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2foot6
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This photo I took in 1971 of the Mc Cormick Deering rail tractor at Bells Camp (the end of the line)26 miles from Erica,a thriving timber industry operated from the town.The three foot gauge tramway and a few others in the area , had their timber unloaded on to a two foot six inch narrow gauge(government owned )railway.This is the condition I found the rail tractor in,it had been sitting there from 1950 to 1971.There were stories of a lost locos in the bush,this one of them,the steam loco I believe I know where it is but Government regulation prevent me from recovering it........Peter.
Attachment: BELLS CAMP 1970 (4).jpg (Downloaded 96 times) Last edited on 23 Dec 2017 06:22 am by 2foot6
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Rod Hutchinson
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Where did you find that pix? Last edited on 23 Dec 2017 05:29 am by Rod Hutchinson
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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2foot6
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The same rail tractor at Erica on display 2016 by the local community group.They have told me it will soon be repainted and repaired,but will not be restored.There was two of the six wheeled tractors and at least one four wheeled tractor.The fate of the other tractors is unknown,maybe still in the bush ...............................Peter
Attachment: DSC_0006.jpg (Downloaded 92 times) Last edited on 23 Dec 2017 09:29 am by 2foot6
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Rod Hutchinson
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It's a McCormick Deering tractor on a Day's Engineering chassis. There is a similar one at the Alexandra Timber & Tramway Museum.
Do you have any further pictures of Bell's Camp?
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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2foot6
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 Rod ,I found the picture in my box of photos taken many years ago ,when I was fit and able to follow the tramlines in Victoria. after a very serious 10 foot fall in October ,I opened the boxes and have started to scan pictures and put them into the putor.This is part of my rehabilitation and I am finally storing my collection of rail pictures taken over my life time.I do have some more pictures of Bells camp,but as far as I know there was not much there,only a few timber quarters and a two track bridge at the bottom of the incline,no mill .........Peter.Last edited on 23 Dec 2017 09:33 am by 2foot6
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Rod Hutchinson
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Would love to see the images at some point.
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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2foot6
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Thanks Rod for posting the video,the last time I saw that particular rail tractor was in 1972 at the Powelltown mill.
Si,here are some more pic for your collection.............Peter
Attachment: e.jpg (Downloaded 79 times)
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Rod Hutchinson
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Hi Peter,
Two fantastic pictures. I am currently making a 1:43 scale model the Malcolm Moore.
Do you recall the colour it was painted whilst at Powelltown?
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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Rod Hutchinson
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Ha ha. I know what you mean. Today it looks like a faded orange but your pictures aeem to show it as yellow.
I'll just use what I have and rust it up a bit.
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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2foot6
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The McCormick Deering rail tractor on the Thomsom Valley tramway derailed sitting in the scrub.Photo from The Gillespie Collection
Attachment: 33.jpg (Downloaded 56 times) Last edited on 25 Dec 2017 05:27 am by 2foot6
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Rod Hutchinson
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Interesting to see the step at the rear of the tractor. 1st time I have seen that.
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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2foot6
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I believe the two six wheeled rail tractors were owned and operated by the Forest Commission of Victoria(FCV)who also operated the Tyres Valley tramline with the Climax.They may have used the step idea from the Climax on the rail tractors for safety reasons.The photograph of the rail tractor at Erica shows the bolts for the step,but the other end of the tractor had the end plate broken right off,that was the way I found it. Interesting because it is about 1" thick casting.I have other photos of the rail tractor operating and they clearly show the steps at both ends............Peter. Last edited on 25 Dec 2017 10:47 am by 2foot6
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2foot6
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This photo shows the rail tractor at Erica when it first went on display in 1972 after being recovered from the bush by the Forest Commission of Victoria and cleaned up and painted.
Attachment: TRAM RAILWAYS 295.jpg (Downloaded 51 times)
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Rod Hutchinson
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Note from Mike McCarthy, historian.
Hi Rod,
Ezard used the Thomson Valley line not Tyers Valley. Also different gauge. Ezard 3’, Tyers Valley 2’6”. Also Ezard didn’t use Day’s, he built his own tractors (and everything else!) There were 2 Days tractors on the Thomson Valley line but they were owned by the FCV. One is preserved in Erica
Cheers, [size=Mike]
A potted history here.
http://www.nmra.org.au/tyersvalley/Tyers-Tram.html
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Rod Hutchinson
Mooroolbark, Australia
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The best bet is the colour of the fuel tank,a light brown colour,faded yellow, 
as I remember it wasn't rusty.................Peter
or grey
