Lithgow State Mine Railway Limited in Lithgow, New South Wales | Non-profit organisation

Lithgow State Mine Railway Limited

Locality: Lithgow, New South Wales

Phone: +61 428 787 478

Address: 3a State Mine Gully Road, 2790 Lithgow, NSW, Australia

Website: http://stateminerailway.com.au

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24.01.2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch Lithgow is rapidly emerging from a town with a history of coal and dust to a city with opportunity for the 21st Century. The town... is not forgetting its past, but rather using its location and unique history to create a new future for the community and the greater region in the Central West of NSW. COC Limited trading as the Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre is seeking community support for a funding application we are submitting as part of the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. This initiative jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments will support social and economic recovery in regional communities most affected by the 2019 -2020 bushfires. The State Government is seeking applications for suitable NSW community projects of which ERHC are in a position to apply with community support for this shovel ready development. The Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre together with its partners are applying for funding for two infrastructure projects which are interrelated and are located in the Lithgow Valley. 1. Refurbishment of the Lithgow State Mine branch line. 2. Development of the former Eskbank Locomotive Depot. The Lithgow State Mine Branch line in its present state has been closed to all traffic since January 2020. The line was last re sleepered and laid without ballast between 1995 and 1997 with most sleepers now considered life expired. Some sections of rail on the line are also requiring replacement due to age and condition. Unfortunately the ravages of time combined with the recent bushfire and the lack of a regular maintenance program have had a detrimental effect on the line and its ability to continue to be serviceable unless there is some capital investment to refurbish the track to allow it to reopen to accommodate both tourist and workshop traffic. The Eskbank Locomotive Depot development incorporating a rail Maintenance & Training Facility together with a Living Museum involves the construction of two buildings one of which will provide for the maintenance, restoration and storage of carriages and locomotives as well as providing a dedicated space for rail based training. The second building will be a replica of the former Eskbank Locomotive Depot’s three road running shed and will form part of the living museum concept to show case Lithgow’s unique rail heritage. The reinstatement of the Sellers 60’ turntable into the only remaining exposed sandstone turntable pit which was constructed in 1882 is also part of this development. The Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre and its supporters are committed to helping Lithgow area and surrounding regions grow through the development of this joint initiative to develop industry, community and cultural partnerships, promote economic and cultural development and stimulate employment opportunities. We believe this project will provide a regional stimulus with several advantages in the form of formal, innovative digital rail technology research and development, vocational training and practical experiences in a non-live rail traffic environment, which currently is not available in this country. This, with an offering of extensive rail and civil maintenance upskilling and career opportunities, will provide business growth, diversification and employment opportunities through a trainee / apprenticeships program, a sustainable process to create the future employees for the Australian Rail Industry, leading to ongoing employment. To assist with our application we need community support in the form of an email , a letter of support, a LIKE or comment below in this Facebook page. Letters of support can be sent no later than the 31st December 2020 to; The Chairman Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre PO Box 350 Lithgow NSW 2790 Or E: [email protected] Thank you in advance for your support. Kind Regards COC Limited (Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre) Chairman & Board of Directors

24.01.2022 623 needed a sip and tickle the batteries.

23.01.2022 Broadmeadow today.

23.01.2022 623 723 at the sheds today

23.01.2022 A tad more of ironing out the bugs!

23.01.2022 1st test of the recommissioned fire suppression on 623

23.01.2022 7R14 with 721, 621, 623, 723 heading past Narara 1330 20/02/20.

20.01.2022 On Saturday 27th June, 2020 the Board of LSMR and the Rail Management Team met in Lithgow to take care of Business since the relaxing of the Covid 19 restrictions. It was the first time the whole Board had been together in person for the meeting in some time. Simultaneously our General Manager Michael Hayes brought his Rail Management Team together to introduce some of the newer members to one another and the Board. He gave everyone including some new members to LSMR an u...pdate on the Accreditation process which is currently with the Regulator as well as the current status of the Rail Cars 623-723 which are currently at the Broadmeadow Service Centre. This was followed by an inspection of the LSMR network including our Workshop building at the State Mine. The Mayor of the City of Lithgow, Cr Ray Thompson dropped by to have morning tea and meet both the Board and members of the RMT. His presence was certainly very much appreciated as we strive to deliver a rail based tourist service in the Lithgow Valley showcasing industrial heritage tourism at its best defining what the town was built upon.

19.01.2022 On Thursday 27th August, 2020 members of the LSMR Board and the Rail Management Team hosted a visit by officers from ONRSR. Graham Neasmith, and Gerrard Joseph came to Lithgow to discuss LSMRs RSO application and inspect the State Mine branch. The meeting went very well and LSMR is hopeful that it will be able to operate to Kandos and Rylstone in the not to distant future. Tourist train operations on the State Mine branch will take longer because of the track upgrade required. A considerable amount of work has gone into the preparation of the accreditation documentation over the last 18 months by Michael Hayes, Greg Hayes and Peter Semczuk for which the Board is very appreciative.

19.01.2022 With the Rail Motor Societys restored set 621/721 arriving in Goulburn yesterday (and staying overnight in the Goulburn Railway Workshops), the opportunity was... taken to collect the Transport Heritage NSW set (is it 623/723?) which had been undergoing reactivation and repaint etc there for more than a year. Train No. 7R14, darts by a dazzling sunny North Goulburn early this morning with 721 leading. See more

19.01.2022 Another great day was had at Eskbank Loco with a good roll up of volunteers in attendance. All broom has now been cut out from with in the running shed foot pri...nt. Two of the external ash pits have been cleared of weed growth to reveal the beautiful brick work which is a work of art in itself. See more

19.01.2022 Paterson Railmotors 721/621 haul 623/723 from Goulburn to Broadmeadow, seen passing thru Cardiff 20th Feb 2020 (images off phone)

18.01.2022 LSMR members came together today to clean up the Eskbank Goods Shed which in effect had become a dumping ground due in part to third parties who had no express ...permission to be in the building let alone using it. The Goods Shed including the Eskbank Yard and State Mine branch are held under licence by COC Limited as part of a rail heritage tourism initiative for Lithgow. The staggering amount of filth and rubbish left both inside and around the platform areas saw three ute and trailer loads go to the city dump. As can be seen from the photographic display the building took on a massive transformation during the day (despite the rain) culminating in lunch being served on the dining table complete with a linen table cloth all be it slightly soiled (thank you Mat). The Board of COC Limited wishes to extend a vote of thanks to the members of LSMR who made their time available today to clean up a situation that if left may have had serious consequences. Thank you Kane and Steve for your photographic contributions.

17.01.2022 COC Limited has been successful in its application with a community bush-fire recovery grant which was made available through the Commonwealth Bank for not for ...profit organisations such as ours who lost items in the fires that were not covered by insurance. As COC Limited is the licensee of the State Mine branch line it submitted an application to facilitate the replacement of sleepers, reinstate retaining walls and to restore the drainage systems beside the track which were either damaged or destroyed by the December 2019 bush fires. This grant funding valued at $43,000 has been welcomed by the Board of COC Limited and will go a long way towards enabling the branch line to be reopened. The Board would also like to thank the Commonwealth Bank for this community initiative as well as its generous support of our project to help deliver a rail based tourist attraction for the town which is located in the heart of the Lithgow valley. See more

16.01.2022 This footage from the Broadmeadow Maintenance Centre today courtesy of Tehjerbs Pharked provides a good opportunity for us to give an update on the rail cars. As reported some months ago the rail motors were fitted with a new fire suppression system and as a result needed to electronic cards to control it as the existing system was obsolete. New cards had to be manufactured through a reverse engineering process which was undertaken by a company based in South Australia specia...lising in that field. After a number of weeks a new set of cards were dispatched to Broadmeadow but unfortunately failed upon installation. A replacement set has recently arrived and will be installed in coming days after some additional fault checking is undertaken. Once the control system for the fire suppression system is working the cars will then be taken for road trials around the area to test transmissions and other systems on the cars.

16.01.2022 Members of the Rail Management Team lead by our General Manager Michael Hayes toured the various sites that make up the LSMR network which includes the Eskbank Yard and the State Mine branch. A tour of the LSMR workshop and its rail assets was welcomed by those who attended including Allan Gardner who was keen to look over 2605 with a view to starting work on her in coming months. Regular working bees will commence very soon with a focus on sleeper replacement on a few sections of the branch. With the loss of some retaining walls during the 2019 fires it has also meant that the track has become a wash in places with material washed down from the mountain side and has also blocked drains.

14.01.2022 623-723 undergoing some brake and throttle testing today at the Broadmeadow Maintenance Facility.

13.01.2022 A blast from the past ..............................May 1998 saw the first test run of 2605 on the branch after its 1995 overhaul. The test run revealed a number of issues including a broken stay and weight distribution problems over the drivers. As a result it was put back in the shed and and then got caught in the shed fire of 2001 fortunately not sustaining any damage other than taking the paint off it. Work commenced on her three years ago with most of the initial problems being solved. After a two year forced break work will begin once again in coming months to bring her back to life.

12.01.2022 Given the threat of snow, high winds, rain, low temperatures and anything else the weather was going to throw our way this weekend todays working bee was called... off. However one of our intrepid volunteers felt that bad weather wasn’t an excuse to curtail our very important work at Eskbank depot. Matt braved the elements today and took on clearing out the ash and servicing pit which comes directly off the turntable. He did have a small black snake to keep him company in the morning however the cold weather had kept him a bit lethargic which was a good thing. His friend was relocated to a more eco friendly part of the depot. Matts efforts can be seen in the selection of photos taken today which shows how complete the servicing pit is. The brick work is in pristine condition for its age and the drain at the end is also clear. He has also cleared around one of two water column foundations to uncover the water drainage pit and grate. The turntable which was built in in 1882 was part of the same contract that also saw Eskbank Station constructed. The development of the Eskbank yard, Station building and turntable were certainly the beginnings of establishing Eskbank as an important point on the Great Western Railway. Thanks Matt for your efforts today.

12.01.2022 Great news...... financial approval to recommission the fire suppression system. Parts ordered and waiting supply and install. When complete will arrange trial run to function test all systems live at track speed.

11.01.2022 Another good productive day was held at the former Eskbank Locomotive Depot with a good roll up of enthusiastic volunteers. After a site induction and tool box ...talk work commenced on clearing out the two main servicing pits which were in the running shed and the second deashing pit in front of the running shed. The overgrown retaining wall embankment was also defoliated giving a fresh new appearance to the area. Whilst the area has been ear marked for development as the site for the Eskbank Locomotve Depot and Museam it will also in time be home base for LSMR will call home and operate out of. The site clean up is the beginning of continued efforts to bring the whole development into a reality. It wont happen over night but then again Rome wasn't built in a day either. If anyone is interested in volunteering on this interesting and historic site drop us a line.

11.01.2022 Lots of positive things finally happening at LSMR.

11.01.2022 https://youtu.be/5zDaA9y0ST0

09.01.2022 Time to do a spot of fabricating the new brackets to accommodate recommissioning the fire suppression system.

09.01.2022 The last LSMR working bee held on the 17/10/2020 at the Eskbank Depot saw the large mound of English broom which had been cut out from the depot site over a number of weekends was rounded up and taken away. Chris Ray (Chris Ray Earthmoving & Landscaping) assisted us with the removal and also took away a number of trees which were growing out of control in front of Eskbank Station which were causing drainage issues. Thanks Chris. The rest of the day was taken up clearing the area between the original running shed wall and the rail embankment retaining wall which was full of rubbish and soil build up.

08.01.2022 Todays working bee was a mixed bag of opportunities. Initially we were to have a truck an excavator on site to assist us with the removal the broom and other debris from the depot site. However with the best laid plans the truck was a non starter due to mechanical malfunction so work continued on clearing around the water column bases and between the retaining wall and wall of running shed, shrub removal in the forecourt of Eskbank Station and a make over of Lake Pillans platform. After the usual pre start tool box talk and covid 19 administrative paper work was completed work commenced under the spring sunshine which proved to be very warm by days end. Considering it was a long weekend we also had a very good turnout of our volunteers.

07.01.2022 621/721 and 623/723 rocket through Ourimbah on 7R14 transfer from Goulburn to Broadmeadow MC on Thursday 20th February 2020.

07.01.2022 Back home after 12 years

05.01.2022 Recently a panoramic photograph taken in 1943 of the Lithgow State Coal Mine which also showed the State Mine colliery branch heading back towards Lithgow had come to light. We contacted Chris Ersek a well known local photographer of some note to see if he could recreate that same scene today. Chris not only found the exact location the intrepid photographer stood 77 years ago but has provided us with a very nice comparative view of both photographs showing not only the State... Mine site then and now but also the extent of the cities urban sprawl in period since. It is also quite apparent that since that time there is more of a green canopy covering the surrounding mountain sides than we are use to seeing in a lot of early photos of Lithgow even despite the bush fires of December 2019. Todays view highlights LSMRs workshop building which spatially represents the tipple house that was built across the railway yard to facilitate the sorting of coal and chitter and the loading of the graded coal into the empty wagons passing below. The photograph also gives some definition to the size and scale of the extensive railway yard which was built to the the front and rear of the building to service the output of the mine. The photo was kindly made available to us by Chris Ersek.

05.01.2022 In the first of a series of Flash Back Friday articles we will look at items of interest that has happened over the last 26 years which has shaped our organisation. In December 1995 LSMR was notified it had been successful in acquiring two sets of railcars, 661-761 and 668-768 by auction. The two sets (661-761 stored at Eveleigh and 668-768 stored at Pt Kembla) were eventually railed back to Lithgow in 1996 and were cleaned up and stored at the State Mine site. Restoration w...ork commenced on 661-761 however the two sets were used to haul passengers from Lake Pillans to the State Mine site by 4514 as part of the NSW Tidy Towns event which Lithgow hosted on the 5th December, 1998. In January 2001 construction work began on the track extension from Lake Pillans into the Eskbank Yard which was undertaken by Taylor Rail with funding provided under a Centenary of Federation grant. The construction work was completed in August and the first test trains were operating over the entire line from October 1st. Unfortunately disaster was to strike on the 31st October 2001 when our carriage shed at the State Mine was lost to an arson attack and trailer car 761 which was parked outside the shed melted due to the extreme heat from the fire and was subsequently scrapped a few years later. Todays photos capture the first movement over the system by 661-761 after many months were spent overhauling its motors and transmissions. LSMR at the time held Interim Accreditation and was able to operate work trains as well as test equipment. Passenger train operations on the branch line has always eluded us but all of that is about to change.

05.01.2022 Saturday saw members of the Board and the Rail Management Team walk the State Mine Branch. The inspection of the line between the Atkinson Street crossing and Farmers Creek was of particular interest as it will be subject to a great deal of work in coming weeks to repair the damage caused by the December 2019 bushfires. This section of track sustained bushfire damage where sleepers and retaining walls were lost. In the months after the fires a number of rain events combined to wash significant amounts of dirt and sediment from the hillsides onto the track and has also blocked the drains beside the track. A significant part of the Commonwealth Bush Fire grant funding which was secured through COC Limited will go towards rebuilding the retaining walls, sleeper replacement and drainage rehabilitation.

05.01.2022 This week marked a very important milestone for LSMR Limited when our application for accreditation was lodged with ONRSR. The Board of LSMR approved the application and has extended its thanks and gratitude to our members; Michael Hayes, Greg Hayes and Peter Semczuk who have worked diligently over the last 18 months to prepare the companies extensive accreditation documentation to become an RSO. We now wait for the evaluation phase to run its course and will make good any changes that may be required as a result. We are now inching closer to being able to operate a tourist service on the State Mine line and out to Rylstone when normality returns. Stay tuned for further developments.

04.01.2022 Nothing new to say other than It still hasnt moved from this spot in weeks.

04.01.2022 Just doing a spot of testing!

04.01.2022 623 testing the throttles and brakes.

03.01.2022 Got a little tour of 623/723 @ Broadmeadow this morning!

03.01.2022 Slumbering beauties

02.01.2022 On 5th September, 2020 LSMR volunteers held the first of what will be a number of volunteer days cleaning up and making the Eskbank depot presentable to showcas...e how unique and historically important this site was to western railway expansion back in its day. The site has been overrun with Broom which is an evasive woody weed and is hard work to cut out at the best of times. Once removed it is intended to keep it down and hopefully eradicate it from the site entirely. Our volunteers have certainly got the upper hand on it and also found and cleaned out the drainage pipe in the turntable pit which dates back to 1882. The area will become home to the Eskbank Locomotive Depot & Museum as well as being the operational base for LSMR in the longer term. The development of the site will be dependant predominately on grant funding however its development will enhance LSMRs plans to provide Lithgow with a tourist rail service on the State Mine branch which will showcase Lithgows unique industrial foundations which were predicated around railways, iron & steel making together with heavy industry and coal mining. The former locomotive depot is the last of the local heritage sites within the valleys cradle of industry to be restored. Together with Blast Furnace Park and Lake Pillans, Eskbank House and the State Mine Museum all strung together via the State Mine branch line all come together to create a unique industrial heritage tourism precinct like no other in the Lithgow valley and all within 2 hours of a population base of 5 million people.

02.01.2022 Todays working bee concentrated on part of the State Mine branch which has been closed since January 2020. Principally the line's closure was strongly recommended by our track certifiers who deemed 600m of rail through Lake Pillans to the Bell's road over bridge was crippled and presented a major risk to LSMR (who are the RIM for the line) if operations were to continue without rectification. There were also a number of other defects including the replacement of some sleeper...s further up the line. However the bushfire which went through the area in December 2019 has also contributed to our problems as sleeper retaining walls were destroyed and has now let silt and debris wash down from the mountainside which has also caused drainage issues beside the track bed. This aspect of the branch rehabilitation (cleaning out drains beside the track and rebuilding retaining walls) will commence in coming weeks has been very generously funded through a community bush-fire recovery grant which was made available through the Commonwealth Bank for not for profit organisations such as ours who lost items in the fires that were not covered by insurance. Consequently as the line has been closed for the best part of the year it has meant that the weed spraying train has not been able to run and the line has become over grown facilitating an out break of noxious weeds in selected areas including blackberry and English broom. Today our volunteers responded to a request from an elderly couple whose property backs on to our branch to assist them beat the weeds back from their back fence. Chris Ray (Chris Ray Landscaping & Earthmoving) joined us also to eradicate the noxious weeds. Our dedicated band of volunteers travelled from near and far to help out with todays work program. We also want to extend a big thank you to Chris Rayfield for supplying morning tea.

02.01.2022 Something from our fellow preservationists in the UK which is very relevant to all of us here.