For the second year running, Pete’s Hobby Railway participated in Junee’s annual Rhythm n Rail Festival, this year held over the weekend of March 9-11, 2018. Preliminaries so far as PHR were concerned have already been covered in Progress Report No. 39.
On this occasion, PHR also accepted an invitation to be included in the Rhythm n Rail Street Parade, held on the Saturday morning. It was obvious that we could not take the steam or diesel locomotives, so accordingly the fettler’s trike Torpedo 2 was man-handled into my two-wheel trailer, while Nick made up two A4 size laminated labels to attach to my car doors.
Image 2018.0365: Friday 10/03/2018 – Josh, Rhys, Matt and Ben manhandle Torpedo 2 from its rail resting place to be loaded on to the car trailer for the Festival Parade on the following day.
Image 2018.0371: Waiting for the Street Parade. Saturday morning, 10/3/2018.
Ben drove in the Parade, while I gave the royal wave from the passenger’s side. I would like to have had two volunteers “pumping” the trike, but following a risk assessment, I decided against same. The Parade commenced on the eastern side of town, across the railway level crossing (timed so as not to conflict with any timetabled train movements), then down Broadway, the main street, before dissipating. Nick, now in his alter-ego as President of the Rhythm n Rail Festival Committee, reviewed the Parade from his review stand at the start of Broadway!
Image 2018.0384: We diverted to the Junee Roundhouse Museum for a photo opportunity before returning to PHR.
Image 2018.0447: Torpedo 2 was placed on display, still in the car trailer, towards the front of my property where it could be easily seen and photographed from the front fence.
Image 2018.0387: Public transport around the Festival sites was for this year provided by Junee Buses who donated their services. This image shows Junee Buses making a stop outside Pete’s Hobby Railway for a little bit of “Train Spotting”.
Image 2018.0389: There was a surprise passing visit from a covered charabanc from the local Gasworks Garage Museum, complete with a full load of passengers. Not so much of a surprise really, as from time to time I have observed this unusual vehicle slowly passing the front of my property – as if Pete’s Hobby Railway now forms part of a tourist route from the Gasworks Garage Museum to the Junee Roundhouse Museum.
All too soon, the weekend was over, leaving Pete’s Hobby Railway to go into hibernation until “next time” — currently planned for the weekend of 30th June / 1st July to coincide with the official opening of the newly constructed Loftus waiting shed… of which more about shortly (or when I have time to write it!)
Cheers,
Pete
SM Loftus