Upcoming LRRSA Meetings
There will no physical LRRSA Meetings in Melbourne until further notice. The Melbourne meetings are being replaced by Members Zoom Meetings, open to all.
Members Zoom Meeting
August 2026 - Ross Sadler - Darjeeling Action
Ross Sadler will give a presentation on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) which is a world heritage listed site, some 88 kilometres long which connects Siliguri (New Jalpaiguri) and Darjeeling. In the process, this 2 ft gauge line climbs from about 328 ft above sea level at Siliguri to 7407 ft at Ghum, before descending to Darjeeling (7218 ft above sea level), using six zig-zags and five loops to gain altitude. Construction took place between 1879 and 1881, with subsequent modifications such as the Batasia Loop which was built in 1919 to ease the grade for trains climbing out of Darjeeling. Over the years, the line has seen a variety of motive power, ranging from the 0-4-0ST B-class, built by Sharp, Stewart and Company and later the North British Locomotive Company, through a Beyer-Garratt to diesels, which are the present-day motive power on the line.
Today, steam is restricted to running special trains on the upper sections of the line, but in 1996, the DHR was a 100% steam operation. The presentation is the result of three days’ linesiding on the DHR in that year, at a time when the track was fortunately free of the avalanches that have bedevilled its operation throughout its history.
NOTE - This meeting will be preceded by the brief formalities of the Society's Annual General Meeting.
Date: Thursday 13 August 2026 at 8.00 pm AEST Attendees will need to pre-register at lrrsa.org.au
Following Meetings:
The Tucker Truck Came On Tuesday – Erica - Gould 1910 - 1950
by Mike McCarthy
Thursday 10 September 2026 at 8.00pm AEST
Eyre Peninsula railways, then and now – Floyd Bromley
8 October 2026
Brisbane
No Meetings
It has been decided to cancel Brisbane meetings. If anyone is interested in taking over the position of convenor, please contact the LRRSA Secretary.
Sydney
WW1 light railways and tramways
Lt. Col. David Deasey will detail the use of
trench railways and tramways on the European
battlefields during the Great War of 1914-18.
A varied selection of locomotives, both steam
and petrol-mechanical worked upon these
indispensable transport routes carrying munitions
and other war materials to the front.
Location: Club Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftesbury Road, Burwood, in the ‘Private Room’, Brasserie Restaurant. Free parking in RSL car park. Only 10 minutes easy walk from Burwood railway station.
Please contact Ross (0415 995 304) or David (0400 347 127) if you need to be signed in upon arrival. It is highly recommended to arrive early and enjoy a meal with other LRRSA members.
Date: Wednesday 26 August 2026 at 7:30pm
Adelaide
The SA Group meets on the first Thursday of February and December, and the last Thursday of March, May, July and September. Any news of light rail matters – particularly in SA, NT and the Broken Hill area – is welcome. As accommodation is limited, interested persons should contact John Meredith at sa_group@lrrsa.org.au or by phone (0447 734 163) for details if you have not previously been to a meeting. A small and friendly group.
Location: 1 Kindergarten Drive, Hawthorndene
Date: The next meeting is scheduled for 24 September 2026, at 7.30 pm (SA time)