Bennett Brook Railway


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.

History

Operations

The railway operates passenger services during the following times:
Operating TimeNote
Weekends & Public Holidays11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
W.A. School Holidays11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Monday-Friday during the holidays
Mid-Week11:00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. half hourlyOnly Operating Wed & Thu

Held biannually, the railway runs a Friends of Ashley Day, which sees most of the railway's volunteers, locomotives and passenger carriages in operation. This is usually held in May and September which sees the start and end of the railway's steam season.
Enthusiast's Days are also held occasionally. They are held in winter so there are no restrictions on steam operations. Most operating engines are involved in interesting freight and passenger trains.

Locomotives

September to May is fire season, so Diesel engines will operate all services.
May to September is steam season, steam engines may operate weekend services when available and Diesel engines will operate all other services.
Dates are approximate and are dependent on park conditions and approval.
ModelNameFormer OperatorConditionWheel arrangementCommentsCouplerImage
SAR NG15 123FremantleSouth African RailwaysMaintenanceOverhaul in progress. Estimated completion: mid 2021Jones Couplers
SAR NG15 118ElizabethSouth African RailwaysStoredStored with major work requiredJones Couplers
PerryBetty ThompsonInkerman Sugar Mill, QLDOperationalPrivately owned. Current steam mainstayJones Couplers
PerryMarian Sugar Mill, QLDMaintenance
Overhaul in progress
O&K Mallet No. 3Magnet Tramway, TASMaintenanceRestoration in progress
KraussMultiple. Previous - Western Machinery, WAStorageAwaiting RestorationLink and Pin

Large Diesel locomotives

Small locomotives

Carriages and wagons

Passenger carriages

Large stock

All fitted with Jones couplers
ClassNumberOriginal ClassOriginal OperatorDescriptionCommentsEntered Service
AQ4745QBBWAGRFitted with window glazing and is concertina fitted at one endBBR Built on QBB Chassis. Part of Winter Stock.1986
AQ1788QBBWAGRMostly in original construction condition, no glazing of the windows. Rebuilt doors, concertina fitted at both endsBBR Built on QBB Chassis. Part of Winter Stock.1986
AQB2790QBBWAGRFitted With Guards Compartment BBR Built on QBB Chassis. Part of Winter Stock1986
AV3273VWAGRBuffet/Party Car. Fitted with tables and seats, a Bar servery area and a Brake InstrumentBBR Built on V Chassis1989
AR1638RWAGRWheelchair access. Fitted with "Roll Up" windows. Fitted with concertinas at both end. No fixed seatingBBR Built on R Chassis. Part of Winter Stock?
R3644RWAGRFitted with Bus seats for passenger seating. "Drop" side doors modified for passenger accessPart of Summer Stock?
RP1783RWAGRFitted with a Roof, Bus seats for passenger seating. "Drop" side doors modified for passenger accessPart of Summer Stock?
RP4461RWAGRFitted with a Roof, Bus seats for passenger seating. "Drop" side doors modified for passenger accessReputed to be the only remaining example of a WAGR 4 Door R wagon. Part of Summer Stock?

Small stock

All fitted with Link and Pin couplers
DesignatorBuilt from/onDescriptionCommentsEntered Service
C1Maylands Clay Pit chassis4 Wheel Passenger CarriageCurrently out of service and derelict in storage yard1983
C2Maylands Clay Pit chassis4 Wheel Passenger CarriageCurrently out of service and derelict in storage yard1983
C3Maylands Clay Pit chassis4 Wheel Passenger CarriageRestored to operational service on a "Citra" chassis for BBR's 21st Birthday celebrations in 20051983
C4Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis4 Wheel Passenger CarriageRan for 4 years, then scrapped. Access only available from platform side1983
BV1Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis4 Wheel Passenger Brake CarriageFitted with Brake wheel in Guards Compartment. Still operational1984
ALV11Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis4 Wheel Passenger CarriageStill operational1985
ALX12Lake View and Star Goldmine Ore hopper Chassis4 Wheel Passenger CarriageStill operational1985
ADL101Toast Rack Style Passenger CarriagesOriginally built in Harvey for the Big Orange Railway. Transported to BBR in 2004 on a long-term loan agreement2006
ADL102Toast Rack Style Passenger CarriagesOriginally built in Harvey for the Big Orange Railway. Transported to BBR in 2004 on a long-term loan agreement2006
ADL103Toast Rack Style Passenger CarriagesOriginally built in Harvey for the Big Orange Railway. Transported to BBR in 2004 on a long-term loan agreement2006

Freight/industrial wagons

All Wagons are fitted with Jones Couplers, unless said otherwise.
ClassNumberOriginal OperatorDescriptionComments
D33WAGRCovered Goods VanRestored, and reinstalled on LA Chassis
R1751WAGRCompletely Rebuilt by Bennett Brook Railway Crews
QBB2889WAGRFlat Wagon, used to carry heavy and often large loads about the railway
LA23778WAGRBallast Hopper
JOA12051WAGRDistillate Fuel TankerUsed as a water tanker
J11374WAGRWater Tanker
V3326WAGRGoods Van
Z63WAGRBrake VanReplica Z wagon, built by BBR on an ex WAGR V Wagon Chassis. Brake van on Summer Stock.
LV8Lake View and Star GoldmineSide dump ore hoppersClassified by the National Trust. Link and Pin Coupler
LV9Lake View and Star GoldmineSide dump ore hoppersClassified by the National Trust. Link and Pin Coupler

For more information, please Visit the BBR Pages

Buildings

At the Bennett Brook Railway, all buildings used on the line are former WAGR/Westrail Station Buildings.
Whiteman Village Junction Station houses the former station buildings from Claisebrook Station, Subiaco Station, and Signal cabins from Subiaco and Fremantle. Down at Mussel Pool: The station building is from Nungarin, and Cottesloe, which is fully operational located at the northern end of the Mussel Pool platform.

Signalling and safeworking

Located at Mussel Pool, the Cottesloe Cabin is in place on the Station Platform, and is fully operational. In the Cottesloe Cabin, stands the former Wagin Lever frame, with 15 levers, this frame turned out to be the perfect size for the Mussel Pool Station. 13 of the 15 levers in the frame are used, for 3 sets of points & Locks, and 12 Signals. The cabin is used mostly on weekends during run-arounds at Mussel Pool station, however during large events the cabin is used to assist sorting and preparing trains at the start of the event.
BBR primarily uses the Staff and Ticket System for section authority. The railway is split in 2 sections, and has 2 staffs - Mussel Pool to WVJ, and the Loop. In order to travel on a section of line, the driver of a locomotive must be in possession of the relevant Staff. In the case of multiple trains needing to use 1 section of track, the Staff unlocks a box located in the signal cabins at each end of the section, which hold the tickets. A ticket would be filled out and given to the driver of the lead consist, who would also be shown the staff. After the average time to complete the section has passed, the second train can depart the station, proceeding with caution in case the train ahead has broken down, holding both the staff and a notice of train ahead.
In late 2012 an Electric Staff system was re-introduced on the Mussel Pool to Whiteman Village Junction, with staff instruments located in the signal cabins at both stations. At the same time a wired telephone line was re-introduced between the two stations, using telegraph poles.
BBR has recently completed installation of electric point motors and electrically operated semaphore signals at the north end of Whiteman Village Junction. Work has now started on the installation of searchlight coloured light signals and additional point motors to the south end of Whiteman Village Junction.