END OF THE LINE FOR LOCAL TOURIST RAILWAY
Friday March 20th, 2009
THE PROLONGED DRY PERIOD TOGETHER WITH THE EXCESSIVE HEAT IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY HAD CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO THE LIONS CLUB OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL'S TRACK BETWEEN WALLAROO AND BUTE THAN FIRST THOUGHT.
MARKETING AND PUBLICITY OFFICER FOR YP RAIL, PETER THOMPSON SAID "THE RECENT COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION OF THE TRACK REVEALED MAJOR WORK WAS REQUIRED TO REINSTATE THE LINE TO A GOOD USEABLE STANDARD. THIS WORK WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE CLUBS VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE AND IF CONTRACTED OUT COULD COST IN THE VICINITY OF $1M OR MORE." THIS FORCED THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE RAILWAY AND A DECISION TO CLOSE OPERATIONS WAS MADE AT A MEETING OF MEMBERS HELD ON SATURDAY 7TH MARCH.
PRESIDENT OF THE LIONS CLUB OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL, MR BRIAN REAY SAID "WHILST TRACK CONDITION HAD CAUSED THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF TRAIN SERVICES, THE MANAGEMENT HAD LONG BEEN AWARE OF THE OTHER THREATS TO THE RAILWAY'S SURVIVAL, WITH RAPIDLY DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, EXPENSIVE FUEL AND PARTS, COMPLEX ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE AGEING OF A DIMINISHING VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE. THE OPERATION URGENTLY NEEDED IMPROVED DEPOT FACILITIES AND WAS EXPECTING A LARGE FINANCIAL OUTLAY IN OVERHAULING BOGIES TO OCCUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE AS A SAFE AND RELIABLE TOURIST RAIL OPERATION, WE WOULD NEED TO ENTER INTO SUBSTANTIAL LONG TERM DEBT, WITH NO GUARANTEE OF ONGOING VIABILITY".
THE YORKE PENINSULA RAIL PRESERVATION SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN 1992 TO PRESERVE AND OPERATE A TOURIST RAILWAY ON THE LINE BETWEEN WALLAROO AND KADINA. RAIL OPERATIONS ON NORTHERN YORKE PENINSULA COMMENCED AROUND 1861 WITH AN ENTERPRISING MR GOUGE OPENING A HORSE DRAWN TRAMWAY CARRYING COPPER ORE OVER PREDOMINANTLY THE SAME ROUTE BETWEEN THE MINES NEAR KADINA AND THE SMELTERS AT THE PORT OF WALLAROO. THE SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED BY THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS WHO EXTENDED THE LINE FROM THE MINES TO KADINA AND ON TO ADELAIDE VIA PASKEVILLE AND PORT WAKEFIELD. IN 1975, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOOK OVER, EVENTUALLY CLOSING THE LINE IN 1990.
ON THE 12TH APRIL 1994 THE YP RAIL PRESERVATION SOCIETY RAN ITS FIRST TRAIN BETWEEN WALLAROO AND KADINA, AND FROM 27TH DECEMBER 2000 EXTENDED A FURTHER 38 KMS TO BUTE. A"T" CLASS LOCOMOTIVE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS AND THREE "BE" CARRIAGES CIRCA 1910 WERE PURCHASED FROM STEAM RANGER. IN 2004 A NEW ERA BEGAN IN THE HISTORY OF YORKE PENINSULA RAIL WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SUPER CHOOK RAILCARS. ORIGINALLY FROM ADELAIDE, THESE CARS WERE EXTENSIVELY REFURBISHED AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL YEARS IN SERVICE IN VICTORIA.
ACCORDING TO MARKETING MANAGER AND TREASURER, PETER THOMPSON, YP RAIL HAD CARRIED IN EXCESS OF 35.000 PASSENGERS OVER THE 15 YEARS OF OPERATION, MOSTLY TOURISTS WITH MANY FROM INTERSTATE AND OVERSEAS, AND THE VOLUNTEER STAFF HAD RECEIVED FREQUENT COMPLIMENTS ON THE SERVICE AND FRIENDLINESS OF THE CREW. HE SAID "IT IS WITH SAD HEARTS THAT THE MEMBERS REACHED THE DECISION TO CLOSE". THE CLUB ACKNOWLEDGED THE HELP GIVEN BY LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS, AND THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE DISTRICT COUNCILS OF COPPER COAST AND BARUNGA WEST. "OUR THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE BUTE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE ADVERSLY AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE. THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO PROVIDE OUR PASSENGERS WITH GOOD FACILITIES, MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT, AND OUR STAFF HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM IMMENSELY".
