West Gippsland CMP

[Keith Webb]

Mike, as we know the Noojee (and wider area) was a major timber area. It would be interesting to speculate as to the number of CMPs employed in that area from the war's end to the 1980s when they were all pretty much retired.
For some reason (don't know why) by far the bias was to Ford CMPs, both cab 12 and 13 in that area. I've seen mostly F60Ls but also some F60S, a F15A, and even a FGT at Gladysdale, closer to Yarra Junction but in the general timber area.



And back in 2003 I photographed this F15A, be interesting to know whether it was the one in your photograph.



My own F15A came from the Powelltown sawmill.

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Noojee has been ravaged by bush fires on a regular basis over the years . I don't think the population figure has changed much since the 1940's. A bus service still runs daily between Warragul and Noojee. The last Noojee mainline train ran in 1954, to take residents to Warragul for the Queen's visit .

During its heyday, various narrow gauge lines spread out from the many saw mills into the bush for miles . Cute little company owned steam locos were all over the place . It was quite a feat getting the main line there into Noojee, it's downfall was the many wooden trestle bridges , they burnt down more than once and the cost of rebuilding them didn't justify as the traffic was down to one train a week towards the 1940's.

I believe that garage building is still there today . Did anyone spot the three brands of petrol bowsers ? L to R: Shell, Mobil and COR, that was the norm in those days. The car is a Prefect . The kid would be in his 60's now.



Mike