This post has almost nothing to do with Eumungerie, and I probably won't get around to explaining the very tenuous link until a later post. But anyway, here goes.
I have long admired the writings of Ron Preston in his many books on the NSW Railways. We are really fortunate to have so many accomplished rail photographers in NSW, many of whom have gone into print. But we have had fewer published writers, who also took photographs to illustrate their writings. Some of the best writers continue to appear in the beautifully produced Byways of Steam series to this day.
For me, the first writer I read remains one of the finest. I will admit to having read Tender into Tank at least 20 times (it is probably closer to 50!). To me, Ron was the doyen of writers. Through his words I could smell the steam from the 17 class as it approached Inverell or hear a 19 class climb to Batlow.
One of his stories, contained in NSWGR In Steam, concerned the presence of two superheated 25 class locos in the central west of NSW. He wrote:
Eugowra gained fame, or notoriety, as the scene of some of bushranger Ben Hall’s exploits. Of equal fame, but to a lesser company, were the two superheated 25 class, allotted to Cowra depot and which regularly worked the Eugowra branch.
Of equal fame, but to a lesser company, indeed! Ron illustrated his story with the following photograph, which I have scanned for this story.
I was just eight years of age when I first read Ron's words about Eugowra's 25s and saw this photo of 2531. They have never left me. I have forced myself to walk through snake-infested long grass to scout the location of the Eugowra turntable. I have also invested in two(!) 25 kit-built class locos. These cause me all sorts of issues to keep them running (one runs like a hairy goat). They are also powerful detectors of the slightest flaw or kink in any trackwork. But, still, I persist.
So, where are we headed with all this? Nowhere really, until Les Fordham wrote an article about kit-bashing an "inexpensive NSWGR 50ft turntable" in the February 2026 AMRM. Thank you, Les! As I need at least three turntables on my slowly-coming-together layout, the adjective "inexpensive" was particularly attractive. So, I followed Les's instructions, up to a point because I am lazier than he is. It took about 2 hours of work and less than $100 and now I am a self -accredited turntable operator.
This whole endeavour has been undertaken in part as homage to Ron Preston and his lesser company, so here is my take on that photo.
And now for the connection to Eumungerie. Well, Coonamble at least. In previous posts I have lamented how difficult it is to coherently compress the elongated track layout at Coonamble. And now I have even less space for a branchline terminus than when I wrote that complaint. So, I have compromised to create a fictional terminus called West Pilliga, incorporating elements of Coonamble and Gilgandra. It is nothing special, but I'll do a big reveal in a couple of months after several scenery items are completed. In the meantime, here's a shot of the turntable sporting the un-superheated 2543. The loco shed is in the background, along with the local Shell fuel depot.
Of course, the real test for a 50ft turntable is whether a 30T with a six-wheel tender fits. And it does, just! I have less than 2 millmetres of clearance at either end, just like the prototype. It sure adds to the operational drama. Here's Dubbo-based 3144T taking a ride.
So, if a modelling numpty like me can follow this AMRM article, there is no reason why sort-of-lookalike 50ft NSWGR turntables shouldn't flourish in this hobby!
