James Bray

Ballarat Heritage Weekend

Photos from the Heritage Weekends held in Ballarat over the May long weekend. These events are designed to showcase the heritage aspect of Ballarat with old cars, steam train shuttles (originally to Sulky loop, now Lal Lal blocking point on the freight only Ballarat-Geelong line), but each consecutive year there are less cars and less events held.

2011
The first heritage weekend, with spaces for old cars in front of the town hall, the university, mining exchange and mechanics institute. Steam locos this year were D3 639 and Y112, although at the time I didn't realise Y112 a) existed or b) was on the back of the train in front of me. Not many photos since I was only just getting into the hobby.
10 photos

Wings emblem

Dodge Bros emblem

Buick emblem

D3 639

D3 639 and Vlocity

D3 639 and Vlocity

2012
No car photos from this year, since we had to go to Williamstown (photos in the Williamstown gallery). These pictures are from the first shuttle of the day, and include K190 pulling the carriages out of the dock, a grain train passing, and Y112 leading the shuttle to Sulky.
32 photos

Carriages stabled at Ballarat

Y112 at Ballarat

Phoenix Foundry builders plate

Y112 parked on platform 2

K190 on the carriages

K190 pulls the carriages out of the dock

2013
To compensate for the lack of time last year, I spent a full day (9:30am to 7:55pm - the only buses home) in Ballarat this year to observe the proceedings. Admittedly, I had run out of things to do by about 1...Locos this year were K153 and Y112 as usual, running to a different location: Lal Lal Blocking Point, a photo of which is below.
46 photos

K153 at Ballarat

Y112 at Ballarat

K153 at Ballarat

K153 at Ballarat

Y112 leads out of Ballarat

Chevrolet

2014
This year was a little disappointing. The only heritage cars I found were the Ford, parked in the car parks on Armstrong St, and the two cars from "Doctor Blake Mysteries" parked outside MADE (Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka). The Mining Exchange had nothing interesting (i.e. a fashion show and "Build Ballarat Out Of Cardboard" for the kids), unlike last year where a number of organisations had stalls around the edges.
Locos were K153 and Y112 running to Lal Lal Blocking Point again. Photos from before the first shuttle of the day, the last shuttle, and the carriages being put to bed for the night. A tamping machine and ballast regulator were also parked at Ballarat for the works on the Maryborough / Ararat lines.
36 photos

Y112 bufferbeam

Wheels on K153

K153 waiting at Ballarat

K153 waits at Ballarat

Cab of K153

Cab of K153

2016
Even less in 2016, a feat I did not think possible. One exhibitor even commented it was lucky I didn't travel down from Melbourne just to see it.
Locos were K190 and Y112, seen at Ballarat East for a change. The tram is Horse Drawn Tram No. 1, restored magnificently by Ballarat Tramway Museum.
There are also some photos of the Ballarat goods shed, in the lead up to it being converted to a 'multi-purpose facility'.
32 photos

2017
Y112 and newly restored A2 986 provided the power this year, making a change from the usual K. Photos from Ballarat East station platform and somewhere near Lal Lal.
43 photos