May 2015

Sponsor:

Newsletter
PO Box 299 Oberon 2787
http://othr.com.au

Your esteemed Editor is absent for this issue and hes

left me in charge yet again!
I hope my musings wont rubbish his great and
continuing effort too much

Working Bee News

Track Manager, Graham Williams advises the working
bee in May will focus on finishing the pinning of roads
2 & 3 into the shed so that we can get partial
certification of the tracks. This will enable us to move
the locos out of the harsh Oberon weather and into the
sheds. The next task will be to replace sleepers under the
points on the middle road that leads to the coal store.
Once complete we will be much closer to getting the
whole yard passed as fit for traffic.

HUGE HAPPENINGS IN OBERON

Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc. took a huge
step forward on Wednesday and Thursday, 16th &
17th April when the reinstatement of the level
crossing on Albion Street was made good.
Oberon Council in conjunction with EDI Downer,
Bathurst closed Albion Street so that the
prefabricated level crossing could be laid in place.
The task was quite large but made easier with the
impressive array of machinery on hand.
Photos of the reinstatement are to be seen on our
website but here is a tantalising photo for your
immediate pleasure.

A month is a lifetime in OTHR land.

No sooner had Graham mentioned the Albion Street
level crossing was still being considered by Oberon
Council than it was done!
This is fantastic news for all of us as it shows some real

Next Working Bee

Saturday, May 2nd to
Wed, May 6th
progress has been made. Shortly our volunteers will be
joining the crossing to the road out of the Oberon yard
and some serious work can be executed to bring the line
down towards Lowes Mount Road.
Graham, I held my breath and look what happened!

The finished job

If you can join our rag tag band of hard-working

volunteers and assist with the work during the May
working bee please contact our Track Manager,
Graham Williams, on 0422 596 438. Graham is always
keen to hear from members who are prepared to step up
and have a go! Dont forget hungry fettlers are provided
with a satisfying lunch each day!
While on the subject of volunteering, there are many
tasks that dont necessarily require hard labour. For
example our lovely caterer could do with some
assistance and there are plenty of other tasks that can be
attempted.
Times are about to get more exciting at OTHR!

Next Meeting
General Meeting
7:30pm, 6th May, 2015

STOP PRESS!!

Around the Traps

An OTHR flag is in the preparation stage to be flown
on a new flagpole which you will shortly see erected
near the station entrance. This flag will be of similar
design and colour scheme as the banners which we use
on the locos on open days.
This flag together with the Australian flag will be flown
whenever we are in residence.
Heres another easy job for volunteers. We need
volunteers to man the station on our open days. Open
days are the first Saturday of each month and coincides
with the Oberon Farmers Market. You only need some
knowledge of our story so far as well as some
knowledge on our exhibits and rolling stock. The
opening times are Saturday mornings til about 2.00 PM.
An opportunity here for some great public relations:
give it a go.

Some exciting news for OTHR.

Oberon Station on Page 1

The April edition of Australian Model Railway
magazine features an HO scale exhibition layout
inspired by Oberon in NSW.
Peter Higgins is Perth WA based and has constructed an
excellent likeness of our beloved heritage station.
According to the magazine the article features one of
NSWs most iconic locations.
Grand praise indeed!
But we knew that already didnt we?

The Skoda & Tatra Register is about to establish a

museum in Oberon dedicated to their particular
vehicles. There have been about four years of
negotiations and fund raising and those years of
work have paid off. OTHR has had a supportive
role with the club as has Oberon Council and a
couple of interested locals.
Skoda & Tatra Register Inc. had previously
exhibited at the Highlands Steam & Vintage Fair
and their committee saw the potential of locating
their museum in Oberon.NSW
The Register has always wanted to establish the
museum near to the Oberon Station in the heritage
precinct.

OTHR has been very pleased to continually lend its

support for this exciting project.
OTHR is providing some land adjacent to the
station and it seems the proposed museum will
become a reality by about March 2016.
Close ties are currently being forged with the
Register and our committee sees many mutual
benefits for us both.
It will be one of only five such museums in the
world.
The museum will be professionally run and exhibits
will come from overseas from time to time. It will
be an interactive museum working with local
authorities and these ties will only be of benefit to
our association as time passes.
There is a lot of behind the scenes work to be
done but keep an eye out for developments over
time.

Heres something for those of you who enjoy things

different and obscure. The documentary looks to be
quite entertaining and could be value for money.
Please deal directly with Anthony Buckley for more
information if you have an interest.
Im sure youll agree that this months newsletter is
brimming with interesting news.
You should now be so enthused that you will
immediately contact Graham to see what you can do to
help move our project forward, or talk to Col about
doing your bit at the station open days.
Become a real part of our team again; there are exciting
times ahead and you wont be disappointed.

A documentary for boffins

An example of a quaint Tatra motor car.
A similar vehicle will be an exhibit at the proposed new
Skoda & Tatra Museum in Oberon NSW.

Contacts:
Secretary, Elaine: Ph. 02 6336 0441,
and by Email: admin@othr.com.au
Newsletter Editor: Col taranaob@activ8.net.au
Our Ordinary General meeting minutes are now
available on our website. You can also easily find us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/OTHR.Inc