Oberon heritage line restoration work .. any info?

oldrailfan · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:35 pm

Gday

First timer heritage enthusiast here, im into all things old and new (late 1980s limit).

What i am interested in is, does anyone know what type of rolling stock the new Oberon railway line will be using or has acquired to use?

I understand there could be CPH, diesel? 45-49 class and hopefully a steam engine one day....

Does anyone also know what the situation is with the overall line from Hazelwood to Tarana is like? There is much work to be done i can see.... taken 2-3years just do the first section of the line nearly.

Has Oberon station track layout still been preserved after 30years of no use?
I understand it once had a turntable and some good sidings?

Thanks for any help.

Comeng · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:58 pm

Welcome to Railpage Australia™ mate!

I cant honestly answer all of your questions relating to the restoraction works that are happening on this line, but here is a link for you to check out that may assist you, if you havent seen this website already!

I last went up there in about 2003 and the yard at Oberron is very well looked after (mowed etc). The station platform and building was still there and at that time, their were two loco hauled carriages on the rails adjacent to the platform which occupied the local heritage society - I believe these cars are no longer their.

I hope the website is of come use to you:)

http://www.ozsite.com.au/oberonrailway/

Comeng

oldrailfan · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:13 pm

Yes have seen that page.. im trying to poke people in the web to see whatesle some may know..

Brianr · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:52 am

There are many pages of discussion and information at
http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11304164+oberon.htm

Brian
Woodford, NSW

moaner · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:06 am

I follow their web pages with great interest and would gladly lend a hand(a disability stops this) i do know from a friend who did a day trip to the area is that they are plowing ahead well(could do with more sleepers),They have been getting fantastic support from the locals & the council, as for rolling stock there was some suggestion of them getting a railmotor from Camberra?(maybe GMR could give them 1919 back as it used to run on this line or get something from one of the other heratage mobs)I think the busness with the people running the museum is a bit selfish but these thing happen & hopefully a senceable resalution can result.....a suggestion for someone who has a bit of transport & a good camera take a drive up there for a good collection of updated pics of the full length of the line(a trike& permission would be better)and Oberon yard if possible ,i think we would all love to see them...PS if i can tag along for a day could someone PM me,i'm not permitted to drive(free w/days)...M

2010 Smiggans holes winter olympic team
All things shay collector-you must be able to cardy shaft this electric scooter somehow

tezza · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:08 am

Bwana · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:49 am

tezza · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:16 pm

cos the plaintiffs dont live at Oberon, der

Noted Rail Historian

NSWRTM123 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:28 pm

not wishing to start a firefight, but perhaps the line might be able to obtain a 19 class through a lease with DSRM.

Save Eveleigh from "progress".
No 12 storey zoning over LES
3801 limited and NSWRTM Forever
Alcos Rule!!!!!

oldrailfan · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:29 pm

Doesnt GRSM own 1919 not DSRM?

How much work can Oberon do to ensure the line can carry commerical items ie from the timber factory outbound.. Is there a need for timber to be carried from Tarana to Sydney etc?

RTT_Rules · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:49 pm

Hi all,
In Sept I happened to spend a night in Oberon and went for a walk from the station along the line for a few hundred metres. So my casual observation would be this.

They have done alot of work right up to the gate of the fenced off area around the station. I'm not sure what the issue is with the museam, but if this cannot be resolved then they are doomed. Why the operator of the museam is not interested, god only knows, you think there would be more money from more tourists? Perhaps someone in the know can share some light?

The yard itself no longer has the turnable or any rollingstock, although is generally very tidy and wouldn't need much work away from the rails. The yard is a mainline on platform, loop, then a 2nd line alongside the old freight handling areas which is an extension of the cattle yard line a few hundred metres down the line. There are two shunt necks and a small siding backing away from the station line heading back towards the main. I believe this used to go to the turn table. The mainline buffer stop is missing as a house is built on the orginal end of the line (some sort of freight something). So the shunt neck is not very long and over running will see someones vegies messed up. Due to the length of the freight-cattle loop, they could in theory receive a number of resonable length trains at one time. Say 2 x XPT's and an Explorer.

While the sleepers don't look too bad they are leaving on the rails, I would be concerned that they are just delaying an even bigger and more costly replacement later (later meaning less than 10 years). What I mean if later means they have a running railway then they have revenue. If later means they have failed, then not much lost I supose.

Just out of the yard the dual line crosses a busy road next to a roudn about, then past the old cattle yard it becomes one track then crosses diagonally the hwy. In both cases there are no rails in the road and rails can be seen in the mueseam area. These LX's to me will be more of a challenge than rebuilding the line. Costly earth and roadworks which I doubt can be done by keen weekend volunteer workers. For occasional running they won't need lights and gates, but a "Stop railway crossing" sign hardly sees appropriate either. Some time back a PN driver mentioned in I think QRIG that a police officer had warned them they were personally not allowed to stop traffic on the access line into the Rocklea steel works. ie they were physically walking onto the road holding their hands to stop traffic to reduce the likely hood of an accident as the shunt train passed over. So not sure how this would be handled for Oberon?

For rolling stock, no one will hand over a reasonably repairable steamer so they will at best be able to charter. So I would expect to see them focus on a DMU for starters and maybe source a pair of 48 classes or similar longterm.

This is wishfull thinking, but there is a huge amout of timber based freight being manufactured daily right alongside the line.

Regards
Shane

NSWRTM123 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:55 pm

GhostofGresley · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:53 pm

NSWRTM123 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:39 pm

My mistake. Shows you how up to date this southern highlands bloke is when it comes to dorrigo Laughing

Save Eveleigh from "progress".
No 12 storey zoning over LES
3801 limited and NSWRTM Forever
Alcos Rule!!!!!

moaner · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:21 am

Sorry Tezza for my overly stupid useless comment, i was only stating that as 1919 used to run on the Oberon line MAYBE at some stage it could venture back down there under what ever aggreament. It seems to me that whatever i post/say on Railpage Australia™ comes under very objective critisism and when someone who is not a eats/sleeps trains diehard asks a simple ??? their posting usualy ends up into some slanging match, no i'm not a 10,000% train buff(just an ex mechanic with a broken back),i can never remember up from down lines,don't spend my whole life knowing the differance between a whatever class.but i would love to see Three things in my lifetime..1..a working tourist railway( that is of some length,sorry if i offend the ZZR guys) not to far from Sydney ...2...would pay for front row tickets to see a one of the g60 garrets steaming up the" Cowan banks" and ..3..see a working Shay or climax in oz.When us newbe's ask for some infomation on whatever subject please don;t shoot us down in flames.

2010 Smiggans holes winter olympic team
All things shay collector-you must be able to cardy shaft this electric scooter somehow