Canberra Railway Museum Early Development Photos

Canberra Railway Museum looking from the north end in early 1982, with the earthwork done.

Canberra Railway Museum from the railway entrance gate, early 1982.

Looking out the railway gate early 1982.

The excavation near the entrance building, rails stacked and measured for length.

The northern end of the Museum.

The entrance building as delivered Christmas eve 1981.

Construction of the curved platform face. There’s a substantial base which is keyed into the ground.  The Besser block was strengthened with reinforcing bars. A plain brick top was added for appearance. There’s a shallow 6-inch water main just on this side of the wall.

The railway connection to the Museum was provided with this set of points Brambles siding. Commonwealth Railways fettlers assisted in the construction. By coincidence, it’s the best built turnout in the Museum, it’s the only one where all rail is the same section. I set out the curve with a string line. Cyril Bartram, District Superintendent, was really amused. He said one always uses the precision eye-ometer! The short headshunt was provided as wagons might still be sent to the Brambles depot.  This never happened and the points were relocated, now for the second time.

Work commences on the ashpit. It’s built in 3 sections with pinned joints between each section. It’s on the deepest section of fill on the site, the centre section has subsided by 10 mm over the years, even with locos parked on it for extended times.

The ashpit nears completion. Only a small water main was provided for the water column, but with water available at 200 psi, flow was not an issue. Power was provided for general use and pit lights.

The pit is quite hi-tech. Rail plates were donated by Pandrol and are secured with bolts glued in with epoxy.

3102 at rest on the pit.

The platform face and building renovations completed.

Tree planting underway. A very early project was the barbeque on the left.

6029 parked beside the platform.

 
Stage 1 of the carriage shed, an “off the shelf design”. It was a shambles. Society members added the cladding.

Stage 2 was a “do it yourself” project. Again, cladding was added by volunteers. The cladding supplier got a varied list of sheet lengths for the cladding. The only sheets cut on site were the angled end sheets.