This presentation, THE MAIN SOUTH LINE PT 2, continues on from where THE MAIN SOUTH LINE PT 1 concluded, covering passenger and freight train operation on both the ‘down’ and the ‘up’ as we move, this time, from Goulburn to Cootamundra.
The Main South Line had reached Goulburn by 1869. It was rapidly extended to Gunning, both Bowning and Binalong and then both Harden and Cootamundra in 1875, 1876 and 1877 respectively. Other branches were added:- Joppa Junction to Cooma, Nimmitabel and Bombala by 1889, 1912 and 1921 respectively with sub branch extension from Bungendore Junction to Captains Flat and Queanbeyan Junction to Canberra by 1940 and 1941 respectively, Yass Junction to Yass Town in 1892, Galong Junction to Boorowa in 1915, Harden to Blayney by 1888 and Cootamundra Junction to Tamora in 1893. Sadly many of these branches have closed:- the line beyond Queanbeyan to Bombala since 1889, Bungendore to Captains Flat in 1968, Yass Junction to Yass Town in 1988, Galong to Boorowa in 1988 and the Cowra to Blayney section in 1994. Most of these closures, except for Cowra to Blayney which was due to vandalism of a wooden bridge, were due to improved road transportation and thus reducing rail business.
Locomotive classes seen in this presentation include EL, G, GL, NR, X, T, 22/411, 31/L, 44, 442, 45, 47, 48/830, 81 and 82 in the liveries of ARG, CFCLA, Freight Australia, Freight Corp, LVRF, National Rail, NSWGR, QR National (ARG) and Pacific National while passenger equipment includes XPTs, Explorers and Southern Aurora passenger cars of CountryLink and ARHS/NSWRTM.
Approximate run time: 80 minutes.