Thread by @ozbob13

Gellibrand G 42 detached from Down Goods at Down End
Weston Langford 15 January 1958
westonlangford.com/images/photo/1…
The last section on the Walhalla line closed 1954. G42 was moved to Colac.

Beech Forest Goods from Colac G 42
Weston Langford 15 January 1958
westonlangford.com/images/photo/1…
G41 was the G stationed at Colac. The Beechy was harsher than Walhalla.

This is G41 at Crowes 1954. After exhausting research we have determined this was the second last train from Crowes. The last service, G41 was reversed. Beech Forest had a reversing loop (around the tennis court).
Photograph P G Dow

This is the last train from Crowes G41. My uncle Mal is in the cab. Shortly after this photograph the train departed for the last time from Crowes 9 Dec 1954

This is the instant the last train from Crowes departed.
Note the steam as the loco moves. My Grandfather liked these shots. He used to run and leap on the departing train after taking the photograph. I must admit this habit worried me as a 4r year old. P G Dow 1954

A very special photograph by GrandPa.
G41 and G42 together at Colac. This was c. 1959.
They were both great locos, being Beyer Peacock they were class of course. G41 was scrapped. G42 lives on at Puffing Billy.

Colac. Na and G41. PG Dow 1959
VR always had NA locomotives at Colac and Moe to back up the Gs on the Beechy and Walhalla. The Gs had to go the Newport for servicing etc. Rarely double headed NAs were done when the Gs where not available when needed.

Australia Day 1938. Special ' Back to Walhalla ' at Gould (Walhalla line)
G42 was at Newport for servicing. Special permission was granted by VR for NA double heading!
So grand!
The NAs stepping out! (it was a climb from Gould)

This is a beautiful photograph. c. 1940s
N113 and NA and we think G 42 is behind the NA.
(look carefully)
It is Moe engine shed.
There were two dual gauge turntables on VR, Moe and Wangaratta.

G42 at Gould
Not sure of the date or circumstances.

A nice photograph of G41. I think this at Beech Forest, probably c. 1940s.
These were superb locos. 2-6-0+0-6-2
2'6" gauge

It is to great credit to many volunteers that G42 still lives.
Listen to the marvellous beat of a Garratt. This one is 2'6" gauge.

Absolutely superb film.
Beechy line 1956 - 1962

This is G41, I think at Gellibrand.
Probably the last run for G41.
PG Dow 1950s

This is at Kincaid tank
Probably the last train TO Crowes.1954 8 December.
Setting sun. They overnighted at Crowes and headed back to Beech Forest in the morning.

I know the dates because my GrandPa left me the tickets.
The forward journey was the 8th Dec 1954. They overnighted at Crowes (slept in the NC vans). Back to Beechy in the morning. There was not much at Crowes. It has been said that phantom trips were done for 'social' reasons.

My Otway family at Beech Forest c. 1958.
I am the lad with the fez hat. My grandfather brought it back from Pakistan I think.
Farmers, they kept the Beechy going by sending all the spuds by rail. Decent people.

When VR announced the Beechy was closing. There were a number of trips. This one was in c. 1958. G 42 is turning the train around the reversing loop at Beech Forest. Contained within was two tennis courts. I suppose this is why Colac never had a dual gauge turntable.

This looking to Beech Forest. The line left is to Colac. The line right was the Crowes line. The excursion train is heading to Weeaproinah (At this time line was cut back to W.) The reversing loop made sense hey? There was a VR requirement to reverse the locos every two trips.

The last train shunting at Wyelangta.
You can see the Bass Strait.
It was proposed that line would be extended from Crowes to the coast (port) but clearly impractical due to grades and topography generally. But the thought of 2'6" port railway appeals 😀

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