If you were a rail buff during the 50s, 60s or 70s, and you were into train spotting, and was track side every so often, THEN you like be in luck! Very Very good Luck! Cause you see before Christmas of 1972, steam trains were actually on the rails and in full force.
Recently I’ve have had a major epiphany about this little hobby of mine, and how things were different a good 30-40 odd years ago. Well, yes I’ve always known that, things do change, what doesn’t! But a friend of mine let me borrow a DVD of his called Days of steam Vol. 2. When I watched it, I was amazed by how the New South Wales Government Railways were really like. No seriously, this made me think.
59s at Gosford. By Graeme Belbin
Off how trains were shorter and how there was more of them. Of how every train would be different, motive and loading wise. Of how much character and soul there were in these machines and how human they were too. Just the smallest hill can reduce the most powerful steam loco down to walking pace. The thing that really impresses me is that all of this was captured by some remarkable people.
Phil Bebin (1925-1993) was the man be hide all of these documentaries. During the 40s, 50s and 60s, he took it apon himself to document the last workings of steam in NSW. Towards the early seventy’s, himself and his two sons, Bruce and Graeme would go out track side in search of steam movements of all kind. Since they lived on the north shore, they normally went gunzelling along the Short North (Sydney-Newcastle) and occasionally around the Hunter.
38s at Gosford. By Graeme Belbin
They recorded all sorts of workings, mundane and rare (the Royal Train for one!), all around the state, weather if it was up the step grades of Cowan, Hawkemont or Tumulla, express trains from the Main South, Central West, Goods traffic of all sorts and even some rare and yet surprising movements in the Metro Area (e.g. 19 class at Darling Harbour).
Recently I purchased the first volume of that DVD series (
Days of Steam). High quality film of the time, these were how things were. Steam workings from 1949 up to 1970. And all handheld too. Captured on 8mm and towards the end, 16mm film. The passion and the work that went into the process of this footage is just amazing. Even a bit emotional. That’s how much character there was…is! I seriously recommend their series.
I always think of how much I missed out on. All I can do, think! The only this possibly I can do is go out there myself and capture the equivalent, and only hope that some things will still be there tomorrow, if not for future generations.
Source: Check out the Belbin’s Site at http://belbinvideo.com/index.htm
