|
For the first time ever, Central Station was bathed in laser light at night as part of the celebration of 150 years of rail in NSW. The light show began two weeks before the big weekend and continued until Monday 26 September. Red light covered the outside of the station’s western concourse as well as its northern front facing Eddie Ave. And green light shined from inside the upper section of the clock tower, while a laser machine wrote the 150 years logo in the middle of the clock tower facing Eddie Ave. And banners along George St and Eddie Ave helped draw attention to the celebrations.
Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum was the scene for the official launch of celebrations around the 150th anniversary of railways in NSW. The Minister for Transport John Watkins did the honours, along with RailCorp CEO Vince Graham and Jennifer Sanders, Deputy Director of the museum.
The launch included the unveiling the newly refurbished Locomotive No 1, which hauled the first passenger train to run in NSW on 28 May 1855 from Sydney to Lewisham Viaduct. On 26 September 1855, Locomotive No. 3 and its first, second and third class cars, made the journey from Sydney to Parramatta, signalling the start of a rail industry that has played such a vital social and economic role in NSW for the last century and a half.
 Mr Watkins also saw the fine work done by RailCorp apprentices in restoring a 1926 CPH 18 Rail Motor.
“Since 1859, the rail network has grown from a modest 22 kilometre line between Sydney and Parramatta, into one of the world’s most complex networks, covering 8800 kilometres,” Mr Watkins said. “Over the coming months there will be many events to celebrate the rich history of NSW rail and I’d encourage people in the city and country to get involved.”
From left: Deputy Director of the Powerhouse Museum, Jennifer Sanders; former 1947 railway apprentice, Gordon Kirk; Minister for Transport, John Watkins; RailCorp Chief Executive, Vince Graham and Senior Curator of the Powerhouse Museum, Andrew Grant.
Photo by Scott Martin, Editor, Rail Digest.
|
