BURNIE RAIL PAGE
This is Burnie Rail's logo. These cars were purchased
by the Burnie City Council
for their passenger rail service which has also involved the purchase and
refurbishment of the old Emu Bay Railway station. The railcars had a fairly successful season in 2001-2002,
but apart from special charters the units have been mainly used on the Penguin Market shuttle service.
JUNE 2006 UPDATE
The BURNIE RAIL railcars have not been running since January 2006. There have been
several reasons for this that
are best not mentioned here, but currently no special trains are running in Tasmania due to the lack
of any main line running agreements with Pacific National.
This problem should be overcome once the new deal with the Tasmanian and Federal governments has been finally ratified.
Sorry that I have not reported this earlier.
MAY 2004 UPDATE
In the Federal Budget, 2002, $125,000 was allocated to a project
to get a dining car up and running. The Burnie Council purchased trailer car PT5
which was parked at Tullah by the Wee Georgie tramway,
in very poor condition.
The externals and mechanicals of this car have been rebuilt at the Don River Railway, and were delivered
to Burnie by coupling them between DP13 & DP14 on April 2, 2004
Progress up the Don Hill was "leisurely" 12.35
Nearing the summit. There was a problem with brakes that affected performance.
Passing Penguin Station, 12.37
Arriving at Burnie 14.06
The Burnie
Rail Market Train departs from the original Burnie Railway Station off Marine Terrace in Burnie,
opposite the Bay View Hotel. The entrance to the parking area is located near Ladbrooke Street.
Reservations can be made at the Tasmanian Travel & Information
Centre in Little Alexander Street, Burnie (follow the italic "i")
Ph: 6434 6111 or at travel@burnie.net
The Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre is open 9:00am to
5:00pm weekdays and 10:00am to 4:00pm weekends.
FREE Burnie Rail Show Train
The Burnie Show often features the free Show Train, now using Burnie Rail rolling
stock and operated by the Don River Railway. It is used in a special sponsorship of
the Burnie Show and the Burnie community by Burnie Rail and the Burnie City Council.
Trains operate throughout the day between the Burnie Railway
Station and the Showground on some of the Burnie Show days usually the first weekend in October each year.
Show train approaching Edwards St. crossing, Saturday October 5 2002
Show train on Edwards St. crossing, Saturday October 5 2002
Train at Penguin January 27, 2002
Initially, the railcars were used to transport people to the popular Penguin Market.
This is held
on the second and fourth Sunday in each month. Services in 2001 began on December 23, with the
train running a shuttle service Burnie - Penguin - Ulverstone
and return with departures at 0900, 1200 and 1500hrs. The trains have been well patronised.
One of the first uses of the railcars was to take guests and officials to the
announcement of the takeover of the Wynyard airport by the Burnie Council and the
Australian Airports Corporation. On their way to the airport, the cars are here crossing
the Old Bass Highway at
the 195km marker.
With the close proximity of the railine to the airport terminal,
future plans were to include air to rail transfers on special occassions. The train has here
stopped on the road crossing to discharge passengers. With thie railway west
of Burnie now wearing a 10kmh speed limit, no trains have run since March 27 2003.
The railcars parked at the old Wynyard platform while waiting to return. For
details of the unique runway/railway crossing at Wynyard,
click here
The logo on the drivers access door of DP14. This unit would not have been to Wynyard
in a long time, but DP13, the other unit, made many visits here when in Australian National ownership.
The Tasrail and Don River Railway crew wait patiently. The Don River Railway
supports the Burnie Rail project, and provide crew for mainline operations and
also look after the servicing of the units.
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Updated May 2004