Rebuilding Richi: Richmond Vale Museum Fight to Restore their History

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Richmond Vale Railway Museum has launched a fundraising appeal to raise money to help them rebuild after fire ripped through the area earlier this month.

Fire destroyed around 920 hectares of bushland on September 13, including a lot of the museum leaving behind an estimated $1 million damage bill.

But much of what they lost can't easily be replaced, including 2 kilometres of track between the main line and Pelaw Main, stainless steel passenger cars, a 100-year-old break van and at least 30 hoppers which were all destroyed in the blaze.

The fundraising appeal is through gofundraise.com.au called 'Rebuilding Richi' and Chairman Peter Meadows says they aren't sure exactly how much money they'll need but they know it will be a lot.

"The whole aim of the game is to finance the rebuilding of the track and the bridge. That's what we need the money for because it's just a massive job and we have to get something like, we need at least 3,000 sleepers so we're talking about a huge job and that's a part from anything else."

The volunteers hope the fundraising appeal will get the museum back up and running quickly. Over the years a lot of members have put their own money into various projects at the museum but when it comes to such a large scale rebuild, it's simply not the answer.

"We really need to have the place up and running within the next three months. It took us 30 years to build it, but I'm now 68 so I don't have 30 years left to do it again," said Peter.

The site has been closed off to both the volunteers and the public while assessments are carried out, and now it looks like there's a possible asbestos problem to be dealt with as well as everything else.

"The council is involved and we're going out today to talk to them about all of that site and when we can back on the site just to start the rebuild so at the moment we're dealing with an asbestos problem and that will be dealt with within a very short time," said Peter.

Peter and the volunteers are all forever thankful to the fire crews. Despite losing a lot of stock, the fire crews saved more than they lost. Crews managed to extinguish flames which got into the carriage shed and Peter says if they hadn't, they'd have lost everything.

"We are extremely grateful - yes we've lost some stuff but they did manage to save the buildings which was terrific. Thank you to everybody and the community in general for their support. The amount of support we're getting on emails, texts, etc. is just amazing so we're really very thankful."

A fundraising trivia night is also being held at Kurri Kurri Senior Citizens Hall on Saturday, October 28 from 7pm - tickets are available at $10 a person for teams of eight.

For more information, or to make a book, contact Graham Smith on 0408 333 604

To donate to the fundraising campaign head to  https://www.gofundraise.com.au/beneficiary/rebuildingrichi 

Residents Urged to Stay Away from Richmond Vale Railway Museum

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock City Council is urging residents to stay away from Richmond Vale Railway Museum and surrounding bushland.

It comes after fire ripped through the area on Wednesday - the fire burnt through 920 hectares of land, tragically destroying some of the museum's stock.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has declared the site a 'Fire Ground' and an exclusion zone has been enforced. No one, including the public, volunteers and media, can enter the site without consent from the RFS.

"This is a huge loss for our community, in particular for the dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly for many years to preserve our railway and mining heritage," said a council spokesperson.

The Railway museum released a statement on their Facebook page yesterday echoing the council's warning to residents.

"Museum members and members of the public are advised that security has been posted at the museum's access road to control admission, and that police will be patrolling the area. Please stay away."



The losses the museum suffered during the blaze include:
- 3 stainless steel passenger cars
- 10 of 16 restored non-air coal hoppers and almost all non-restored wagons
- All of the unrestored general freight vehicles
- Approximately 2.5 kilometres of track
- Damage to number 1 bridge on the link line to Pelaw Main

"These losses mean that the museum's rail operations will be suspended pending gradual track rehabilitation. An announcement about other aspects of the museum's activities will be made as soon as access issues are resolved."

Old burnt-out coal wagon Image AAP/Darren Pateman

Fire Update: Thursday 14th September

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Cooler conditions and an overnight southerly change have helped firies get the upper hand on fires burning in the Hunter.

The fire near Richmond Vale in bushland around Leggetts Drive is at an Advice Level after already burning through 920 hectares since it broke containment lines yesterday.

The other fire which was causing concern at Browns Road, Black Hill is also at Advice Level this afternoon and it has burnt through 36 hectares of bushland west of the M1 .

The plan today was to strengthen the containment lines of the fire at Richmond Vale in a bid to completely contain the blaze before winds sweep through the area later this afternoon.

The advice is to keep monitoring the situation in case anything changes.

Meanwhile, volunteers at the Richmond Vale Railway Museum are counting the cost after the fire caused significant damage when it broke containment lines. It's feared the damage bill could be nearly $1 million.

Chairman of the museum Peter Meadows says the damage bill is unthinkable.

"There's three, what were operational stainless steel passenger cars, are now burnt out shells, our number one bridge is damaged. We've got hundreds and hundreds of sleepers that are burnt out and that's a considerable cost when you consider a sleeper is about $100 each or a bit more, so that's where we're at."

For all the latest updates on the fires around the Hunter head to: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me

Leggetts Drive yesterday afternoon. Image MJF Productions.

Welcome Rain Eases Fire Danger But Still More Work To Do

BY IAN CROUCH

Overnight rain has helped firefighters contain one of two major bush fires burning in the Hunter.

A fire at Black Hill which burnt out 35 hectares is now under control.

However, the main concern is the Richmond Vale fire, which has destroyed more than 870 hectares and left the historic railway museum with a million dollar damage bill.

James Morris from the RFS says around 80 firefighters are still working on the massive blaze.

"Firefighters have had a bit of reprieve overnight with showers across many of the fire grounds, which is great. We've still seen some significant winds over those fire grounds still causing some issues for firefighters. However, hopefully we'll continue to be able to gain the upper hand on those fires as the day continues," he said.

Detectives from Strike Force Tronto are looking into the cause of the fires.

Richmond Vale Fire Downgraded To Advice Level photo:Cessnock Advertiser

Black Hill Fire Now Under Control photo: Triple M

Richmond Vale Rail Museum Damaged in Fire

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The fire at Richmond Vale has caused significant damage to the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on Leggetts Drive.

Three railway carriages have gone up in flames and are destroyed, whilst hundreds of sleepers have been scorched, according to Museum Chairman Peter Meadows, who recently arrived at the site.

"There's three of them that have gone up in flames- they're totally gone, just a mess," he said. "Some of the stock that was out the back is written-off as far as I can see."

An emergency warning was issued by the NSW RFS in relation to the Richmond Vale fire earlier today, as it burnt through 700 hectares of bushland, however it has now been downgraded to a 'watch and act' situation.

"It looks like the majority of the fire has passed us now," Mr Meadows explains, "but there's still smouldering everywhere- there's trees and wagons smouldering ..."

He estimates the damage bill will exceed $100,000 and worries the Railway Museum will be forced to cease operation, as track repair alone will likely take several months.

"As I look down the track, all I can see for 800 or 900 metres is smoking wood and sleepers, which means every one of those needs to be replaced."

Peter Meadows commends the efforts of the Rural Fire Service, saying they've worked strenuously to contain the blaze.

A serious bushfire has impacted some rail exhibits at the Richmond Main Railway Museum near Kurri Kurri. Details on @nbnnews tonight at 6 pic.twitter.com/eQlKY3ghTM

— David Threlfo (@David_Threlfo) September 13, 2017