Alan Birse
The Layout
Picton-Mittagong Railroad
Layout construction started in 2012. At this stage, the layout is not complete.
Layout Description
The Picton to Mittagong line is part of the current main South Line between Sydney and Melbourne in the Southern Highlands in NSW, Australia. The Loop Line, as it is now known, part is the original single track main line between Picton and Mittagong, and was opened on the 28th February, 1867.
The double track main line was opened for the first train to Sydney on July 13, 1919. The new main line was built to increase rail traffic and reduce the gradients from 1 in 30 (3.33%) to 1 in 75 (1.33%). Tunnels had to be used in this mountainous country.
Both lines encounter steep grades, tight curves, high embankments and deep cuttings. The loop line remained in service until September 1987 when part of it was closed to through traffic after repeated bushfires had made the line uneconomical to repair.
The northern end of the loop line, from Picton to Buxton, remains in use to this day by “NSW RAIL MUSEUM”. The museum is located at Thirlmere on this line.
Further information can be found in 2 books by William A. Bayley. Titled “PICTON-MITTAGONG LOOP-LINE RAILWAY” and “PICTON-MITTAGONG MAIN LINE RAILWAY”.
Site Information
Layout Owner: | Alan Birse |
Address: | 443 Thirlmere Way Thirlmere 2572 |
Phone contact: | 0407 145 188 |
Email contact: | alan@birse.com.au |
Layout details: | Name: Great Southern Railway Scale: HO with DCC Size: 14 x 9m |
Other information: | Refreshments are available |
Special instruction: | Park in the street only, and walk to rear shed via righthand side of house. |
Layout Visits
The layout is open to guests at the following times:
Event Type | Date | Session | Link | Places |
---|---|---|---|---|
Event Type | Date | Session | Link | Places |
The layout is not open for viewing during the course of the 2023 NMRA Convention on Saturday 30 September or Sunday 1 October.
*Places indicates the remaining spaces available for each session.