Australian Railway History

19/04/2025

🎪🚂THE MAY ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂🤡
Thinking about a world without cars is really hard now, but Shepherd’s is a long forgotten mainline wayside station that served local farming districts and gave locals a link to the bigger world for their goods and family. The stop is located between Harefield and Bomen on the New South Wales Main South Line and is 504.641 kilometres from Sydney. Opened on Friday 10 March 1893 it is simply now gone but not forgotten.
Three Days of Enjoyment — Opening the Railway from Narrandera to Darlington Point reveals an account from The Hay Standard, Wednesday, 7 September 1881, tells of a three-day coach journey from Hay to Darlington Point and return to join festivities celebrating completion of the next stage of the South Western Line that would arrive at Hay in a little under a year. During the excursion the travellers visited two large sheep stations on the Hay Plains, giving us a snapshot into the operation of those iconic 19th Century pastoral institutions.
We also continue with Part 2 on Greg Blackwells interesting Circus Trains in Australia, Between 1891 and 1963. It’s hard to believe so much interest from the community being on the station yards when these trains arrived in to town with elephants helping to unpack and set up the performance site.

All this and more in our MAY issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
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04/04/2025

🚂THE SPECIAL 48-PAGE APRIL ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂

If only we had known way back when! The attitude might have been, ‘quick make sure you catch them why you can!’ During 1985 and 1986, Australian National rolled out a series of timetable and marketing changes designed to improve the viability of the South Australian intrastate passenger business. Using Budd and Bluebird railcars AN Tried many different initiatives to improve the business. It was not successful!
It's been 50 years since the Short Film A Steam Train Passes was released in cinemas. Photographer Shane O’Neil sensed there was something special what's happening on the Main West and he was able to catch some wonderful black and white photos of the production in process. 3801 has never looked better.
Eric Gibbons shares his memories of No.31 South; it was an odd train service for its time. Leaving Sydney Terminal Station at 1.10 am, the train was scheduled to reach its destination in Goulburn at 8.07 am. The journey of 139 miles (224 km) took just under seven hours – a start to stop average speed of 20 miles per hour (32 km/h). It's not the kind of train you will have seen on advertisements of the time.
Our bumper 48-page April issue is ready for you!
All this and more in our APRIL issue!
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14/03/2025

🚂THE MARCH ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂
This month David Matheson writes a contribution for Part 2 of Queensland’s North Coast Line (following our pictorial coverage from December 2024 issue). David writes on the various stages of construction that contributed to the December 1924 completion celebration. The North Coast Line was constructed over a lengthy period of time. Sections were built that were disconnected from the rest of the network, creating various isolated railways. Some railways opened to the inland included sections that would eventually become part of the North Coast Line.

All this and more in our MARCH issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/

07/03/2025

🚂THE MARCH ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂
We feature a pictorial feature on the Rookwood Cemetery Line, it is a wonderful contribution by a son to his father’s love of trains and what he found in the 1920 and 30s as a British immigrant coming to Australia in look of work.

All this and more in our MARCH issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
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28/02/2025

🚂THE MARCH ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂
This month David Matheson writes a contribution for Part 2 of Queensland’s North Coast Line (following our pictorial coverage from December 2024 issue). David writes on the various stages of construction that contributed to the December 1924 completion celebration. The North Coast Line was constructed over a lengthy period of time. Sections were built that were disconnected from the rest of the network, creating various isolated railways. Some railways opened to the inland included sections that would eventually become part of the North Coast Line.
The Ardglen ballast quarry was a very interesting hole in the ground. Prior to the ballast quarry, sand, sandy materials, gravel, broken bricks and sandstone had been used for ballast on the Sydney–Parramatta railway. Such materials were soon found to crush under the passage of trains and work their way into rolling stock components, something had to be done.
We also feature a pictorial feature on the Rookwood Cemetery Line, it is a wonderful contribution by a son to his father’s love of trains and what he found in the 1920 and 30s as a British immigrant coming to Australia in look of work.
We also feature the last part of Frank Husseys wonderful career as a Fireman at the South Dynon Loco Depot and all the lines and rollingstock that he worked on from 1968 to 1974.

All this and more in our MARCH issue!
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31/01/2025

31/01/2025

🚂THE FEBRUARY ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂
Back in late 1969, Lindsay Morrison was employed by the Victorian Railways as a trainee engineman and was qualified to act as a fireman, based mainly at South Dynon locomotive depot. At that time there was a large complement of folks in the ‘engine’ grades rostered on what was known as the ‘goods roster’. Lindsay tells us about being rostered on to the Essendon Goods. Not a particularly well reported on train back then but today there are no local suburban goods trains in Melbourne and locations like Essendon don’t see anything like this kind of working today. It truly is a gem from the past.
Having three brothers killed in separate railway accidents not only represents a terrible family loss but a happening that has hopefully not been repeated anywhere else in Australia. Neville Pollard writes on some unfortunate family history that he and his brother Geoff have discovered in recent years.
David Matheson writes on the recent Lapstone Hill Tunnel Community Open days and we have another exciting instalment into of Firing Days at South Dynon Loco Depot by Frank Hussey.
All this and more in our FEBRUARY issue!
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30/01/2025

Last to chance to bask in the beauty of the Black and White photos on the Short South in the dying days of steam in this months ARH. All this and more in our JANUARY issue!
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Or Call (02) 9699 4595 during our opening times.

24/01/2025

We also have some beautiful photos of the Victorian Railways Blue and Gold in our second part of Firing Days at South Dynon Locomotive Depot, 1968 - 1974 by Frank Hussey. Melbourne suburbs have changed so much! Frank Hussey writes on leaving the New South Wales Government Railways and Sydney in September 1968 (see ARH, April 2022) and starting the next stage of his railway career at the Victorian Railways as a trainee engineman at the South Dynon Locomotive Depot. South Dynon was the VR’s largest loco depot in the state and provided locos and crews for the Melbourne area.
Grab your copy now!
Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/
Or Call (02) 9699 4595 during our opening times.

10/01/2025

Don't forget to bask in the beauty of the Black and White photos on the Short South in the dying days of steam in this months ARH. All this and more in our JANUARY issue!
Grab your copy now!
Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/
Or Call (02) 9699 4595 during our opening times.

30/12/2024

🚂THE JANUARY ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂
Following on from the black and white pictorial coverage of the Main West in the May 2024 issue of Australian Railway History, we provide a similar insight into the section of the Main Southern line to Goulburn, affectionately known as the Short South. While there were short, sharp grades on the North and the West, train working on the Short South involved long sections of continuous uphill grades from Picton (1 in 75 to Moss Vale and then a short section of 1 in 66 from Werai to Exeter). From Goulburn, there were several sections of 1 in 66 right up to the last climb into Moss Vale on the Up. Strategically located at the crest of grades in both directions, Moss Vale played a significant role in steam operations right until the end, with a passenger train terminating there each night and locos being detached after assisting on the main grades. Come and share with us an exquisite selection of black and white photos by Laurie Anderson, Graham Cotterall and Dennis O’Brien from the dying says of steam on the Short South. We also have some beautiful photos of the Blue and Gold in our second part of Firing Days at South Dynon Locomotive Depot, 1968 - 1974 by Frank Hussey.
All this and more in our JANUARY issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/

23/12/2024

What was your favorite cover of the year?
The 2024 Index is now available to download and print at the site address below.
We want to wish all of our readers Season Greetings!
Many thanks for all your readership in 2024. We are really looking forward to 2025 and all the rail content that we can fit in!
Make sure you are ready with an ARHS membership or ARH subscription for Digital or Print at https://arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/ or call (02)
9699 4595 when we return on the 6 January 2025!

13/12/2024

The completion of the Daradgee Bridge in October 1924 meant that the north and south of Queensland railways were now finally combined to form the North Coast Line. The line was officially opened on Monday the 8 December 1924 by Queensland Premier Edward Theodore amongst a crowd of 6000, that had arrived by special trains from Townsville, Charters Towers, Cairns and the Atherton Tableland to witness the opening ceremony. This amazing achievement parallels the opening of the Trans Australian railway and the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia’s engineering development.

All this and more in our DECEMBER issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/

07/12/2024

THE MIGHTY VR
Frank Hussey writes on leaving the New South Wales Government Railways and Sydney in September 1968 (see ARH, April 2022) and starting the next stage of his railway career at the Victorian Railways as a trainee engineman at the South Dynon Locomotive Depot. South Dynon was the VR’s largest loco depot in the state and provided locos and crews for the Melbourne area.

All this and more in our DECEMBER issue!
Grab your copy now!
Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/

29/11/2024

🚂THE DECEMBER ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂

This December we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Queensland’s North Coast Line.
The completion of the Daradgee Bridge in October 1924 meant that the north and south of Queensland railways were now finally combined to form the North Coast Line. The line was officially opened on Monday the 8 December 1924 by Queensland Premier Edward Theodore amongst a crowd of 6000, that had arrived by special trains from Townsville, Charters Towers, Cairns and the Atherton Tableland to witness the opening ceremony. This amazing achievement parallels the opening of the Trans Australian railway and the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia’s engineering development.
Frank Hussey writes on leaving the New South Wales Government Railways and Sydney in September 1968 (see ARH, April 2022) and starting the next stage of his railway career at the Victorian Railways as a trainee engineman at the South Dynon Locomotive Depot. South Dynon was the VR’s largest loco depot in the state and provided locos and crews for the Melbourne area.
We also complete our article by Geoff Lillico on Circular Quay station as the Sydney Ferries move out move out to make way for construction at the birthplace of European settlement and the part played by J J C Bradfield.

All this and more in our DECEMBER issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/

22/11/2024

A little item from across the pond in – A relic of New Zealand's rail past has emerged from the mud 93 years after being dumped in a Southland River.

A relic of New Zealand's rail past has emerged from the mud 93 years after being dumped in a Southland River.The Lumsden Heritage Trust has been campaigning ...

01/11/2024

🚂THE NOVEMBER ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂

On 26 January 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip raised the British flag on the banks of the Tank Stream near where it entered Sydney Cove. One hundred and sixty-eight years later, Circular Quay station was opened on 20 January 1956 by the New South Wales (NSW) Premier, JJ (Joe) Cahill, at a site adjacent to the birthplace of European settlement in Australia. For 100 years prior to that opening, the planning and construction of the station and the City Circle railway it serves was steeped in controversy. The station at the birthplace of European settlement and the part played by J J C Bradfield by author Geoff Lillico covers the history and the problems in building this vital part of the City Railway in Sydney.
More than 40 years (nearly 41 years now) have passed since the Tasmanian Transport Museum in the Hobart suburb of Glenorchy was formally opened to the public. Peter Carey has produced an insightful article and pictorial on the history of the rail operations of the museum as they prepare for operations on more track through Hobarts former main line.
Richard Mathews writes on a unique wagon that has escaped any coverage on the NSW Railways, the Rowland’s Mineral Water Tank Wagon. The timeline for the wagon existed in the late 19th century but Richard has been able to locate some diagrams and some illustrations that prove for interesting reading on the wagons life and function.

All this and more in our NOVEMBER issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/

01/10/2024

🚂THE OCTOBER ARH ISSUE OUT NOW IN DIGITAL AND PRINT🚂

L Class locomotives also operated suburban goods trains beyond their usual Traralgon Line rosters. Author Chris Banger opens a photo in more ways than one when he takes a look at a photo of L 1169 in the suburb of Fairfield while working a rake of empty wagons used for paper pulp near the mainline junction of the 1.125 kilometre-long Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) Siding at Fairfield. We look at the history of the siding and history behind the traffic.
Outside of the western Riverina of New South Wales there probably aren’t many who have heard of Carrathool, a village of around 70 inhabitants, three kilometres north of the Murrumbidgee River on the former South West (Junee–Hay) railway, 72.3 miles (116.3km) west of Narrandera1 and 34.7 miles (55.8km) east of Hay. Neville Pollard studies the railway’s role in the rise and fall of Carrathool. Of significance is competition between railway and river for wool traffic and opening of the Griffith–Hillston Line for wheat traffic.
The ARHS Archives have so much amazing things inside but we have recently found an interesting article in amongst CC Singletons papers left to the society about 3801s on its trail trip to Thirroul and return in 1943. It is an interesting account that is not to be missed as so many of CC Singletons accounts, articles and reports are when looking back at those priceless ARHS Bulletin issues.

All this and more in our OCTOBER issue!
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Print and digital formats available. Order at:
arhsnsw.com.au/australian-railway-history/