The Tumut Railway Modellers group was established in 2005.
(Branch of Wagga Model Railroaders Inc)
After debate we decided to build a exhibition model and a New South Wales branch line was chosen. A branch line has slow moving trains of small size (ie; four wagons etc), which is ideal for exhibition. The Gundagai to Tumut and Batlow branch line (TBL) proved ideal for this purpose since it was local to the group and meant that research and surveying the area was possible. Above all, there was a high historical interest within the community.
We decided on a large ‘E’ shape, (refer to the diagram below), which, importantly, meant sections could be added or changed when convenient. In addition, the layout had to be different, both in terms of scenery construction and in design, enabling it to be seen from any angle, which meant that scenery had to be truly three-dimensional. Consequently backdrops were not required.
Being an end to end layout it was not possible to incorporate a ‘fiddle yard’, the small trains in use on the layout had adequate ‘storage’. There is also a modular ‘run off’ board at the end of the layout to allow setting up facilities.
The initial stages involved considerable research and eventually three tables were constructed. The layouts displayed the Tumut Station and surrounds. We would later extend the display to include Gilmore and the rural areas imbetween. In 2006 the layout was first ‘unveiled’ at the Festival of the Falling Leaf. We were astonished by the interest it created even at this early ‘primitive’ stage of construction. The layout’s generic timeframe, circa 1930-50’s seemed to reawaken the memories of locals as they gazed down at the layout and recalled historical anecdotes and stories. Eventually, this information assisted (or confused) us in the placement of particular features.
The three tables were finally completed and displayed for the first time at the Wagga Model Rail Exhibition in 2007. The entire layout including the extra Gilmore sections were displayed at Wagga in 2008 and won a best exhibit award.
Updated 9-11-2009
We are in the planning stages for the next phase of construction and seeking information on Mt Horeb, Batlow and Gundagai. Anyone who can provide details, history, photographs or memories to help us would be appreciated.
There may be photographs or information that we are unaware of is copyright or incorrect please inform us and will either correct, acknowledge or remove.
Exhibition dates:-
None planned at this stage.
But we did win a best layout at the Wagga show and had a good time!!
Link:- If interested in war gaming then have a look at History of Warfare Games
Click in picture to see large scale and layout options
