Modelling the Railways of South Australia

Sometimes there's no separating the boys from their toys, especially when it comes to a piece of railway history. Welcome to the Terowie North Railway Station. At a time when the steam engine was still an important part of our railway system but about to be replaced by diesel. "We like to think that we're creating a world of perhaps thirty or forty years ago in miniature and trying to keep the past alive and in touch." Gavin Thrum and Michael Roberts are two keen modellers who've spent a lot of spare time recreating this piece of South Australia's railway heritage. It's taken five of us eight years to get it this far and its a lot of hours too, it's really incredible." But the emphasis here is on credibility with attention to detail a pre-requisite for any modeller. Here even the railway crossing lights flash on cue. For these guys this is an artform and here art imitates life as lived on the South Australian railways in the fifties and sixties. From board gauge to narrow gauge from the rocky cuttings of the midnorth to that uniquely sunburnt look of the Australian bush, it's all here in miniature. "For trees for example we use saltbush from down at Port Adelaide, there's all the salt bush grown down there and the foliage on top is dried sea sponge which is broken up into small pieces and dried glued on."

Sadly, this is one of the few places you'll get to see the old 520 series, the real thing was once made at the Islington railyards in Adelaide in the late forties. If you want to relive those days then the fourth - Modelling the Railways of SA Convention is a must. It's for the committed model train buff. "The $55 entry fee includes lunch and a comprehensive set of notes on modelling. It's on Saturday Sept 11th at Hahndorf Convention Centre 145a Main St Hahndorf. Phone Les Fordham 8362 4866. For those who just want to see and array of modelling action, then the Model 99 Fair in and around the Riverton Railway Station is for you. The two day event on November 6 & 7 (10am -4-30pm) includes displays of model trains as well as radio controlled planes, yachts and power boats. For details contact Liz Connell on (08) 8847 2438.

For more information you can email info@postcards.sa.com.au