Howdee regular readers, blog subscribers, and any random vagrants that have accidently found the site while searching for something else.
Due to numerous reasons, I am rarely able to venture out
of Sydney nowadays, so this past weekend has been a particular joy. Most of it was spent in areas of the Riverina that were once like my second home, taking the opportunity to revisit the towns along the way, as one never knows if it will be the last time.
The primary reason for the trip was the inaugural meeting of the 'Stock Station Preservation Group', their aim to restore the beautiful Stockinbingal station, which has suffered dreadfully from the disinterest of those who are supposed to be maintaining it.
It brought forth both the best and worst of people in this hobby, but was one I shall remember for a long while.
Please note: This is just a quick trip report. I took a lot more photos/video along the way, and these will be covered in other blog entries and YouTube videos, which I am sure will cause more hate to be dumped in my direction.
The Big Merino - Goulburn
Guess I shall just leave out the New Zealand jokes this time. In 2021 people just seem incapable of holding their feelings in check.
Old South Road, at Yarra (just south of Goulburn), is not a place I have been too regularly over he years. It isn't all that good a spot to be honest.
But an update from a mate in Gunning saw me stop off for some video of a few trains. Being video, the trains do not appear here. However, they will be on old YouTube in the near future.
But an update from a mate in Gunning saw me stop off for some video of a few trains. Being video, the trains do not appear here. However, they will be on old YouTube in the near future.
NR119 18 28 - Up 3PS6 - 08.30
8126 8124 - Up Grain - 08.58
Yass Station, which will be covered more in depth in a future entry.
As the purpose of the trip was the saving of a rural station, I thought I would break my journey by visiting a few other historic stations along the way.
While only stopping at a few, the differences were really quite stark.
Yass Junction was indeed one of the better maintained locations (if you ignore the footbridge that seems to have been easier to close than maintain). The station itself was spotless and welcoming, though staff are only there for certain hours of the day, these being when trains are about.
Yass Junction was indeed one of the better maintained locations (if you ignore the footbridge that seems to have been easier to close than maintain). The station itself was spotless and welcoming, though staff are only there for certain hours of the day, these being when trains are about.
Bowning Hotel - Established 1870
I believe Bowning station is now privately rented and access is no longer allowed. Back when I first visited, in the mid 80s, there were stairs from the bridge I am situated on, down to that second platform.
The small building on the up platform looks to be suffering from a lack of care.
8227 8135 - Up Grain - Bowning
Harden South Signalbox. One of many Riverina signalboxs that are slowly deteriorating.
Harden station made a very interesting comparison to Yass Junction.
From a distance, like in the shot below, it looks as good as the other station, but get close, or especially inside the waiting room, and a different story is to be told.
From a distance, like in the shot below, it looks as good as the other station, but get close, or especially inside the waiting room, and a different story is to be told.
It seems strange that two mainline station, on the same line, attract two levels of care.
Anyway, we shall cover Harden later on.
Anyway, we shall cover Harden later on.
NGPF-36004 was one of two grain hoppers sitting in the yard.
I would assume they have been sidelined with mechanical issues, but that sort of assumption upsets those more in the know, so I shall protect feelings by just leaving this image and no frther comment.
This poor old girl, NVJF-34044, is in desperate need of some loving.
Last used back in 2006, her primary role had been to accompany trains on the Cunningar silo shunt.
Because the Cunningar siding was a dead end off the up main, this van would assist in trains pushing back to Harden.
From 2006, the use of a loco on both ends of the train removed the need for this van. Though, somehow she has managed to avoid scrapping until now.
Would be great as a display (if restoration was still possible) in a static museum, but I don't know how she would go if removing her was ever attempted.
Would be great as a display (if restoration was still possible) in a static museum, but I don't know how she would go if removing her was ever attempted.
Mr Brian Leedham at Harden station.
I was running half an hour behind by the time I got to Harden and a planned meet up with a very patient Brian Leedham.
It is always great to catch up with Brian, his enthusiasm for all things heritage is quite inspiring.
He was also in the area to attend the Stockinbingal event.
XP2011 XP2007 - Melbourne bound XPT
Since the late 1980s, seeing the Cootamundra sign has always been a great depression treatment.
I always thought I would end up living in this wonderful town.
I always thought I would end up living in this wonderful town.
NR91 NR95 NR2 NR92 on 3PS6 (Perth-Sydney) approaching Stockinbingal (above) and approaching the station (below).
St Ita's Convent and School was opened in 1913 (see church below).
It closed as a school in 1959, this being due to reduced population and lack of available religious teaching staff, later being sold privately in the early 1960s.
It closed as a school in 1959, this being due to reduced population and lack of available religious teaching staff, later being sold privately in the early 1960s.
It was noted as still being occupied at the time of my visit.
St Joseph's Church opened in 1913 to replace a smaller building and enable the addition of a school (see above).
The place reverted to being just a church when the school closed in 1959, a side verandah removed at the same time.
Regular services are no longer conducted.
48s34 (formerly State Rail 4815) - Goodwin ALCo 83715 of 1960
48s28 (formerly Silverton Tramway ST28) - Goodwin ALCo 83827 of 1961
RL301 - NREC ? of 2005
CLF1 (formerly Commonwealth Railways CL2) - Clyde 70-694 of 1970
The rest of the afternoon as was spent checking out Cootamundra station, while awaiting 3801 to arrive with one of her shuttle trips from Junee. Again, this visit will be covered in more detail later, just on the off chance you care.
The inexplicably popular 3801 arrived from Junee on it's final shuttle of the day. She was to spend the weekend doing local shuttles, all of which I am told were totally booked out.
Sadly, soon after the arrival an incident occurred that saw the area evacuated.
Sadly, soon after the arrival an incident occurred that saw the area evacuated.
Dinner at the Olympic Hotel in Cootamundra.
Nice place to call home during my visit. Cabins are far bigger than this photo suggests.
-------------------------------------------------
Inaugural meeting of the
'Stock Station Preservation Group'.
April 10th 2021
The main purpose of the weekend was to attend the inaugural meeting of the 'Stock Station Preservation Group' whos aim is to preserve and restore the historic Stockinbingal railway station in Riverina NSW.
Stock has been a major part of my life since the late 80s and it's preservation is of great personal interest to me.
Stockinbingal station urgently needs people to care.
The lovely main street of Stockinbingal.
The inaugural meeting commences. Thanks to Rodney Smith for bringing along a portion of his 'Stockinbingal' model railway.
L to R: Brian Leedham, Kelly Hulbert, Nikki Stacey and John Close.
Kelly, Nikki and Brian are from the 'Stock Station Preservation Group'.
John used to be a signalman in the local area, he has operated the Stockinbingal signalbox.
John used to be a signalman in the local area, he has operated the Stockinbingal signalbox.
NR107 NR95 NR98 - Down Containers - Stockinbingal
NR44 NR69 NR79 - Up Containers - Stockinbingal
Up Rubber Tyred Railmotor (Below)
Alas, until I win Lotto, all Riverina trips must come to an end. It was a great gathering, and indeed a very inspiring one.
Another chance to meet new people new and catch up with old friends, but particularly great to see people come for many, many kilometres, just to lend there support to a small rural station that means so much to so many.
Another chance to meet new people new and catch up with old friends, but particularly great to see people come for many, many kilometres, just to lend there support to a small rural station that means so much to so many.
With the Wallendbeen bridge still out, any return via Goulburn had to be via Cootamundra. Not a problem really, as I intended to catch up with an old Sydney Leyland Leopard, and have lunch with Roddy Smith and Steve Karas.
Time was getting well on by now, it was actually over two hours later than my originally intended departure time.
To make up a little of this, I decided to go via Coolac.
In reality, a lot of that made up time was probably lost ferreting around this interesting town for a while :-)
In reality, a lot of that made up time was probably lost ferreting around this interesting town for a while :-)
Coolac staton is long gone, but the goods shed looks reasonably well looked after.
The church grounds at Coolac had, for quite some time, had a number of old South Australian railcars stored around it.
It came as some surprise that they are now gone. Where too is still a mystery.
The old passenger car remains. Given the awning over it, they look to be planning to retain it there.
It came as some surprise that they are now gone. Where too is still a mystery.
The old passenger car remains. Given the awning over it, they look to be planning to retain it there.
Despite an urgent need to get off the road, I stopped in at Holsworthy to check out the latest progress on MrX's layout.
That quick visit saw me racking off some four hours later.
That quick visit saw me racking off some four hours later.
Thanks Too:
John Close, Brad Coulter, Kelly Hulbert, Stephen Karas, Brian Leedham, Sam Roach, Rodney Smith and Nikki Stacey.
visitcootamundra.com.au
Stock Station Preservation Society - Facebook
Stockinbingal Remembers - Facebook
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