The Australian Society of Section Car Operators (ASSCO), is an accredited railway operator that seeks access to railways for its members. It was originally registered as a non-profit organisation, under the ''Associations Incorporation Act'' in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

Group history

ASSCO was founded in November 1999, after a series of informal meetings, by a group of motor section car owners who were running in

.History
Australian Society of Section Car Operators At the time, many cars were being run using the insurance and systems of a number of heritage railways, including Steamtown, and often under the "work for ride" banner. Changes to the regulatory regime in South Australia allowed for the accreditation of a body as a railway owner and operator, subject to meeting the requirements of Australian Standard AS4292 Railway safety management. ASSCO was established to hold the accreditation, and in 2000, work commenced on the preparation of a safety management case for the group. The case considered obligations under the Rail Safety Act, Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act, AS 4801/4804, AS4360, AS4292 and

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quality systems. Interim accreditation was achieved in June 2000 Work to prepare the safety case was done by one of the founding members, with operational experience coming from a former railwayman, whilst a number of the processes used by the North American Railcar Operators Association were considered and, were necessary, modified to meet Australian Regulatory requirements. By April 2001, the organisation had in place an access agreement, which meant accreditation could be granted. ASSCO was the first not-for-profit ("Heritage") railway to be granted accreditation as a railway operator without owning or managing its own railway line in South Australia. It was also the first heritage operator to start up under the regulatory regime since it was implemented. The committee at the time, and subsequently, has avoided taking (long term) responsibility for any infrastructure, because of the work and cost associated with its maintenance. That said, the group has held a lease over the railway between Kevin and Penong on the Far West of

Eyre Peninsula The Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded by the Spencer Gulf on the east, the Great Australian Bight on the west, and the Gawler Ranges to the north. Earlier called Eyre's Peninsula, it was named after e ...

."Section Cars return to Penong Railway'" ''

West Coast Sentinel The ''West Coast Sentinel'' is a weekly newspaper published Thursdays in Ceduna, South Australia. It was founded in mid-1912, and has been published continuously since then. It was later sold to Rural Press, previously owned by Fairfax Media, ...

'' 30 January 2003 Originally, operations focused on the railways of South Australia. Although realised early on that other states would be essential to assist the group to grow, work for access in other states did not commence for a few years.ASSCO website About Page accessed 27 March 2020 via https://assco.com.au/aboutus.html It last operated in South Australia in 2004.

First Run

After gaining accreditation, the group made a number of approaches to heritage and commercial railway operators for access. The first railway to agree to host an ASSCO meet was NRG Flinders Operating Services Pty Ltd, operator of the Leigh Creek line, between

Port Augusta Port Augusta (''Goordnada'' in the revived indigenous Barngarla language) is a coastal city in South Australia about by road from the state capital, Adelaide. Most of the city is on the eastern shores of Spencer Gulf, immediately south of the ...

and Copley. This was the longest run for section cars at the time, some 250 km. The event was run over the Easter Long Weekend, 2001. This line carried one coal train each way each day, meaning the trip crossed trains both days.

Other Runs

ASSCO has also operated on railways owned by

One Rail Australia One Rail Australia was an Australian Rail freight transport, rail freight operator company. Founded by a United States short line railroad holding company, Genesee & Wyoming, Genesee & Wyoming Inc, in 1997 as Australian Southern Railroad, and s ...

Pichi Richi Railway Pichi Richi Railway is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in the southern Flinders Ranges of South Australia between Quorn and Port Augusta. For much of its length the line lies in the picturesque Pichi Richi Pass, where the line was completed i ...

, the Australian Electric Transport Museum and Lions Club of YPRail. It has also leased the Kevin Penong line for two weekends. In line with its current focus on Queensland railways, ASSCO operates over the 42" gauge trackage of

Queensland Rail Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Queensland Rail is owned by the Queensland Government, and operates both Commuter rail, suburban and Regional rail, interurban rail services in South East Queensland, as well ...

ways. It has operated as far north as

Cairns Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people. The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...

, including the Normanton-

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Railway. Its first run on the QR network was over the now closed line between

Theebine Theebine is a rural town and locality split between the Gympie Region and the Fraser Coast Region, both in Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Theebine had a population of 145 people. Geography The town is located north of the ...

and

Kingaroy Kingaroy () is a rural town and suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the South Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. The town is situated on the Road Junction, junction of the D'Aguilar Highway, D'Aguilar and the Bunya Highway, Buny ...

in April 2003 The group has accessed a limited number of heritage railways, including the

Mary Valley Rattler The Mary Valley Rattler (formerly Mary Valley Heritage Railway) is a heritage railway line that conducts steam train trips and tours from Gympie through the Mary River (Queensland), Mary Valley using the former Mary Valley railway line in the Gymp ...

. Mary Valley hosted ASSCO for a commissioning and training day on 23 March 2003. The largest group of participants ever attended its Monto Loop Run (19 cars and 32 people) on a trip between

Biggenden Biggenden is a rural town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Biggenden had a population of 788 people. Geography Biggenden is on the Isis Highway north ...

and

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in Queensland in April 2010.

Insurance problems

Like many heritage railways, ASSCO was adversely effected of the insurance crisis in the early part of the decade (2002–2003). Whilst a few thought the organisation was dead, work to regain insurance continued. This included support of other programs, even when these did not benefit the organisation directly. ASSCO was eventually invited into a group insurance scheme run through the Council of Historic Railways and Tramways of South Australia Inc, enabling it to restart operations. This move also benefited other heritage railways in South Australia, as its contribution reduced the overall premium payable by other heritage railways. More recently, the group moved into other pooled premium schemes, and the cost of insurance on the open market has fallen considerably.

Sharing the benefit

The group realised the benefit of synergistic working when it was founded. That is, there must be a benefit for the organisation which hosts a run, or for a commercial railway owner, the access should be cost neutral, if not at a small profit. Indeed, ASSCO members have provided a number of organisations with non-pecuniary benefits as a result of access. As a charitable organisation. ASSCO donates a portion of member event fees to other non-profit organisations. Such as the Queensland Air Ambulance Service and the Don River Railway. The Trolley Shed - Members update 4, May 2023 ASSCO does not carry members of the public. However, members are themselves tourists, and provide a considerable boost to local economies where they operate.

Current operations

ASSCO currently operate over the Queensland Rail network. ASSCO signed a 5 year access agreement with QR in May 2024. On average, ASSCO holds 4 operations(events) a year. ASSCO is attempting to seek access in NSW The organisation has around 50 members of which 30 are active. Membership is by yearly subscription. several railway industry competencies are required to participate in ASSCO operations. It is not required to own your own section car.

Safety Issues

Like all railway operators in Australia, ASSCO has been subjected to regulatory intervention by the Office Of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR). Mainly relating to improving policies and procedures. Not having operated in South Australia since 2004. ASSCO surrendered its accreditation in South Australia, in 2010. ASSCO voluntarily suspended its operation mid 2019. ASSCO did so to bring its Rail Safety Management System (RSMS) up to comply with current legislation and standards. ASSCO Operations re-started in February 2020. Message - Safety Management System Case Study accessed 16 February 2020 via https://www.onrsr.com.au/safety-essentials/safety-messages/safety-message-safety-management-system-case-study-onrsr-and-assco Following an audit by the ONRSR, an Improvement Notice was issued on the 14th February 2023. This Notice was cancelled on the 8th March 2023. ONRSR Statutory Notices via https://www.onrsr.com.au/enforcing-rsnl/statutory-notices Around the same time, Queensland Rail suspended access for all section cars to its network. The suspension stemming from concerns with level crossing safety. The suspension was lifted a short time later after consultation between ASSCO and QR management. With improved safety procedures regarding level crossings, ASSCO resumed operation in April 2023. ASSCO constantly monitors and updates, where necessary, safety policies and procedures in line with Rail Safety National Law (RSNL). As such, offers an environment for its members to enjoy Section Car travel safely.ASSCO Membership Pack 2023

Affiliations

ASSCO was an International Affiliate of North American Railcar Operators Association (NARCOA).

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.assco.com.au Railway companies established in 1999 Heritage railway companies of Australia Australian companies established in 1999