Harvey Bay Weekend.

The October local MNRA Division 1 meeting was held in Harvey Bay. A bus trip was arranged for members in the Brisbane area. A number of the Bundaberg members along with some local modellers from the area all joint in. Harvey Bay is approx. 290 kilometres north of Brisbane and did had a rail service until the mid-1990’s. In its hay day in the 1960’s several picnic trains would run to the area. 

The meeting started at Merv’s place at Torquay, his layout is 5.75 x 6.5 metres. Merv models NSWR around the early 1970’s. Stage one is completed and in time for the meeting stage two was added to the layout which included a six-tier helix from the 20 track staging yard. Much of the track and points in stage one has been hand laid, points being made to fit the location in many areas.    

After lunch, a couple of presentations and a report, it was off to the local hobby shop for afternoon tea.

First up was a small “N” scale layout. There was also a slot car set for the petrol heads. But it was off to see the 40' x 20' HO layout 

Then it was time for afternoon tea and check out the hobby shop.

Clinton didn’t see the Peco H0m (12mm) turntable above this head, I did?? Plus were was a discount at the counter. 

Time for the garden layout outside.

A great place for a party which they do plenty. If you are in the Bay on a Friday morning, Mal and Kirin host a morning tea for modellers in the area. I popped along and meet a dozen or so local modellers and enjoy a chat or two.  

Saturday night was dinner at the boat harbour with many local modellers joining in. 

Sunday was back to layout tours, the first was to Les and Joan “OO” scale English layout.  The layout is the size of a single car garage, within three minutes of arriving, I was handed a controller and advise it was my job to keep the trains away for the next hour for the vising tour group.   

The next layout was in Maryborough, on the way home for the coach group to Stewart and Glenys place. Stewart has built a room in under the house and started construction on his layout 6 weeks before our arrival.  

Maryborough is a great place for inspiration for your layout, the city is full of history with endless structures to choose from, and larger part of the older section of town has many “Queenslander” type buildings. The wharf line is worth a look as well, most has gone, but there is still a few gems to be found.   

How about this for a small project using up leftover rail.

In its hay days the Maryborough Wharf branch had the following sidings.

Wilson Hart’s siding.

Maryborough Wharf

Walkers Foundry (Ship Yards)

Walkers Bowen Street North siding

Hume Pipe Coy.

Mobil Oil Coy

Caltex Oil Coy.

Hyne and Sons.

Shell Coy

Maryborough Sugar Factory 

On leaving the Maryborough station yard, the line travels through “Queens Park’ onto the river to the siding above.   

A few photos of what's left of the Hyne & Sons siding.

Talking of Walkers, there was action there too, a shunt was taking place to move two NGR cars down the bottom yard. I counted about 5 NGR train set. 

I counted five (5) flagmen are required for the street crossing, plus the shunt crew. 

 

One must also stop in Gympie for a look. I think this crane would make a great model on a layout, small and neat.  

Do you think they would be a smoko or two had under that tree in summer. Just think the scene you would set on the layout.

That’s it for this time around, a month of travelling, just one local exhibition left for the year in a few weeks.

It’s about time I went back to the bench and did some modelling. 

Trust you enjoy 

Sty safe until next time. 

Arthur H,