Model Trains and Things

Over the last couple of years Queensland Railways have been slowly abandoning a number of their cross-country branchlines. In a world where road transport costs are increasing the wisdom of abandoning those branchlines is questionable and in 50 years time the Government of the day could be regretting the short-sightedness of their predecessors.

Here, looming out of the winter fog that was around a couple of weeks ago is Biggenden station located on one of those recently abandoned branchlines. There are some quite large (in Queensland terms) towns along the same line as Biggenden and you have to wonder the difficulties those towns will face without a rail link to the seaboard.

Here is a link to a Flickr photostream that features some great historical railway photos taken in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. You’ll also find a few from the Philippines, South Africa and parts of Europe too.

The Australian photos show a time that I remember well

Moss Vale NSW is situated south of Sydney on the main southern line to Melbourne. Moss Vale was also the junction for the cross-country line to Port Kembla.

In 1972 Moss Vale was a bit of a drive south of Sydney but it was an interesting place to head for if you were a train enthusiast. Sunday mornings were usually fairly quiet; the previous week’s goods programme was over and the new week’s was yet to start.

Back on March 12, 1972 this is how Moss Vale station appeared looking south from the road bridge just to the north of the the station.

On the left is the dock platform with a CPH stabled in the dock. It was possibly laying over before heading down cross-country line to Wollongong.

Next to the line into the dock are the up and down mainline. Then we see the beginning of the goods sidings in the yard. The line on the right holds a string of loaded BLH limestone wagons. On Monday they could also be heading down the escarpment to the steel works at Port Kembla.