It has been a while since I communicated and we have been busy with some new ventures.

There are two that stand out. Both will take some time to bring into life.

First, we have decided to produce one more NSW steam book. Titled “Smoke” production is well underway, although the finished product is due sometime in the second half of 2024. 

A sillouette on the South Maitland Railways enhanced by mid summer lighting. This was the last railway in NSW with regular steam trains operating. – My Photo

“Smoke” follows on from “Superheat” with another collection of superb steam loco shots from the early 1950s to the end of steam.

This time we have included some black and white masterpieces. It gives us access some rare and artistic images. It may well be the last of the series as we are all aging and exhausting our collections. Our commitment is only to produce first class publications, and this will be one of them.

A garratt smoking up the north side of Hawkmount. This is near the big tree, which we climbed a few times to get aerial shots. From the top of the tree you could see the smoke as these beasts climbed from Kotara to Tickhole tunnel.

The second project was inspired by the recent demise of the once great Broadmeadow Loco Depot. Earmarked as a museum, politics have determined that what is left will be demolished and turned into a housing estate, a similar fate to the Rothbury museum.

Newcastle in the 1960s was Australia’s industrial heartland, The Steelworks spearheaded Australian industry, Broadmeadow and Port Waratah locos were alive with steam engines, with trains running to various mines in the area plus long distance passenger and goods trains spanning out from Newcastle and Broadmeadow.  Almost all of it is gone, and trains no longer even go to the magnificent Newcastle Station.  Much of the infrastrucure has been demolished.

3801 In May 1969 on the 100th Anniverary of the Newcastle Flyer. A rare occasion when the train was steam hauled from Sydney. Newcastle Station is a magnificent historical place, as is the surrounding architecture, much of it buried amngst modern high rise buildings. My Photo

A small group of modellers and people interested in preserving the memories of Newcastle in its 1960s glory are getting together with the vision of recreating the scene in model form. We are starting with the Newcastle Fassifern Model Railway, which includes a detailed model of the Steelworks and the twin roundhouses of Broadmeadow. There will be ample opportunity to build structures, run trains, and create track and scenery for members of the association. I am excited as what we witnessed in our youth has virtually been wiped from history.

The new museum will feature a highly detailed working layout representing the railway operations in the Newcastle area of the 1960s, plus models of indutry, coal and buildings of the time.

As we move forward with this, I will let you all know and invite any of you who might be interested to join us. One of the main benefits is connecting with like minded people, and with the isolation of recent times, face to face contact can only be a good thing. Our website is https://miniaturenewcastle.com 

Here is a video outlining the project

In the meantime, Christmas is approaching, and we still have copies available of the Railway Portrait’s series, plus “Where There’s Smoke” Volumes 1 and 2 you can purchase from the shop.

John Gaydon