Bennett Brook Railway - History

History

The Western Australian Light Railway Preservation Association (WALRPA) was formed on 26 April 1976 by a group of rail enthusiasts who shared an interest in the lesser known railways in Western Australia. Following the closing of the Lake View and Star Gold Mine in Kalgoorlie in the mid-1970s, four of the founding members of the WALRPA pitched together and purchased the railway's first locomotive - an LV&S 'Planet' Locomotive (which still operates at the railway - the Atlantic Planet). The Planet arrived on the original WALPRA location, a member's property in the Perth Hills, on 17 September 1976. In 1977, the WALRPA submitted interest to the WA Government to develop a Railway at Whiteman Park. 5 submissions were received in total, 3 for a 610 mm (2 ft) Railway, one for a 180 mm (0.59 ft) Railway, similar to the railway located at Castledare, and finally a submission to re-locate the Australian Railway Historical Society.

From 1977 to 1982 is referred to as the negotiation period. The WALRPA also submitted proposals for an operational railway to EL Caballo Blanco in Wundowie, The Maylands Peninsula Redevelopment, the former Upper Darling Range Railway (From Kalamunda to Goosberry Hill, and a Mandurah tourist development.

The closure of the Bristile & Wunderlich brickworks in Belmont, saw the donation of a number of hoppers and other rail items to the WALRPA, and then the railway acquired a locomotive and a number of hoppers from the Maylands Brickworks, which arrived in the Hills property in 1981. In 1982, development and restoration continued in the Perth Hills, until 16 August, when the WALRPA received a letter from the Metropolitan Region Planning Authority advising that their submission for a 610 mm (2 ft) Railway at Whiteman Park had been Successful. On 18 September 1982, the first equipment was placed at Whiteman Park.

In 1983, WALPRA members negotiated the acquisition of 2 former Whiteman Brick locomotives - "Ridley 2" and "Yellow Rose". These two locomotives were the first WALPRA locomotives to arrive at Whiteman Park in March 1983, and were placed on the first sections of track, laid only 2 weeks earlier. In June, the C passenger wagons (built on the Maylands Brickworks hoppers) and the Maylands locomotive were moved to Whiteman Park, hauling the first work train on 9 July, and the Planet Locomotive followed on August 11. The WALRPA had now completely moved to Whiteman Park. As 9 of the 10 members of the WALRPA also worked other jobs, the Association hired 4 employees to complete some work around the workshops. Track laying began on 18 January 1984, and reached "Central" Station on 18 November the same year. Also in 1984, the WALRPA purchased the former Claisebrook Station to be placed at Central Station (The building arrived in March of that year), acquired a 60 ft Turntable from Midland Workshops, and in March they were notified of their success in a tender for two SAR NG15 steam locomotives (#118 & #123).

8 December 1984 was the official opening of the Bennett Brook Railway, and Peter Dowling MLA (The Patron of the Organisation), with some assistance, drove the first passenger train out of Central Station.