Bennett Brook Railway

The Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (WALRPA) was formed on 26 April 1976 by a group of rail enthusiasts who shared an interest in less well known railways of Western Australia.

Following the closing of the Lake View and Star Gold Mine in Kalgoorlie in the mid-1970s, four of the founding members purchased the railway's first locomotive - an LV&S 'Planet' Locomotive (which still operates at the railway - the Atlantic Planet). The Planet first was located at a member's property in the Perth Hills, on 17 September 1976.

In 1977, the group proposed to develop a railway at Whiteman Park. Five submissions were received in total, 3 for a 610 mm (2 ft) railway, one for a 7 ¹⁄₄ in (184 mm) railway, similar to the railway located at Castledare, and finally a submission to re-locate the Australian Railway Historical Society.

From 1977 to 1982, referred to as the negotiation period, the group also submitted proposals for an operational railway to El Caballo Blanco in Wundowie, The Maylands Peninsula Redevelopment, the former Upper Darling Range Railway (From Kalamunda to Goosberry Hill, and a Mandurah tourist development.

The closure of the Bristile & Wunderlich Brickworks in Belmont saw the donation of a number of hoppers and other rail items. The railway acquired a locomotive and a number of hoppers from the Maylands Brickworks.

In 1982, development and restoration continued in the Perth Hills, until 16 August, when the WALRPA was advised by Metropolitan Region Planning Authority that their submission for a 610 mm (2 ft) railway at Whiteman Park had been successful. On 18 September 1982, the first equipment was placed at Whiteman Park.

In 1983, two former Whiteman Brick locomotives - "Ridley 2" and "Yellow Rose" were acquired.

In June, the C passenger wagons (built on the Maylands Brickworks hoppers) and the Maylands locomotive were moved to Whiteman Park, hauling the first work train on 9 July, and the Planet Locomotive followed on 11 August.

Track laying began on 18 January 1984, and reached "Central" Station on 18 November the same year. Also in 1984, the WALRPA purchased the former Claisebrook railway station to be placed at Central Station (The building arrived in March of that year), acquired a 60 ft Turntable from Midland Workshops, and in March they were notified of their success in a tender for two SAR NG15 steam locomotives (#118 & #123).

8 December 1984 was the official opening of the Bennett Brook Railway, and Peter Dowding MLA (The Patron of the Organisation), with some assistance, drove the first passenger train out of Central Station.[1]

The railway operates passenger services during the following times:

Held biannually, the railway runs a Friends of Ashley (FOA) Day (Formerly known as Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine),[2] which sees most of the railway's volunteers, locomotives and passenger carriages in operation. This is usually held in May and September which sees the start and end of the railway's steam season.

Enthusiast's Days are also held occasionally. They are held in winter so there are no restrictions on steam operations. Most operating engines are involved in interesting freight and passenger trains.

September to May is fire season, so Diesel engines will operate all services.

May to September is steam season, steam engines may operate weekend services when available and Diesel engines will operate all other services.

Dates are approximate and are dependent on park conditions and approval.

Model	Name	Former Operator	Condition	Wheel arrangement	Comments	Coupler(s)	Image
SAR NG15 123	Fremantle	South African Railways	Maintenance	2-8-2	Overhaul in progress. Estimated completion: mid 2021	Jones Couplers
SAR NG15 118	Elizabeth	South African Railways	Stored	2-8-2	Stored with major work required	Jones Couplers
Perry	Betty Thompson	Inkerman Sugar Mill, QLD	Operational	0-4-2T	Privately owned. Current steam mainstay	Jones Couplers
Perry		Marian Sugar Mill, QLD	Maintenance	0-6-2T	Overhaul in progress
O&K Mallet No. 3		Magnet Tramway, TAS	Maintenance	0-4-4-0T	Restoration in progress
Krauss		Multiple. Previous - Western Machinery, WA	Storage	0-4-0WT	Awaiting Restoration	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
1968 Planet (Dorman Engine)		Lake View and Star Gold Mine, WA	Operational	0-4-0	Privately owned, new cab fitted mid 2010s
Gemco Funkey PW27	Wyndham	Wyndham Jetty, WA	Maintenance	0-4-0	Awaiting transmission overhaul	Jones Couplers
Fowler #2	Rosalie	Isis Central Sugar Mill, QLD	Maintenance	0-6-0	In process of installing new engine and drivetrain	Jones Couplers

Whiteman Village Junction Station, with the Former Subiaco Signal Cabin in the background

At the Bennett Brook Railway, all buildings used on the line (with the exclusion of the yards) are former WAGR/Westrail Station Buildings.

Whiteman Village Junction Station houses the former station buildings from Claisebrook Station (Platform 1/Ticket Office), Subiaco Station (Platform 2/3, Party Room), and Signal cabins from Subiaco and Fremantle (Both are currently not operational). Down at Mussel Pool: The station building is from Nungarin (And was transported to BBR in 1989 with assistance from the Australian Army's 22nd Construction Squadron. There are also two signal Cabins, Collie (No longer operational, now located at parker siding), and Cottesloe, which is fully operational located at the northern end of the Mussel Pool platform.

The former Mussel Pool Signal Cabin, from Collie, in use

The ex Wagin lever frame, now installed in the Cottesloe Cabin at Mussel Pool

Located at Mussel Pool, the Cottesloe Cabin is in place on the Station Platform, and is fully operational. In the Cottesloe Cabin, stands the former Wagin Lever frame, with 15 levers, this frame turned out to be the perfect size for the Mussel Pool Station. 13 of the 15 levers in the frame are used, for 3 sets of points & Locks, and 12 Signals. The cabin is used mostly on weekends during run-arounds at Mussel Pool station, however during large events the cabin is used to assist sorting and preparing trains at the start of the event.

BBR primarily uses the Staff and Ticket System for section authority. The railway is split in 2 sections, and has 2 staffs - Mussel Pool to WVJ (Blue Staff), and the Loop (Red Staff). In order to travel on a section of line, the driver of a locomotive must be in possession of the relevant Staff. In the case of multiple trains needing to use 1 section of track, the Staff unlocks a box located in the signal cabins at each end of the section, which hold the tickets. A ticket would be filled out and given to the driver of the lead consist, who would also be shown the staff. After the average time to complete the section has passed, the second train can depart the station, proceeding with caution in case the train ahead has broken down, holding both the staff (or another ticket) and a notice of train ahead.

In late 2012 an Electric Staff system was re-introduced on the Mussel Pool to Whiteman Village Junction, with staff instruments located in the signal cabins at both stations. At the same time a wired telephone line was re-introduced between the two stations, using telegraph poles.

BBR has recently completed installation of electric point motors and electrically operated semaphore signals at the north end of Whiteman Village Junction. Work has now started on the installation of searchlight coloured light signals and additional point motors to the south end of Whiteman Village Junction.

A & J Inglis Crane of 1855 at Bennett Brook Railway[3]

• Bennett Brook Railway Website

• Whiteford, David (2005) From Back Yard to Bennett Brook 1976 - 2005 - ISBN 0-646-49941-6