Dennis O'Brien Collection

“Up” service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main. 1942 sitting at Oberon station in 1960

The last train to run on the Oberon Branch Line 27-9-1979. The S truck is having the tarps removed.

The last train leaves Oberon and winds its way down the hill.

The last train has arrived in Oberon and 4901 is rounding up some stray vehicles in the yard. The onlookers include some rail enthusiasts and some primary school pupils – 27th Sept 1979. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The last train to run on the Oberon branch line – 4901 crosses Snakes Valley Creek trestle on it’s way back to Tarana. The load now consisting of the original S truck, LLV & JHG but adding another couple of S trucks and a TLX – 27th Sept 1979. (© Dennis O’Brien)

4901 makes its way back down the hill, here passing through Hazelgrove station . The run around loop on the right has clearly not seen traffic for some time as the pine tree shows. That tree is still there but now of gigantic proportions (have a look at the bottom right photo on an earlier page – the tree can be seen in the distance ) – 27th Sept 1979. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The photo above is remarkable! Who would believe that the small figure of a year 6 Oberon Central School pupil standing on the platform edge, just to the left of the JHG, is none other than the founding President of OTHR – Shane Moorhead. He wishes that the same locos and wagons were there now! Thank heavens school teacher John Kember had the foresight to take the kids to view the last train. We will try to pose Shane in the same spot when the next train runs! 4901 is shunting the yard – 27th Sept 1979. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The last steam hauled passenger train, an A.R.H.S. Special on 9th March 1963, hauled by locos 1919 & 1957

Here the train has battled up the 1:25 gradient and arrived at Hazelgrove stopping just short of the station to release a gaggle of rail enthusiasts/ photographers. In the background can be seen the toilet. (Closet type C.c.1. foundations for which are still in place.) The run-around loop line is visible in the foreground- 2nd March 1963. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The train has arrived in Oberon and is standing in the platform. The engines will uncouple and 1957 will run around the train to take it back to Tarana. 1919 will travel ‘light engine’- 2nd March 1963.

This is a Special Rail Tour waiting at Tarana to venture up the branch to Oberon. – 14th May 1961. (© Dennis O’Brien)

After some shunting in Oberon, the dogboxes lead the way back down the hill behind 1919 with 1957 following light engine as double heading was not allowed on “up” trains. The loco has just crossed Emu Valley Creek trestle bridge – 2nd March 1963. (© Dennis O’Brien)

1919 and 1957 have stopped on Snakes Valley Creek trestle for a photo opportunity – 2nd March 1963. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The Tour train crosses Emu Valley Creek on its way to Carlwood – 14th May 1961. (© Dennis O’Brien)

1919 and 1957 have just run through Carlwood and the drivers would be getting ready to tackle the steep grades and numerous 5 chain radius curves ahead. It’s nice to see the Tuscan & Russett trim (albeit faded) on the dogboxes. Following along behind are the Vintage Cars (2xCBC and HCV) – 2nd March 1963. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The Tour train heads out of Tarana with Mt. Tarana in the background – 14th May 1961. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The subsequent “Up” service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main.

After some shunting the dogboxes are again on the front end of the train with 1919 ready to lead the way down the hill. Double heading was not allowed on the ‘up’ so 1957 followed behind, ‘light engine’- 2nd March 1963. (© Dennis O’Brien)

The subsequent “Up” service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main.

The photographers are back on board and 1919 and 1957 make a nice display as they head for Oberon – 2nd March 1963. (© Dennis O’Brien)

‘Up’ service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main

“Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

“Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

“Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

Loco 1942 standing at Oberon Station 14/05/1961

A special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Special Train Tour run on the 14th May 1961

1957 and tender on the special train tour 14 May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

At Tarana 14/05/1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

At Tarana on the same day as the ‘Down’ mixed in1960 hauled by loco 1942

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

Tarana on the day on the same day as the “Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

Tarana on the day on the same day as the ‘Down’ mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

At Tarana on the day on the same day as the “Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

3631 at Bathurst 1960 (?)

The last steam hauled passenger train, an A.R.H.S. Special on 9th March 1963, hauled by locos 1919 & 1957

At Tarana on the day on the same day as the ‘Down’ mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

The last steam hauled passenger train, an A.R.H.S. Special on 9th March 1963, hauled by locos 1919 & 1957

At Tarana on the same day as the ‘Down’ mixed in1960 hauled by loco 1942

Loco 1919 coming into Hazelgrove

The last steam hauled passenger train, an A.R.H.S. Special on 9th March 1963, hauled by locos 1919 & 1957

At Tarana on the day on the same day as the “Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

The last steam hauled passenger train, an A.R.H.S. Special on 9th March 1963, hauled by locos 1919 & 1957

Dennis says this is a pic of a very young Dale Budd (perhaps Dale can enlighten us?)

This series of photos show the A.R.H.S. Special on 2nd March 1963. The train is about to leave the yard on its journey to Oberon. If only patronage had been this good all the time! (© Dennis O’Brien)

Loco 1709 and a 36 class bring the Vintage Train (run the same day as the ARHS Special) into Tarana from Bathurst.

Loco 1709 takes the Vintage Train (run the same day as the ARHS Special) into Tarana from Bathurst. 2606 had previously helped from Wallerawang but ran a hot box.

Dennis has included these photos of a South Pacific Electric Railway run in a CPH (1961). SPER is now known as the Sydney Tramway Museum.

Photo of a South Pacific Electric Railway run in a CPH (1961). SPER is now known as the Sydney Tramway Museum.

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

3673 on the Central West express approaching Tarana. Taken the same day as the A.R.H.S. Special on 9th March 1963.

Special Tour train 14th May 1961

Special Tour train run on the 14th May 1961

“Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

Special Tour train 14th May 1961

Up Mixed revenue service 1960

“Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

Special Tour train 14th May 1961

The subsequent “Up” service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main.

Special Tour train 14th May 1961

“Down” mixed in 1960 hauled by loco 1942

The last train to run on the Oberon Branch line – 27th September 1979, hauled by loco 4901. This photo shows 4901 ready to leave Tarana.

“Up” service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main. 1960

Loco 1942 on the Oberon branch line in 1960

A sad postscript to the previous photo – 29 years later, in July 2008 some members of OTHR, including Shane Moorhead attended the auction of various rolling stock at Casino. Amongst the sad remnants was the bogie-less remains of 4901 as shown below. We would like to have obtained 4901 with the view to resurrecting it to commemorate it’s role in powering the last commercial train on the line, but that was not to be. Heritage values don’t prevail but the “scrappies” dollars do! (photo © Bill Muldoon)

Subsequent “Up” service from Oberon to Tarana where the train has been drawn onto the Up Main.

Believed to be taken from the last steam train to travel to Oberon – climbing the grade between Carlwood and Hazelgrove. No OH&S considerations then! – in 1963