|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Puffing Billy Heritage Pages.
Here we will publish historical photos, articles and information detailing our rich railway and social heritage. Contents:
Last modified Monday, September 10, 2007 HERITAGE AIMS OF THE PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY.The first three decades of the 20th Century with particular emphasis on the early 1920s, focuses on the Railway’s most active and optimistic period. It also offers the greatest scope in the presentation and interpretation of a whole range of developments. Four historic colour schemes for NA locomotives can be represented within the era, as can the full range of rolling stock. It is this era then, that has been adopted as the “Era Of Significance” for the Puffing Billy Railway. This Era Of Significance brings an essential logic to the presentation of the Railway. It also sets constructive limitations and provides a focus for research. “Operating” or “living” museums usually choose a significant era as their central theme so that patrons can be offered a variety of exhibits or experiences which have an authentic inter-relationship. The Era Of Significance is a period in the history of the Railway selected to establish positive guidelines. Restorations, Reconstructions, general works and new developments will conform to specifications based on detailed research into the period 1900 – 1930. Where modern requirements must be considered, they will be designed to harmonize with the elements which do conform to the Era Of Significance. Locomotives will only be restored to a colour scheme and configuration that was historically carried by each locomotive. Since only 1A & 2A carried the “Baldwin Green” livery, this livery will not be represented as these locomotives are long since scrapped. 3A & 6A will be restored to the V.R. Green livery and characteristics, 7A to the V.R. Red livery, 8A & 12A to the “all over black” livery and 14 A (the only exception to the rule) to the post-preservation “black with red trim” livery. In simple terms, everything that is part of the scene of the Railway i.e. from locomotives and rolling stock to buildings, fencing, signs, furniture, etc. and even staff clothing, will be representative of the Railway, or of the Victorian Railways generally, as it operated in the 1900 – 1930 period. The aim is to take the visitor “back in time” as it were. Some aspects will be restoration of original features, some will be exact recreations of original features and some will be new features designed to fit the Era Of Significance. [Compiled by Andrew Rayment.] |
