timber from within the mountains to the mill in Cass. The locomotives are the same Shay locomotives as was used by the Munro Tramway, albeit much larger … that is, being driven by three cylinders (Munro’s were two cylinders) and having three driving trucks/bogies (Munro’s were two trucks). Many of the passenger cars in Cass are old logging flat-cars that have been refurbished. We arrived late in the afternoon and were welcomed by the site of loco’s resting after a day pulling tourists in their stablings outside the Cass Workshops. |
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The next morning we booked tickets for their longest trip which takes at least 4 ½ hours to Bald Knob and return. The train climbs up the mountain along some incredible small radius curves and steep grades, reaching Bald Knob, the third highest point in West Virginia. Shays are in their element in this terrain, when compared to typical rod-driven steam locomotives. However, before this trip left we were able to inspect their workshop where they maintained their Shay loco’s …and are currently restoring a Climax locomotive … another type of geared locomotive which is sort of a cousin to the Shay loco’ design.
The outlook from Bald Knob itself provides a spectacular view at an altitude of 4,700 feet. The Bald Knob area has a climate similar to Canada and is abundant in plants typical to the Canadian wilderness! The return trip down from Bald Knob to Cass was not a lot faster than going up, as the train crew were constantly adjusting the brakes on each carriage to maintain a safe (slow) descent speed. |
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The Cass Scenic Railroad Park is a very enjoyable location to enjoy steam locomotives, particularly for those who might be interested in Shay loco’s. Along with the quietness of the Cass village – it was a relaxing time for Elaine and I before we encountered the hustle and bustle of Washington DC and then New York City. For further information about Cass Scenic railroad Park, refer http://www.cassrailroad.com/ |
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PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION At the Group’s AGM in September there was some discussion regarding projects worthy of further consideration. Two of the more significant opportunities discussed were:
. Restoration of a well once used as a loco water refilling supply point.
. A static display of the Shay 2097 boiler.
The consensus at that meeting was that they were both worthy of further consideration. Here’s a little detail on both of those opportunities:
The well is located within a few metres of the tramway route just past the Hampton end of the Great Short Walk. While the well is within the boundaries of a gazetted road, it is likely that a prerequisite to further consideration will be gaining the support of the landowner through which this section of line passes. Some preliminary discussion took place regarding the style of display and that was further progressed after Mike Kinion offered the following “Bunya Mountains” example for consideration:
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Discussion of the Shay boiler display was based on a minimalistic static design. The Sports Ground was identified as the preferred potential display location subject to approval from the relevant authorities. Again, post meeting, Mike provided us with a good example of the type of display we had in mind - Brisbane Valley Rail Trail B13 boiller display, reference left image below. The right image below is the boiler we’d like to display - the Munro Tramway Shay 2097. |
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Both displays would involve significant expenditure and the meeting agreed to a plan to investigate funding options. |
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For those members who haven’t paid their 2016-2017 financial year fees, here’s a reminder. And those interested in joining our group can do so via the Application form link below. MEMBERSHIP Members are reminded that annual membership renewal payments are due for the 2016-2017 financial year.
The annual membership fee is:
Individuals - $10.00 Junior members (under 18 years) - free.
Payment Options
1. Direct deposit:
Account: Munro Tramway Historical Group Inc. Heritage Bank
BSB: 638 070
Account Number: 13911279
2. Cash or Cheque
Please hand your cash or cheque payment directly to our Treasurer.
Membership applications
While our main focus is the research and documentation of the Munro Tramway and Sawmill, members have a variety of related interests including the local history of the district, bushland rehabilitation and the promotion of the bushwalking and sightseeing opportunities associated with the tramway. If this sounds interesting then join up using our application form available online via this link: Application form
Fees and payment options are as set out above for existing members.
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Please feel free to share our newsletter with your interested friends and family. Or direct them to the Newsletters section of the website where all current and previous newsletters are located. |
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