"Trackside with Jack Babbage"
By Jack Babbage
Paperback cover 52 pages black/white photos
INTRODUCTION
This book illustrates some of my favourite railway locations in South Australia during the 1960s. I became interested in photographing steam locos in the early 1960s - just in time to see the last of the period when steam gave way to diesel traction. It was too late to witness the 600 and 720 classes; they were already gone for ever.
The locomotives illustrated bring back vivid memories of the sounds we couldn't record on film; such asthe night Garratt 402 brought a full load of barytes from Quorn to Peterborough - the first and only time a Garratt operated out of Quorn.
It was well after sunset when we took up a position with our tape recorder at the top of Moockra bank. Quietly at first, the sound of the Garratt could be heard swelling and fading in the distance. Snaking around the curves below 402 sent her hammering roar bouncing off the hills of the horseshoe and rolling across the landscape. We were treated to the thrilling sounds of a Garratt in the hills, but all too soon the train was gone and we were left with the memory of its passing.
Jack Babbage - Laura (SA) 2006