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The Bennett Brook Railway is a narrow gauge tourist oriented railway operated by the ''West Australian Light Railway Preservation Association'' and is located within the boundaries of Whiteman Park, nineteen kilometres from Perth. In 2009, the Bennett Brook Railway celebrated its 25th year of operation. ==History== |} The ''Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association'' (WALRPA) was formed on 26 April 1976 by a group of rail enthusiasts who shared an interest in less well known railways of Western Australia. Following the closing of the Lake View and Star Gold Mine in Kalgoorlie in the mid-1970s, four of the founding members purchased the railway's first locomotive - an LV&S 'Planet' Locomotive (which still operates at the railway - the Atlantic Planet). The Planet first was located at a member's property in the Perth Hills, on 17 September 1976. In 1977, the group proposed to develop a railway at Whiteman Park. Five submissions were received in total, 3 for a railway, one for a railway, similar to the railway located at Castledare, and finally a submission to re-locate the Australian Railway Historical Society. From 1977 to 1982, referred to as the negotiation period, the group also submitted proposals for an operational railway to EL Caballo Blanco in Wundowie, The Maylands Peninsula Redevelopment, the former Upper Darling Range Railway (From Kalamunda to Goosberry Hill, and a Mandurah tourist development. The closure of the Bristile & Wunderlich brickworks in Belmont, saw the donation of a number of hoppers and other rail items. The railway acquired a locomotive and a number of hoppers from the Maylands Brickworks. In 1982, development and restoration continued in the Perth Hills, until 16 August, when the WALRPA was advised by Metropolitan Region Planning Authority that their submission for a railway at Whiteman Park had been successful. On 18 September 1982, the first equipment was placed at Whiteman Park. In 1983, two former Whiteman Brick locomotives - "Ridley 2" and "Yellow Rose" were acquired. In June, the C passenger wagons (built on the Maylands Brickworks hoppers) and the Maylands locomotive were moved to Whiteman Park, hauling the first work train on 9 July, and the Planet Locomotive followed on 11 August. Track laying began on 18 January 1984, and reached "Central" Station on 18 November the same year. Also in 1984, the WALRPA purchased the former Claisebrook railway station to be placed at Central Station (The building arrived in March of that year), acquired a 60 ft Turntable from Midland Workshops, and in March they were notified of their success in a tender for two SAR NG15 steam locomotives (#118 & #123). 8 December 1984 was the official opening of the Bennett Brook Railway, and Peter Dowling MLA (The Patron of the Organisation), with some assistance, drove the first passenger train out of Central Station. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bennett Brook Railway」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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