Hotham Valley Railway
| Hotham Valley Tourist Railway | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Terminus |
Pinjarra 32°37′48″S 115°52′16″E / 32.63°S 115.871°ECoordinates: 32°37′48″S 115°52′16″E / 32.63°S 115.871°E |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Hotham Branch |
| Built by | Western Australian Government Railways |
| Original gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Hotham Valley Tourist Railway (WA) Inc |
| Operated by | Hotham Valley Tourist Railway (WA) Inc |
| Stations | 3 |
| Preserved gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| 1910 | Opened Pinjarra to Holyoake |
| 1913 | Extended to Dwarda |
| 1926 | Extended to Narrogin |
| 1961 | Section closed: Boddington–Narrogin |
| 1969 | Section closed: Dwellingup–Boddington |
| 1984 | Westrail services cease |
| Preservation history | |
| 1974 | Preservation society formed |
| 1976 |
Heritage railway operations commenced (Pinjarra–Dwellingup) |
| 1986 | Forest Railway reopened (Dwellingup–Etmilyn) |
| Headquarters | Dwellingup |
The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway (commonly Hotham Valley Railway) is a tourist and heritage railway in the Peel region of Western Australia.
The railway operates over a 32 kilometre section of the original Pinjarra to Narrogin railway line, and has its origins in a small group of enthusiasts who met together in 1974 with the object of preserving both Western Australian steam locomotives and the railway line itself, from Pinjarra at least as far as Dwellingup. Dwellingup is now the primary centre of Hotham Valley's operations.
Today the railway operates both steam and diesel locomotive hauled trains on a variety of services and is staffed almost exclusively by volunteers.
It is one of only a handful of heritage railway organisations in Western Australia, and as of mid-2015 is the only heritage and/or tourist railway in the state regularly operating original 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge Western Australian Government Railways steam locomotives.
In 1974, four local residents of Pinjarra formed the Pinjarra Steam & Hills Railway Preservation Society that later became the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway with the aim of operating steam trains on the Pinjarra to Narrogin railway line.
Initially four former Western Australian Government Railways W class locomotives were purchased. The first three were returned to service in the 1970s, followed by the fourth in 1988. Eight former Albany Progress carriages were leased and ultimately purchased outright in 1979.
In March 1976 the former Pinjarra Locomotive Depot was leased, officially opening on 17 July 1977. On 12 September 1976 the first train operated, a special from Perth to Dwellingup hauled by W920.
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Wikipedia