It frequently happens that when a group of people are united in an enterprise, and their enthusiasm leads them to become involved in management and operation and detail, they can lose sight of the big picture.

Every now and again it is good to stand back a little and look at their achievements from the point of view of the disinterested observer.

Sometimes this is not possible; but a valuable aid to perspective can be the camera - especially the video camera.

Thus Lindsay Richmond (pictured), in the guise of Rank Amateur Productions, has done all involved with the management, maintenance and operation of the Michelago Tourist Railway - and any others who have taken an interest in it - a valuable service in having produced Scenes on the Michelago Tourist Railway.

This one-hour DVD is a timely reminder of a number of facts about the MTR which are all too familiar to us, but which, perhaps for that very reason, we don't appreciate as much as we should.

Here we have many miles of a classic NSWGR rural branch line, but a stone's throw from a large concentration of population.

It is a very beautiful line, as many of the scenes in this excellent video amply demonstrate.

Here we have a railway to which we have, for all practical purposes, exclusive access.

It enables us to practice and develop all the railway skills needed to run a branch line - including infrastructure maintenance and development - and is limited in its scope only by our own energy and imagination.

Lindsay's video also enables us to reflect on the considerable achievements of so many people who have made the MTR a reality.

The video is aptly named, consisting of scenes and vignettes of the MTR as it has been over the last ten years or so.

There is a generous treatment of locomotives - 1210, 3016 and 7315, rolling stock - CPH 37, light and heavy cars; track machines - pay bus, bridge crane, quad inspection and work vehicles (click on picture for larger image).

Nor are people and scenery neglected. The latter includes a couple of spectacular views of trains in the Melrose Valley, and some vigorous assaults on the climb to Tizzies Crossing by 1210 and 3016, singly and together.

If there's anything to be slightly disappointed about, it is that so many times when there is the best action, there is the worst weather.

Beyond the control of the cameraman, it seems that we were afflicted with dull, overcast days on some occasions when we chose to run trains, and that has given some of the scenes a slightly sombre tone.

 
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For your reviewer, though - a long-time MTR disciple - this in no way detracted from the delight this video could not help but excite.

For anyone even mildly interested in the many aspects of the classic railway age this video evokes, or in the activities of the Society and its achievement on the MTR, Scenes on the Michelago Tourist Railway is unhesitatingly recommended.

It is available from Lindsay at a cost of $27.50.

After essential production costs have been met, proceeds go to the continuing development of the MTR.

To order a copy, please use the order form on this website.

This article first appeared in the October 2005 edition of Federal City Express, the monthly magazine of the ARHS (ACT).

If you would like to receive the magazine, please join the Society - you will not only be on the mailing list but will also be supporting the work of preserving rail heritage. For more information, see Membership of the ARHS (ACT).

The Michelago Tourist Railway continues to play an important role in the life of Canberra rail.

Regular trains running the line as far south as Royalla are the monthly Sunday Spirit of Tuggeranong picnic trains and the monthly Saturday evening RailRoad Restaurant service.

The final picnic train for the year, on December 4, is a Santa special, and is a run which always attracts a large crowd.

For those working on maintaining the track, there has been a significant milestone - the recent replacement of the 300th sleeper since the current track maintenance program began last April.

Work crews are usually on the track for two days a week to carry out maintenance - the largest task has been replacing aged and deteriorated wooden sleepers with steel sleepers.

But it has also involved maintaining trackside drains, replacing rail bolts, trimming back lineside vegetation and restoring slewed sleepers.

The work is a healthy gym-like workout - and all at no cost to participants!

Your participation would be welcomed, and the days are actually enjoyable. If you would like to be part of the team, please contact Erik Jochimsen on 6295 7719 (ah).