An Historical outline of the Whitfield, Wangaratta rail service which ran from 1899 to 1953
Two Baldwin, NA class 2-6-2T Type locomotives were the main prime movers and these were obtained from the Baldwin Locomotive works in Philadelphia, USA.
Two additional loco’s were built at the Newport workshops utilising the spare parts supplied with the Baldwin engines. These saw service and in fact still do on the Upper Ferntree Gully, Gembrook line, now known as Puffing Billy.
The rail ran five types of goods stock comprising a total of 249 vehicles, including cattle trucks, louvre goods vans, goods wagons, water trucks and passenger carriages.
Initially the train ran from the Whitfield end, daily except Sundays.
In 1916 the mixed train operated four days a week and on alternate days a motor trolley handled the mails.
By 1937 the service consisted of only one goods train per week, departing from the Wangaratta end, and return, with an additional train running to Moyhu and return if traffic required.
Around this time the mail service was handled by a unique vehicle, a four wheeled Casey Jones track speeder. It was semi enclosed to accommodate several passengers and also hauled a small four wheel open trailer for parcels and light goods. This was initially known as the Chinese express but with the introduction of the Spirit of Progress on the main Melbourne line, the narrow gauge postal motor became the Spirit of Salts.
Information taken from “Whitfield to Wangaratta Railway 1899-1953, An Historical Record” by Lindsay McD. Simpson and can be borrowed from the High Country Library, Wangaratta. There are other books available also, on the subject.
Now to the cache, each named after the stop or siding represented.
Most will be easy to find but a couple of the hides are a little more tricky and may tax your finding skills a little.
Please take care to replace them as you find them or better hidden if the cacher before you has let the side down. Thanks to those who comply.