Miniature Railway History

The Portarlington Miniature Railway
in the Rotary Children's Park, Pt. Richards Road

History

Portarlington Miniature Railway was conceived by the Rotary Club of Drysdale Inc. in 1995 and together with the Geelong Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Inc proceeded to locate a suitable site.
Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management then invited the Rotary Club of Drysdale to make a presentation on the proposed Miniature Railway to their Committee as they had seven hectares of land on the foreshore to the west of their holiday park.

Bellarine Bayside then offered this land, subject to the Department of Sustainability and Environment consent, for the miniature railway.
Consent received, Bellarine Bayside held a public meeting in Parks Hall, Newcomb Street, Portarlington. At this meeting Bellarine Bayside and Drysdale Rotary advised the crowded hall of the proposal to construct and operate a tourist miniature railway on Portarlington Foreshore land. The public unanimously approved and applauded the project as did government representatives.
March 1999 saw the opening of this new miniature railway by Mr Gary Spry M.L.A before a large crowd of excited children and families.

RAILWAY TRACK
Drysdale Rotary members financed, constructed and installed the railway track of 1 kilometre on the site, including points for changing tracks. GSMEE, financed by the Drysdale Rotary, designed and constructed the twelve sets of points that were required to complete the railway.

STATION
Drysdale Rotary provided the finance for the station building and railway platform area and club members provided the free labour to construct the building.

SIGNAL BOX
Once again Drysdale Rotary provided the finance for the signal box and club members again provided free labour to construct this building. The GSMEE members designed, built and installed the intricate hydraulic system for the signal box to switch the points to change railway tracks and also switch the control signals for safe running of the miniature trains.

TURNTABLE AND STEAMING BAYS
Drysdale Rotary financed, designed and built the turntable and erected the steaming bays for the preparation of locomotives prior to their entering the railway track system.
TRAVERSER
GSMEE members designed and built the unloading traverser and again this was financed by the Rotary Club of Drysdale.

STATION EXTENSION
This new extension to the Station Building to provide a sheltering area for children’s birthday parties and more comfortable winter operations was financed by the Victorian Government to the extent of $20,000 from the Small Towns Development Fund together with $7,500 from Bellarine Bayside and $7,500 from City of Greater Geelong. Again, the free labour to build this extension was provided by the Rotary Club members. This extension is open for the tourist public 24-7 all year round.

BARBEQUES AND SHELTERS
In conjunction with the Station Extension two Barbeques and Shelter Buildings were built by Rotary Club members for the benefit of the tourist public to enjoy 24-7 throughout the year.

LOCOMOTIVE
GSMEE members designed and built the first locomotive being powered by a Honda motor driving a hydrostatic gearbox, and again financed by the Rotary Club of Drysdale.
CARRIAGES
GSMEE members designed and built the required bogie wheels for the carriages and Rotary members designed and built the carriages and attached the bogies to complete the job, again financed by the Drysdale Rotary Club.

STEAM AND DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES
Individual members of GSMEE and Rotary have provided free their own steam and diesel locomotives for use by the Portarlington Miniature Railway.

RAILWAY RUNNING
All Personnel on this Miniature Railway are Volunteers and all proceeds from the train rides (after running costs) are used, 50% to Charities on the Bellarine Peninsula and Others and the remaining 50% to the continued development of the Miniature Railway.
FUTURE
This Tourism, Children, Family Miniature Railway will continue to grow and provide a great Tourist Asset for Portarlington, the Bellarine Peninsula and increasing source of funds for the Rotary Club of Drysdale to increase its ability to help charities and those in need both locally and further afield.
INSURANCE
The Portarlington Miniature Railway is Insured for Public Risk and maintains a Control Document for Occupational Health and Safety for all who visit and work at the site.

Home

	Portarlington Miniature Railway was conceived by the Rotary Club of Drysdale Inc. in 1995 and together with the Geelong Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Inc proceeded to locate a suitable site. Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management then invited the Rotary Club of Drysdale to make a presentation on the proposed Miniature Railway to their Committee as they had seven hectares of land on the foreshore to the west of their holiday park.
	Bellarine Bayside then offered this land, subject to the Department of Sustainability and Environment consent, for the miniature railway. Consent received, Bellarine Bayside held a public meeting in Parks Hall, Newcomb Street, Portarlington. At this meeting Bellarine Bayside and Drysdale Rotary advised the crowded hall of the proposal to construct and operate a tourist miniature railway on Portarlington Foreshore land. The public unanimously approved and applauded the project as did government representatives. March 1999 saw the opening of this new miniature railway by Mr Gary Spry M.L.A before a large crowd of excited children and families.
	RAILWAY TRACK Drysdale Rotary members financed, constructed and installed the railway track of 1 kilometre on the site, including points for changing tracks. GSMEE, financed by the Drysdale Rotary, designed and constructed the twelve sets of points that were required to complete the railway. STATION Drysdale Rotary provided the finance for the station building and railway platform area and club members provided the free labour to construct the building.
	SIGNAL BOX Once again Drysdale Rotary provided the finance for the signal box and club members again provided free labour to construct this building. The GSMEE members designed, built and installed the intricate hydraulic system for the signal box to switch the points to change railway tracks and also switch the control signals for safe running of the miniature trains.
	TURNTABLE AND STEAMING BAYS Drysdale Rotary financed, designed and built the turntable and erected the steaming bays for the preparation of locomotives prior to their entering the railway track system. TRAVERSER GSMEE members designed and built the unloading traverser and again this was financed by the Rotary Club of Drysdale.
	STATION EXTENSION This new extension to the Station Building to provide a sheltering area for children’s birthday parties and more comfortable winter operations was financed by the Victorian Government to the extent of $20,000 from the Small Towns Development Fund together with $7,500 from Bellarine Bayside and $7,500 from City of Greater Geelong. Again, the free labour to build this extension was provided by the Rotary Club members. This extension is open for the tourist public 24-7 all year round.
	BARBEQUES AND SHELTERS In conjunction with the Station Extension two Barbeques and Shelter Buildings were built by Rotary Club members for the benefit of the tourist public to enjoy 24-7 throughout the year.
	LOCOMOTIVE GSMEE members designed and built the first locomotive being powered by a Honda motor driving a hydrostatic gearbox, and again financed by the Rotary Club of Drysdale. CARRIAGES GSMEE members designed and built the required bogie wheels for the carriages and Rotary members designed and built the carriages and attached the bogies to complete the job, again financed by the Drysdale Rotary Club.
	STEAM AND DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES Individual members of GSMEE and Rotary have provided free their own steam and diesel locomotives for use by the Portarlington Miniature Railway.
	RAILWAY RUNNING All Personnel on this Miniature Railway are Volunteers and all proceeds from the train rides (after running costs) are used, 50% to Charities on the Bellarine Peninsula and Others and the remaining 50% to the continued development of the Miniature Railway. FUTURE This Tourism, Children, Family Miniature Railway will continue to grow and provide a great Tourist Asset for Portarlington, the Bellarine Peninsula and increasing source of funds for the Rotary Club of Drysdale to increase its ability to help charities and those in need both locally and further afield. INSURANCE The Portarlington Miniature Railway is Insured for Public Risk and maintains a Control Document for Occupational Health and Safety for all who visit and work at the site.