Australian Orders, Page Three

Quality railway books from selected publishers.

NOTE: if ordering MORE THAN TWO BOOKS, or ordering for post OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA, please email sales@railheritagewa.org.au for a correct postage cost.

My steam days on the Great Southern Railway of Western Australia by Max Francis

Max had a career spanning almost five decades on the WA Government Railways, from 1959 to 2007.
He recounts his career, mixed with some history information about the GSR, the main line to Albany, where he spent much of his career as a driver.

It is illustrated with plenty of photocopies of photographs, timetables, etc.

Postage $11.00

$37.50

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Geraldton's railway history by an old engine driver by Stan Gratte OAM

An interesting collection of personal memories and historical notes about the railways of the Midwest, centred on Geraldton.
Stan Gratte is well known in that region for his contributions to keeping history alive, for which he was honoured with the OAM. His memories of working for the WAGR go back far enough to talk about the railways north of Geraldton, which were closed in 1957.
90 pages, self-published, scattered historical photos.

Postage $11.00

$27.50

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A Guide to Australasian Locomotion 2023 edition by Chris Walters

Essential reference for your bookshelf, or in your car: Comprehensive guide to the locomotives working in Australia and NZ today.
Includes both government and private railways, diesel and surviving steam. Main lines, shunters and heritage.
Well revised and updated.
368 pages with numerous photos in colour.

Postage $11.00

$45.00

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Australian Railway History - 80 years of the Australian Standard Garratt

This special issue of the Australian Railway History magazine is dedicated to reviewing the life of the controversial ASG locomotive. Of special interest in the West since it was designed by WAGR engineers, but was required by wartime restrictions and demands to be able to work in all states with 3'6" gauge systems - but none of those systems' wanted it. Nor did the unions. A clash of strong wills, a Royal Commission, resulted in state systems being short of motive power but not wanting to use the ASG. Several of the ordered 65 units were never operated. Well illustrated.

Postage $5.00

$11.00

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THE 40 YEAR TRAIN TRIP, from 1960 to 2001 - by Brian Henderson

An interesting account of an interesting life. Brian Henderson trained on the WAGR, becoming a loco driver and working a variety of rosters around the system.
Reading the text, it's clear that he enjoyed his time and often took special driving jobs. In retirement he volunteered actively for the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway, driving both steam and diesel on the Dwellingup line.

Self-published, A4 size 48 pages, well illustrated.

Postage $11.00

$26.50

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Australian Railway History - Western Australia 150th issue.

Special issue of this journal marking 150th anniversary of first train running in WA. Includes three WA articles including Jeff Austin's detailed story on the "Ballaarat" loco and the first railway. There are also articles on WA's rail revival, and on the changing diesel scene.

48 pages, well illustrated.

Postage $5.00

$10.00

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Running Out of Steam & Catching Up with Diesels, by David Burke.

This is a fascinating book about the steam era coming to an end and the rise of diesels.

But it's not a technical book - instead this well-known author has used contemporary advertising material, timetables, photographs and other printed ephemera, together with source material to create a nostalgic journey of railways and those who worked there. Every state is covered as well as Commonwealth Railways.

Some fascinating reproductions from each state, plus text on some of the interesting personalities who steered the railways into the era of diesel.

200 pages, 138 illustrations mostly colour, reproduced well on good paper. SPECIAL PURCHASE allows us to offer this at $15.00 (half the original price).

Postage $11.00

$15.00

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The history of Pickering Brook, by Gordon Freegard.

The history of this area was intertwined with early railway history for almost a century. First Mason's pioneering tramway, then timber tramways and finally the zig-zag line which was built for timber haulage but taken over by government and became the local people's lifeline until motor trucks took over.

A great amount of research has gone into this book which combines local social history with detailed factual research. Railways, both timber tramways and the WAGR, were critical to the area's development and are covered in detail, as are schools, local industries, early settlers and other transport.

Published by the Pickering Brook Heritage Group, released on 10 November 2019.

A4 size, 220 pages, over 300 photos, fully indexed. $35.00.

Postage $14.00

$35.00

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Woodlines of Western Australia - A comprehensive history of the Goldfields Woodlines. - by Phil Bianchi OAM.

Without a source of cheap energy to fuel steam boilers and for ore treatment, few Western Australian gold mines would have been productive.

Firewood companies established privately owned train lines up to 120 miles out from major centres such as Kalgoorlie to bring in firewood. Phil Bianchi has added new research, text and photos to his previously published works to produce what will be the definitive story of these railways and the workers who worked on them or depended on them.

The book features 22 first-hand accounts of the hardships faced by woodliners working, living and growing up on the woodlines in tin shacks miles from civilisation. Between 1900 and 1964 a total of 21.6 million tons of firewood had been cut; during 1912-16 average production was 650,000 tons per year. By the time the firewood companies ceased operations they had clear-felled a staggering 3.04 million hectares of goldfields woodlands; almost half the area of Tasmania.

Size 170 x 240mm, french flaps, heavily illustrated, 448 pages.

Postage $15.00

$85.00

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Steam Australia - locomotives that galvanised the nation - by Tim Fischer.

Well-known rail enthusiast (and former deputy Prime Minister) Tim Fischer AO has surveyed Australian locomotives, not from the railfan's usual point of view, but as he says an "account of the great tapestry of transport weaved by the steam locomotive in the country. It details how the nation was galvanised by the economic growth steam trains delivered".

Tim draws on his very wide experience to write of the states developments, how transport needs changed and were met, and adds in fascinating stories of people and places, all in his inimitable style.
Hundreds of illustrations including colour.

A4 size, card covers, 256 pages.

Postage $14.00

$39.90

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Destination Whiteman Park.

Described as a "pictorial review of the trams of Whiteman Park", this booklet features the vintage electric trams of the Perth Electric Tramway Society based at Whiteman Park in Perth's northern suburbs, in a new edition with a colour photo of each tram and in most cases also an early photo of the car in action or before rescue.

The use of colour printing has resulted in a very good publication. The booklet also demonstrates how a small group of volunteers has done a great job of collecting, restoring and operating these trams.

A5 size, 20 pages.

Postage $4.00

$9.50

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Lakes and Rails - Wagin's Railway History - by Peter Gould.

This new book comprehensively book tells the story of this major rail station on the Great Southern railway. Wagin is still a junction of wheat lines to the east, and in the past was also a junction of a line west to Collie and Bunbury, so it was always busy.

The author was brought up in Wagin and knows the town and its railway story well, but much detailed research is also evident.

290 pages, A4 format well illustrated including colour photos and local maps.

Postage $15.00

$69.90

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The Kojonup Railway - by Michael Rogers, with David Whiteford and Jeff Austin.

The interesting story of the cross-country line between Donnybrook and Katanning, via Boyup Brook and Kojonup.
This line started in the south-west timber forests and ended in the great Southern wheat belt, opening up many miles of agricultural land with easier transport.
The book includes historical background, reminiscences, details of stations and sidings, and information on the locomotives used. 116 pages, many photos, including colour.

116 pages.

Postage $8.00

$29.50

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Rails in the Hills - Compiled by E.G.Webb

RAILS IN THE HILLS, a history of the railway from Midland to Karragullen 1891-1949.
The history of the "zig zag railway" through Kalamunda, originally built as a timber railway but later taken over by the government who ran it until closed in 1949.
The book includes photographs, also plans of the line and stations. Sections deal with the early years as a timber line, then the WAGR days, and the locomotives used in both periods.
Compiled by E.G.Webb, and published by the Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society, this book was previously published in 1996. It has been out of print for some years but the Society has reprinted it to make this information available again.

96 pages, A4 size, soft covered.

Postage $11.00

$29.50

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Elleker-Denmark-Nornalup 2nd edition, 2015, by Ross McGuinness.

This new second edition is a very detailed and complete book about the railway which once ran west from Elleker (near Albany) to Nornalup.
An amazing collection of photos, maps and other information has been located and included.
The book includes notes on the railway, its construction and operation, the timber milling industry around Denmark, with various recollections and items of local history.

474 pages, A4 size.

Postage $15.00

$99.00

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The Amery story; the railway people's vital part in developing rural Western Australia, by John Cox.

This interesting book is not just about Amery, a junction station between wheatbelt lines, but recounts the memories of numerous people to record the relationship between the railway and rural workers and residents. The author was stationed at Amery early in his career.

138 pages, A5 size, illustrated.

Postage $15.00

$29.00

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My Desert Backyard, by Julian Insall.

The author loves trains and the Australian outback, and this endearment is clear in his book. Often camping out to get good photos in the right lighting, this book shows modern trains in an outback setting which could only be Australia. Mostly on the trans-Australian line, but also in South Australia and the Northern Territory, over 80 photos are well reproduced in colour on quality paper.
Captions give the usual details of locos and locations, while the text recounts some of his trips, the pleasures and difficulties, and the background railway operations at the time.

Postage $15.00

$44.50

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To Greenhills and Beyond, by Allan Tilley.

A history of the York to Bruce Rock railway, the first of many light agricultural lines constructed to open up the wheat belt, and one of the survivors. These railways, built between about 1910 and 1930, were constructed by political decision to minimal standards, saddling the railway administration for decades afterwards with slow trains and inefficient operations.
The author has set this line in context, explain the background to the first railway in the area, then the long political battle, and then operation in steam and diesel eras. A good selection of photos are included, together with route map, gradient diagrams, references and index.

112 pages, numerous illustrations, good quality art paper.

Postage $11.00

$12.50

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How Steam Works - DVD

This DVD contains 2 short videos.

"How Steam Works" explains how a steam locomotive works. Using the Western Australian "S" class as background, and a purpose-made moving graphic, this film explains how steam is generated and controlled.

"Midland's Might", the second video, features the Midland Workshops-built locomotive S549, now based at The Railway Museum in Bassendean. The ten members of the S class were the only steam locomotives entirely designed, built and operated in Western Australia.

$10.00

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Commonwealth Railways GM Class, by Train Hobby.

GM1, famous as the first full size diesel locomotive to work across the Nullarbor, and the first into WA, is being restored by Rail Heritage WA for display, and for operation on special occasions. The Commonwealth Railways GM class Locomotive Profile looks at the workings and various liveries applied over the years to these stylish and impressive 'bulldog' units. Printed in colour.

Postage $11.00

$49.50

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A history of WAGR passenger carriages.

Andy May and Bill Gray have compiled the ultimate reference to West Australian carriages, including those of major WA private railways. Up to date to the new Prospector and B series EMUs.

Postage $15.00.

$69.50

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The Pinjarra-Narrogin railway.

New book by Roger Sallis gives a complete story of this railway, including the early politics, construction, government operation, closure and then resurrection of part as the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway.
Many photos, including colour, map, index. 230 pages.

Postage $15.00

$29.90

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