Brolgan Road Blog - Rick Fletcher
Oberon Branch
Collections - Ron Preston Page 2
These photographs are provided as a background to the restoration of the branch line and for the information of historians and enthusiasts.
Where possible, sources have been acknowledged. The Copyright of these photographs remains with the source / photographer and these photographs may not be reproduced without their permission.
If you have any photographs or additional information you would like to make available for public viewing could you please contact Rick at:   Likewise if you have any additional information about errors, sources or captions, please let me know.
From the Ron Preston Collection - Page 2
The following rare photos were kindly supplied to OTHR by Stephen Preston and were taken by his father, the late Ron Preston. Ron was well known in railway circles and is the author of many authoritative books and articles on the railways of NSW. He had a particular soft spot for the Oberon Tarana line and this is reflected in the numerous photos some of which are revealed here.
OTHR is very grateful to Steve for allowing us to share these images with you. Hopefully Steve will provide us with some detailed captions for these photographs to replace my feeble descriptions.
The copyright for these photos is retained by Stephen Preston. These photos may NOT be reproduced without express written permission from the copyright holder.
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This group of photographs was taken when Ron & friends visited Oberon on 3rd August 1957.

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A down 36 class leads a pass. service out of Tarana past an HS carriage (adjacent to the carriage shed) waiting its turn for a run up to Oberon on the branch line.
3640 heads an up pass. from Tarana having possibly dropped some ash and topped up the water. Note the skip for disposal of the copious quatities of ash accumulating at Tarana. Standard goods loco 5456 heads a down goods with an interesting mix of wagons and freight. The extent of the ash buildup can be seen adjacent to the up line.

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The driver of 1942 wanders across to have a yarn with the driver of the 54 class standard goodsloco on an up goods. Two standard goods locos make a 3 way cross with 1942 on the branch. 1942 collects the waiting HS car for the next trip to Oberon ...
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... followed by a shunting trip to pick up an S truck full of coal for Oberon loco.

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The down mixed for Oberon waits in the station at Tarana for the passengers for the branch line. 5456 on the down goods (left) crosses an up goods behind anothe 54 class. There is quite a bit of activity in Tarana yard with 1942, having taken on water, ready to head out onto the branch and 2 goods trains working the main lines.
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Temporarily, all is quiet in Tarana yard.   1942 heads the small mixed on the branch and is crossing the Carlwood Rd at Carlwood.

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Moving past the Carlwood Rd.crossing . In the station platform at Oberon, 1942 has marshalled sawn timber from the local mill in 3 S trucks and a K. The HS composite car caters for any passengers and small freight. The up mixed has descended the 1:25 from Hazelgrove and is approaching Carlwood beside Snakes Valley Creek.
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A little further on the mixed negotiaitrs the curved trestle bridge over Snakes Vakkey Creek. The mixed has paused at Carlwood.

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A rare photo showing the Pc1station building, the tiny station platform and the Cc1 toilet. Ron Preston (3rd from the left) and his friends at Carlwood Station. A similar Pc1 was at Hazelgrove.

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Snakes Valley Creek trestle bridge. The Fish River bridge.  
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