Seventh Australian Narrow Gauge Convention Update

duttonbay · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:37 am

Folks,

It was with great excitement that I can tell you that we have now
confirmed the international guest speaker for the forthcoming
convention.

Bob Brown, well-known as the publisher and editor of the Narrow Gauge
and Shortline Gazette will be the Guest Speaker at the convention. In
addition to a presentation during the Convention, Bob will also give
the keynote address at the Convention Dinner on the evening of
Saturday March 26.

This is indeed exciting news, and even more reason to join the narrow
gauge fraternity who will be gathering in Albury, on the Victorian/New
South Wales border, for Saturday and Sunday, March 26/27 (Easter).

The Australian Narrow Gauge Convention web site is at
http://www.users.bigpond.com/nawlins/ngconvoz.htm - follow the
prominent links to the Seventh convention.

John Dennis
Home of the Dutton Bay Tramway
http://members.optusnet.com.au/duttonbay

nosecone · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:12 pm

John, so the convention has just closed for another two years and I'm left wondering just what is the Narrow Gauge Convention? What are its aims and objectives? What was achieved at the 2005 event in Albury? I mean this politely: I just can't glean anything from the web-site.

duttonbay · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:31 pm

I guess the convention means different things to different people, but the main focus is education. Learning about NG prototypes, NG modelling, modelling in general.

There were a number of lectures, which ranged from sessions covering prototype lines (a Pennsylvanian narrow gauge line, the Stannary Hills and Irvinebank tramway, QLD sugar cane railways, WA timber lines) through to a couple which weren't even specifically related to railways - Deep Mining in Australia, and an entertaining session on the ElDorado gold dredge.

There were four focus groups, where like-minded people got together to discuss O14 modelling, 3'6" gauge modelling in Australia, Colorado NG and On30. There were also a dozen hour-long clinics, where people demonstrated subjects as diverse as techniques for tree making (both Aussie style and US style), soldering, making "scummy" ponds, making FRocks (Foam rocks).

The traders room had a number of retailers who did a roaring trade on detail parts and other stuff. The contest room had 80-odd superb entries, the finest examples (IMO) of model building in Australia (as opposed to model buying more prevalent in standard gauge modelling). There were also eight or nine narrow gauge layouts on display.

Along with all that information to absorb, 120 people to talk to, and people spending huge numbers of dollars at the traders, there was a convention dinner, and Charlie Getz, a regular and long-time columnist in the Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette did a couple of highly entertaining sessions.

It's a great way to renew and start friendships with other narrow-minded folk.

As for "what was achieved", from my perspective I found three people who were able to provide me with information relating to research I am undertaking for my next layout, plus I found a trader who will be making a kit suitable for my layout, and to whom I can provide additional information to ensure a more accurate model. Plus, I found a man who volunteered to draw two of the locos I need to model, the drawings to be produced from my collection of photographs. So, apart from learning new techniques, I achieved a great deal. You will have to ask the other 119 registrants what they felt was achieved.

I think that's enough of a wrap, and I hope this answers your question.

John Dennis
Home of the Dutton Bay Tramway
http://members.optusnet.com.au/duttonbay

nosecone · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:01 am

duttonbay · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:22 am