This classic metal take-apart puzzle features fine decorative horseshoes as well as solid construction. The objective is to remove the ring from the horseshoes without forcing or bending any of the elements. Though this puzzle is well-known, the solution is trickier than you might think!

The advent of the 1990’s resulted in big changes in the Victorian railway scene. These were highlighted by the creation of several private rail hauliers and by the completion of the standard gauge line to Adelaide.

This remastered Diesels in Victoria features the new alongside the old, with additional coverage of most contemporary Victorian classes on V/Line and with more recent private operators; as well as archive material of diesel and electric locomotives in an era when steam was still in evidence.

Included on the contemporary scene are locos from South Australia and New South Wales now working regularly into Victoria.

We also take a special look at the diesel driver training simulator in operation at Melbourne’s South Dynon depot.

Locations covered include the historic rail centres of Ballarat, Bendigo and Maryborough, where many features of the steam era still exist.

Contents include:
AN (Australian National)
ATN (Australian Transport Network)
CFCLA (Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia)
QRN (Queensland Railway National)
FA (Freight Australia)
GN (Great Northern)
NRC (National Rail Corporation)
Patricks Stevedore Co
RTA (Rail Transport Services)
SCT (Specialised Container Transport)
Steamrail
TNT (The World Transportation Group)
V/Line (Public Transport Corporation)
West Coast Railway

Loco classes include:-
A, B, BL/G, C, CLF, CLP, DL, EL, GM, H, N, NR, J, S, T, TL, V, VL, Y, X/XR, XP, 49, 81, 422, 442, 700, & 930.

Running Time – 1 hr 11 min

Queensland: featuring –
Brisbane suburban, Toowomba line, North Coast line, Gladstone/Rockhampton, Longreach line, Mackay, Bowen, Townsville, Mt Isa line, Cairns region.

Loco classes – 1150, 1200, 1400, 1170, 1450, 1250, 1600, 1460/1502, 1270, 1700, 1720, DH, 1300, 2100, 1550, 2350, 2600, 3100/3200 (elect’), 3900 (elect’), 2300, 2800, 4000, and Tilt Train.

New South Wales: featuring –
Main lines, some branch lines. Modern and archive footage from the 1960s.

Loco classes – 40, 42, 421, 422, 43, 44, 442, 45, 46 (elec’), 47, 48, 49, 70, 73, 80, 81, 82, 90, XPT, NR, and BHP industrials.

Victoria: featuring –
Main lines and the historic railway centres of Ballarat, Bendigo, and Maryborough.

Loco Classes – A, B, BL, C, CLF, CLP, DL, G, H, N, NR, J, S, T, Y, X/XR, XP, 49, 81, 700, 930 and Silverton 442.

South Australia: featuring –
Archive and modern footage of workings on three gauges across the State filmed by Greg Travers, Peter Attenborough and Bruce Mead.

Loco classes – 350, DE, GM, 900, Silverton units, NSU, 930, 800, 830, DA, 500, 600, BU, NT, CL, CLF, CLP, 700, NJ, AL, ALF, BL, DL, EL, AN, CK, and BHP rebuilds.

Running Time: 2 hr 15 min

The Victorian railway system has undergone many changes since its inception in the late 19th century, including upgrades of infrastructure and more recently the closing of branch lines.

The replacement of steam motive power by diesel and electric traction, perhaps the most poignant chapter.

Here we look back at such changes, particularly the demise of the steam locomotive fleet, some of which were withdrawn less than two decades after construction.

The remaining survivors lingered on into the diesel era as ageing reminders of a bygone age.

Fortunately a limited number were preserved and can still be seen on occasional special workings.

How they were and how they continue to evoke memories of the steam age is the focus of Victorian Steam – Then and Now

Archive loco classes include –
A2, D3, D4, E, J, K, N, R, S, X, Y, & Z.

Preserved loco classes include –
A2, D3, J, K, R, & Y.

Running time – 1 hr 8 min.

In this Part 3 of Steam in Victoria we take an unusually varied look at a number of Victorian railway subjects, including archive steam in its latter years.

The re-opening of the remaining section of The Victorian Goldfields Railway, with two double-headers to celebrate the event, simultaneously departing from Castlemaine towards Melbourne and the branch to Maldon.

Action footage of S304. Accurate in every detail, a scaled down precise replica of a celebrated S class three cylinder Pacific, none of which escaped the cutters torch.

Melbourne visit of the famous Rocket (replica) in 1982.

Areas covered include – Western, Eastern and Northern Victoria and the Melbourne suburbs.

Loco typs include:
K, J, N, R, S, Y and D3.

Running time – 1 hr 7 min.

A DVD that combines two previous video releases
Part 1.
Features classic footage of steam scenes in Victoria in the halcyon days of the 1960’s. Particular emphasis is given to long closed branch lines, with unique comparisons between archive material and a modern day update giving a ‘then-now’ perspective. Regular steam on the main line is also included, again with a look at how the scene has changed, stations closed, vandalised or disappeared. And railway artifacts from the steam age either surprisingly still intact or gone forever.

In addition special workings across the state borders to Deniliquin (NSW), Albury (NSW) & Pinnaroo (SA) are also shown.

Branch line workings include:-
Cudgewa, Mansfield/Alexandra, Healesville/Warburton, Wonthaggi,
Rushworth/Girgarre/Colbinabbin, Daylesford, Skipton, Maldon, Marnoo,
Horsham/Carpolac, Coleraine and Casterton.
Loco classes include:- K, J, R, A2, N, C, Y, X and D3.

Part 2. (The Final Fling)
”Steam in Victoria – Part 2″ focuses on regular workings in the 1960’s, both on the main line and various branch lines. .The ‘then-now’ perspective is again explored, showing the many remarkable changes that have taken place on the Victorian railways over the past forty years. Due to a shortage of diesel motive power, the early 1960’s saw the re-introduction into regular traffic of previously withdrawn steam locomotives. The remnants of this renaissance saw their ‘final fling’ well into the decade.

Also, rare archive footage of the celebrated three cylinder S class Pacifics, including scenes hauling the “Spirit of Progress” in the 1930’s. Regrettably, the preservation movement got underway a little too late to save any four members of the class. However, two miniature replicas, streamlined S302 and non-streamlined S304, have been constructed. These beautifully crafted locomotives are seen at work.

Line workings include:-
Melbourne-Serviceton, Melbourne-Geelong, Melbourne-Bendigo, Ballarat-Maryborough, Geelong-Warrnambool, Geelong-Ballarat, Maryborough-Castlemaine, Maryborough-Donald, Dunolly-Inglewood, Dimboola-Yanac and Caslemaine-Maldon.
Loco classes include:- K, J, R, D3, N, Y, S and A2.

Total running time – 2hr 20min.

Steam’s Finest Hour is a 1 hour compilation of some of the most evocative and enduring images feature by Ross Rail Video Productions.

This ‘hour‘ includes over 40 film segments in no fewer than 12 countries, including several Australian scenes.

Enjoy the sight and sound of steam action without narration. This is truly a DVD to be enjoyed and savoured.

Running time – 1 hour

Featuring VIC, NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS including archive material.
Running time – 2 hour 15 min

Australian Steam Through The Decades celebrates 25 years of Ross Rail Video Productions with much previously unseen archive and contemporary footage from six states.
Total Running Time – 1 hour 53 minutes

Personal stories about Mansfield's sons and daughters who were involved in World War 1.

Saddling Up
By Dillon Mason, Sue Gardner and Geoff Webb.
Featuring Geoffrey Ritchie, Val Kirley, Robert Friday and Oliver Sladdin.

Homefront
By Natasha Hosny, Lois Neely and Ann Ware. Featuring Bill Griffiths, Bruce Bingham and Margaret Adcock

Honoured, Free and Home
By Wendy Jubb Stoney and Michael Shaw.
Featuring Gavin Dundas, Enid O'Brien, Mick Heam and Wendy Jubb Stoney.

4WD Treks of the High Country will lead readers through twenty-six of the best four-wheel drive touring destinations in both the Victorian and New South Wales alpine region. Jam-packed full of information on the region’s history, natural features and highlights, this detailed guide makes an indispensable travelling companion for those setting out to explore one of the country’s most unique areas. The guide features over 150 stunning full colour photographs which help bring the High Country to life.

Whilst exploring this awe-inspiring region, travellers will discover old gold mining towns tucked away in secluded valleys, marvel at breathtaking vistas from atop some of the region’s highest peaks and be guided to great campsites to throw down their swags, often beside babbling mountain streams. With the aid of comprehensive route directions, intrepid adventurers are guided on the right track from start to finish, taking in many little-known points of interest tucked away in the mountains.

As one of Australia’s premier four-wheel drive touring destinations, 4WD Treks of the High Country will help readers get the best from their adventure to this stunning area.

The Widow of Wappan
This story, of Anne Fraser Bon and her 80 yea association with Aboriginal people in Victoria has been the subject of folklore and numerous chapters in local history books. What was not written, is the extent to which Mrs Bon championed the rights of Aboriginal people, leading to a grand gesture before her death in 1936.

This is the story of Mrs Anne Fraser Bon and her relationship with William Barak, ngurungaeta or head man of the Wurundjeri people. It is also the story of the hidden history of the Mansfield district, the fate of the Yeerunillum (Broken River) people, part of the nine clans which made up the Taungurung tribe.
The story is firmly based on historical acts and letters.

Pages 12 = A4 Printed & Stapled

It is nearly 100 years since James Barclay was gunned down at Wonnangatta Station and his murderer or murderers, are long since dead, but who were they? What was their motive?
These questions and the names of the murders are answered in this book for the first time.
Wally Mortimer has made more than 200 trips into the Wonnangatta valley and has spent more than 40 years researching its history.
In 1989 he initiated the rebuilding of the cemetery fence and in 1991 began 'The Friends of Wonnangatta Valley' group.
The friends group maintain the cemetery and the site of the old homestead.

124 Pages
140mm x215mm x 10mm

"Sergeant Rogerson looked as if his head had been plunged into a bucket of blood."

That is how a doctor described the injuries to the first Victoria Police Valour Award winner in 1899, Sergeant William Rogerson.

The policeman had been brutally bashed with a brick while arresting two burglars in a quiet Melbourne suburb, in broad daylight. The doctor informed the police officer that only "his thick skull" saved him from more serious injury.

The bravery shown by the sergeant captured the imagination of his fellow officers and the public alike. The police of the day were so impressed by their colleague's actions that they had a whip around and purchased a medal which was duly presented at a special ceremony by Chief Commissioner Chomley. The government then introduced an official award for valour.

True Blue is the story of some of Victoria's bravest police officers, people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect the citizens of the state.

Awards have been presented after violent arrests and natural disasters. Some men were recognised after stopping bolting horses in the heart of the city. Others pursued villains in high speed car chases.

Working together with journalist and author Shirley Hardy-Rix, True Blue is the result of hundreds of hours of painstaking research by Chief Inspector Ralph Stavely.