RETIRED LAYOUTS

Based on the Sydney outer-western suburb of St Marys, this layout features the station and surrounds as it was in the late 1980’s. Tracks to and from the west pass over the South Creek viaduct and are joined by those of the Ropes Creek branch line.

Passing A.E.Goodwin’s factory siding, tracks pass under a footbridge to the four platform station. A goods siding with shed and crane are represented to the south with a commuter carpark to the north.

Tracks curve to the east, through a cutting topped by factories and a sub-station, then under the Glossop St road bridge and past the Plasser siding. A multi-tracked fiddle yard can despatch a variety of electric loco hauled country trains and suburban electric sets to four parallel tracks, with overhead power stanchions.

This layout is a three module diorama representing the area adjacent to Cockle Creek, near Newcastle, from the 1960’s to 80’s. The creek is the centre piece crossed by two double track railway bridges.

At the rear the original bridge carries coal traffic to and from the Stockton Borehole Colliery, while in front the new truss bridge carries the diverted main line between Sydney and Newcastle. To the left is the Colliery loading bin, while on the right the road bridge and the 1950’s built station complete the scene.

The diorama is backed by a fiddle yard with 5 tracks in each direction as well as a full and empty coal roads. Purpose built coal wagons are used to serve the colliery.

This locality, between Cootamundra and Junee on the double tracked main southern line, is depicted as it was in the 1960’s.

Dominated by a large silo, the station environs include sidings, a goods shed, crane, loading bank and stock yard as well as Station Master’s and ASM’s cottages.

A Gatekeeper’s Cottage and level crossing are modelled at the Sydney end. The layout features a number of miniature scenes that illustrate country life in the period modelled. A multi-tracked fiddle yard despatches trains in both directions.

​Illabo has now been sold to another club and is being lovingly restored ready for exhibiting again.